Robert Morris (2-4 / 0-1) @ Wagner (2-5 / 1-2) Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 at Noon Wagner College Stadium (3,300) - Staten Island, N.Y.
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 heads east for its Northeast Conference (NEC) road opener this Saturday, Oct. 26, at Noon as the Colonials take on defending league champion and preseason favorite Wagner at Wagner College Stadium. RMU opened conference play last week and dropped a 21-20 decision to Duquesne at home. The Dukes led 21-7 in the early stages of the fourth quarter. The Colonials would rally with a pair of touchdowns but fell an extra point shy of equalizing the proceedings. Junior cornerback Antwan Eddie returned against the Dukes after missing one game due to injury and now sits second in the nation at the FCS level with his 20.7 punt return average. Redshirt senior linebacker Mike Cook paces the NEC and sits second nationally in tackles per game, averaging 12.0 stops per outing. Wagner will become the first opponent that Robert Morris has faced 20 times as the Colonials celebrate their 20th anniversary season in 2013. RMU has four tilts remaining after the Seahawks, each against league foes, and will return home next Saturday, Nov. 2, as it hosts Bryant on ESPN3. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Each of Robert Morris’ six opponents thus far in the 2013 season have tried to convert at least one fourth-down attempt against the Colonials’ defense, while Dayton tried twice. On every occasion but one, the RMU defense has stood tall, stopping the opponent short and forcing a turnover on downs. As a result, Robert Morris ranks third nationally in fourth-down defense, allowing just one conversion on seven attempts, as only Jackson State and Penn rank ahead of the Colonials. Three of the Colonials’ stops came courtesy of a tackle for loss, two due to an incomplete pass and one on a tackle on a 1-yard rush on 4th-and-2. A.J. Holderman has figured into three of the stops on fourth down. He contributed on a sack as well as another tackle and also registered a pass breakup. Robert Morris’ single-season school record for opponent fourth-down conversion is 27%, which was established in the 2004 season. Saturday's Opponent - Wagner is one of just three opponents Robert Morris faced in each of the first 19 years the Colonials fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Central Connecticut State and Saint Francis. All-time the Colonials are 12-7 (.632) against the Seahawks. The entirety of RMU’s advantage in the all-time series is due to home games as the squads have split the 10 prior meetings on Staten Island. Wagner, which went on to win the NEC championship in 2012, won a 23-13 decision last year in New York. For more information on the all-time series against Wagner, including the last game recap, please see page four of today’s game notes. On This Date (Oct. 26) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris won its first-ever game on October 26, and its only prior conference contest on this date, during the 1996 season. The Colonials were coming off of a loss, as they are this week, but used a big victory over Monmouth to close with a 4-1 (.800) record in their final five games. Although the 43-6 final score indicated a blowout, the game was still in doubt entering the fourth quarter. RMU led 15-6 after three periods of play but used a 28-point barrage in the final stanza to break it open. Robert Morris had a strong, but balanced, rushing attack as it accrued 261 yards without having a single player rush for more than 85. That effort helped the Colonials outgain the Hawks by a wide, 424-193, margin. Jake Newman (1994-97) threw for three touchdowns to three different receivers. John O’Connell (1995-98) had a monster day defensively. He totaled nine tackles and three sacks in addition to forcing two fumbles and recovering the loose pigskin both times.
2013 Schedule Aug. 29 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23
@ #19 Eastern Kentucky L, 6-38 MORGAN STATE W, 31-14 DAYTON L, 14-21 @ VMI W, 37-31 (2 OT) @ Monmouth L, 9-35 DUQUESNE * # L, 20-21 @ Wagner * Noon BRYANT * Noon @ Central Conn. State * Noon SACRED HEART * ^ $ Noon @ Saint Francis * Noon
* NEC game; # Homecoming; ^ Hall of Fame Day; $ Senior Day
Colonials At A Glance Starters Returning / Lost .......................... 14 / 10 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 7 / 4 Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ............ 6 / 5 Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ............. 1 / 1 Letterwinners Returning / Lost .............. 34 / 21 Offensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 7 / 4 LT - A.J. Dalton .................................. 6-4, 280, Sr. LG - Max Robertson ......................... 6-3, 305, So. C - Nick Faraci .................................... 6-2, 275, Jr. RG - Vince Mongelluzzo .................... 6-3, 265, Sr. HB - Evan Taylor .............................. 5-10, 180, Sr. FL - Duane Mitchell ............................ 6-1, 210, Jr. SE - Donte Jeter .................................. 6-1, 160, Sr. Defensive Starters Returning / Lost ........... 6 / 5 NG - Farren Mason ....................... 5-11, 285, R-Sr. OLB - Mark Centofanti ...................... 6-1, 240, Sr. ILB - Mike Cook .............................. 6-0, 235, R-Sr. CB - Antwan Eddie ............................ 5-10, 180, Jr. CB - Marcelis Branch ....................... 5-11, 180, So. SS - D.J. Myers ................................... 5-11, 185, Sr. Specialist Starters Returning / Lost ........... 1 / 1 P - Tony LaMancusa ......................... 5-10, 200, Jr. For the latest information on Robert Morris University football, including news, stats, records and videos, please visit:
www.rmucolonials.com