Robert Morris (3-6 / 1-3) @ Saint Francis (6-3 / 3-1) Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 at Noon DeGol Field (3,500) - Loretto, 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 hits the road for the final time this season as it makes the short jaunt east this Saturday, Nov. 14, as it resumes Northeast Conference (NEC) play by taking on Saint Francis at Noon at DeGol Field. RMU got back into the win column last week and did so with some flair for the dramatic as the Colonials scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final four minutes to take down East Tennessee State. Saint Francis is celebrating Senior Day Saturday and will seek to collect its third straight win as it downed Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut in the past two weeks. Nick Faraci started his 42nd consecutive game at center last Saturday and now owns the most career starts of any non-specialist in RMU history. Redshirt freshman Kyle Buss posted 138 receiving yards in last week’s win, becoming the fourth Colonial to have at least three 100-yard receiving outings in a season. Forrest Mason needs one sack to move into the top three all-time at RMU in that category. Robert Morris will return home for its season finale next weekend against Bryant Nov. 21, as the Colonials celebrate Senior Day. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - The selection of true freshman quarterback Mathew Barr as the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week this past Monday represented the latest in a long line of Colonial weekly honorees. Barr’s NEC accolade was the 10th collected by a Colonial in 2015, which is the most for Robert Morris in a year since the 2000 team captured 11 en route to an undefeated season. The RMU single-season record for NEC weekly accolades is 13, which came in 1998 on the strength of Tim Levcik (1998-2001) racking up seven rookie honors. The most impressive part about this season’s individual awards for RMU is how many Colonials have been recognized. Barr became the eighth different Colonial to earn a weekly award in 2015, breaking the program record for distinct number of student-athletes to win weekly honors in a season. Four of RMU’s eight honorees are freshmen, and only one of the eight is a senior. Saturday's Opponent - Saint Francis is one of just three opponents Robert Morris faced in each of the first 21 years the Colonials fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Central Connecticut State and Wagner. All-time the Colonials are 15-5-1 (.738) against the Red Flash. Despite RMU dominating in the all-time series, Saint Francis has had its way lately as it has won each of the past three meetings. Three of the Colonials’ five losses to Saint Francis have come in November, including each of the past two. 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. 14) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played on two previous instances on this date, picking up one win and one loss. Unlike this week, both of those affairs were home games. The most recent time RMU competed on this date came in its 2009 home finale against Wagner. The Colonials and Seahawks were deadlocked, 10-10, at the half with the guests enjoying a slight edge in most statistical categories. However, things changed drastically in the final two quarters as RMU scored 27 unanswered points to close the game. Robert Morris held Wagner to just 61 total yards in the second half and finished the day with a 422-286 advantage in total yards. Myles Russ (2007-10) ran for 173 yards on just 19 carries, averaging a career-best 9.1 yards per rush. Jeff Sinclair (2009-12) threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over. Michael Landers (2007-10) led all players with 12 stops while Michael Richards (2008-10) tallied the game’s lone turnover with an interception.
2015 Schedule Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21
DAYTON L, 24-27 @ #17 Youngstown St. L, 14-21 (OT) NOTRE DAME (Ohio) # W, 35-24 @ #6 South Dakota State L, 10-34 @ Wagner * W, 9-6 SACRED HEART * L, 13-26 DUQUESNE * L, 7-16 @ Central Conn. State * L, 0-34 EAST TENNESSEE STATE W, 21-9 @ Saint Francis * Noon BRYANT * $ Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost ........................... 15 / 9 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 8 / 3 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 7 / 4 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 0 / 2 Letterwinners Returning / Lost ............. 38 / 16 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 8 / 3 LT - Blake Chambliss ................. (6-5, 300, R-So.) LG - Max Robertson ....................... (6-4, 325, Sr.) C - Nick Faraci ............................ (6-3, 290, R-Sr.) RG - Josh Thiel ............................. (6-3, 300, R-Jr.) QB - Derik Abbott .......................... (5-11, 195, Sr.) RB - Rameses Owens .................... (6-2, 230, So.) WR - Sean Gavin .......................... (6-0, 175, R-Jr.) WR - Nic Lamica ........................ (6-4, 220, R-So.) Defensive Starters Returning / Lost .......... 7 / 4 DE - Forrest Mason .................... (6-3, 280, R-Sr.) DE - Austin Trgovcich ................. (6-2, 260, R-Jr.) OLB - Jimmy Masson ...................... (6-0, 200, Jr.) ILB - Mike Stojkovic ................... (6-3, 240, R-Sr.) ILB - Jake Tkach .......................... (6-0, 235, R-Sr.) SS - Sam Woods .......................... (6-0, 190, R-So.) WS - Andy Smigiera ........................ (6-1, 205, Jr.) Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 0 / 2 For the latest information on Robert Morris University football, including news, stats, records and videos, please visit:
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