Saint Francis (4-5 / 2-2) @ Robert Morris (1-8 / 1-3) Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 at Noon Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa.
Radio: ESPN 970 AM (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Audio on the internet at: www.970espn.com / Live Video: www.necfrontrow.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team plays the second of back-to-back home games this Saturday, Nov. 15, at Noon as the Colonials host in-state foe Saint Francis at Joe Walton Stadium in a Northeast Conference (NEC) matchup. RMU played well defensively last week against Wagner but could not come away with a victory. With a catch on the first drive against the Seahawks, Duane Mitchell broke the RMU record for consecutive games with a catch as he now has a reception in each of the past 31 outings. He needs seven more catches to break his own single-season school record of 52 from 2013. Mitchell and Nick Faraci earned Capital One Academic All-District honors late last week for their combined academic and athletic exploits. Three Colonials—Drew Allen (cornerback), Anthony Lucian (left tackle) and Ryan Richards Jr. (safety)—made their first-career starts last week. As is the custom, Robert Morris will take a moment to honor each of its seniors, 13 total, in a brief ceremony prior to kickoff. The Colonials will finish the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 22, at local rival Duquesne on ESPN3. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - True freshman linebacker Gerald Ferguson was selected as NEC Rookie of the Week this Monday after he was a main part of RMU’s stout defensive effort against Wagner. He posted season highs in tackles (10) and tackles for loss (3.0) in what was just his second-career start. The most impressive stat of Ferguson's line might have been that on the 10 tackles he was a part of, Wagner netted just three combined yards, partially due to the fact that six of his stops were in the backfield or allowed no gain on the play. Ferguson became the third Colonial to claim this honor in 2014, marking the first time ever that at least three distinct Colonials have earned rookie weekly honors in a single season. Rameses Owens earned the award in September after a 199-yard rushing effort at North Dakota while Nic Lamica garnered the accolade in October after catching eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Saturday's Opponent - Saint Francis is one of just three opponents Robert Morris faced in each of the first 20 years the Colonials fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Central Connecticut State and Wagner. All-time the Colonials are 15-4-1 (.775) against the Red Flash, their best winning percentage against an opponent they have faced at least five times. However, Saint Francis has won the two most recent meetings, both of which came on the road for RMU, including last year’s season finale. For more information on the all-time series against Saint Francis, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Nov. 15) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played three times before on November 15 and has come away victorious twice. Somewhat surprisingly, only one of those games was a NEC contest, and all of them came on the road. RMU’s most recent game on this date came in 2008 against the same squad the Colonials will meet Saturday. RMU trailed, 20-14, at the end of the third quarter but used a 21-point final frame to post a come-from-behind 35-20 victory. Five of the seven TD's were scored on plays of at least 20 yards, including one defensive score for each side. Jeff Link’s (2007-10) rush helped put RMU up for good in the fourth while James Snider’s (2007-09) 65-yard fumble recovery TD erased almost all doubt in the outcome. There were seven combined turnovers, and neither side topped 300 yards of offense on the rainy day. Erik Cwalinski (2005-08) threw three touchdown passes while Michael Landers (2007-10) notched seven stops, 2.0 TFL, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
2014 Schedule Aug. 28 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 8 Nov. 15 Nov. 22
EASTERN KENTUCKY @ North Dakota @ Lafayette @ Dayton MONMOUTH # @ Sacred Heart * CENTRAL CONN. STATE * @ No. 25 Bryant * WAGNER * SAINT FRANCIS * $ @ Duquesne *
L, 10-29 L, 13-16 L, 3-50 L, 7-31 L, 20-51 L, 13-52 W, 27-24 L, 9-42 L, 0-20 Noon Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost ......................... 10 / 14 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 5 / 6 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 3 / 8 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 2 / 0 Letterwinners Returning / Lost ............. 20 / 30 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 5 / 6 LG - Max Robertson .......................... 6-3, 305, Jr. C - Nick Faraci ................................... 6-1, 285, Sr. RT - Jon Hill ................................... 6-4, 290, R-Sr. FB - Ryan Thermil ............................. 5-9, 235, Sr. WR - Duane Mitchell ........................ 6-1, 205, Sr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost .......... 3 / 8 DE - Forrest Mason ........................... 6-2, 275, Sr. OLB - Mike Stojkovic ....................... 6-2, 220, Sr. CB - Antwan Eddie .......................... 5-10, 180, Sr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 2 / 0 PK - Connor Shennan ....................... 6-2, 195, So. P - Tony LaMancusa ........................ 5-10, 195, Sr.
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