Robert Morris (0-5 / 0-0) @ Sacred Heart (4-1 / 0-0) Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 at Noon Campus Field (3,334) - Fairfield, Conn.
Radio: ESPN 970 AM (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Spencer Kowitz - color) Audio on the internet at: www.970espn.com / Live Video: www.necfrontrow.com Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team makes the first of two trips to New England this Saturday, Oct. 11, as it opens Northeast Conference play with defending league champion Sacred Heart at Campus Field at Noon. The Colonials were in action last week and suffered a setback to Monmouth in which points off turnovers were a large decider of the outcome. Meanwhile, the Pioneers are coming off one of the biggest wins in school history, a 10-7 win at nationally ranked Delaware. The last time these teams met a potential trip to the FCS playoffs was hanging in the balance. Junior Derik Abbott made his first-career start at quarterback last Saturday against the Hawks and tossed the first two touchdown passes of his career while true freshman Rameses Owens ran for 154 yards. Senior Duane Mitchell needs four catches to move into a tie for second place on the RMU all-time receptions list. Robert Morris will return home next weekend to host the other half of the NEC’s Nutmeg State contingent as it welcomes Central Connecticut State to Joe Walton Stadium Saturday, Oct. 18. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Saturday’s contest with Sacred Heart will, in some sense, mark the start of a new season for both programs as the Colonials and Pioneers will be opening Northeast Conference play this weekend, beginning a seven-week journey that will decide the league’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA playoffs. Robert Morris is 10-8 (.556) all-time in conference lidlifters dating back to the NEC’s first season sponsoring football in 1996. The surprising part about that mark is that the Colonials are only 3-7 (.300) when starting a conference season at home but are a remarkable 7-1 (.875) when starting NEC play away from Moon Township. Sacred Heart is one of seven opponents that RMU has opened conference play with in its history. This will be the third time that the Colonials have opened NEC action with the Pioneers. RMU lost a 44-31 decision in 2001 but collected a thrilling 35-31 win at Campus Field in 2010. Saturday's Opponent - Robert Morris has faced Sacred Heart in each of the past 16 seasons, and the series is dead even. In last year’s matchup, Sacred Heart jumped ahead early and held off 19 points by Robert Morris in the final 10 minutes to claim a win. Each of the past two times that RMU has traveled to Fairfield, the Colonials have claimed victories by scoring a touchdown in the final minute to turn a deficit into a lead. In the last two meetings, RMU has scored 34 of its 46 points against the Pioneers in the fourth quarter. For more information on the all-time series against Sacred Heart, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Oct. 11) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played twice previously on October 11. Both games were conference contests, and the Colonials were victorious on both occasions, earning wins in 2003 and 2008. The most recent game on this date for RMU doubled as its first-ever league game with county rival Duquesne. The game was a back-andforth affair played on a warm, sunny afternoon. The Dukes jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the second quarter, but Robert Morris scored 10 points in the final five minutes of the half to even the proceedings before intermission. RMU pulled ahead twice in the second half only to see Duquesne score a matching touchdown on its next drive. Robert Morris used a 12-play drive to pull ahead for good in the latter half of the fourth quarter before the Colonial defense forced a turnover on downs on the Dukes’ final drive. Myles Russ (2007-10) had a huge day as he ran for a career-best 246 yards and two TD, helping RMU accumulate 440 yards of total offense.
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 * @ Bryant * WAGNER * SAINT FRANCIS * $ @ Duquesne *
L, 10-29 L, 13-16 L, 3-50 L, 7-31 L, 20-51 Noon Noon 1 p.m. Noon 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.
For the latest information on Robert Morris University football, including news, stats, records and videos, please visit:
www.rmucolonials.com