Wagner (4-4 / 2-1) @ Robert Morris (1-7 / 1-2) Saturday, Nov. 8, 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: ESPN3 (www.espn3.com) Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team returns home after a bye week for its fourth Northeast Conference (NEC) contest this Saturday, Nov. 8, at Noon as the Colonials welcome Wagner to Joe Walton Stadium for a game featured live on ESPN3. RMU dropped a decision to first place and nationally ranked Bryant two weeks ago. That contest made 2014 the fifth consecutive season in which Robert Morris has faced a nationally ranked team, and each of the last five such games for RMU have come on the road. With a catch this week, senior Duane Mitchell would break the Robert Morris record for consecutive games with a reception as he enters the weekend having caught a pass in each of the past 30 games RMU has played. Mitchell is also nine catches shy of tying his own single-season school record for receptions. Gerald Ferguson earned his first-career start last time out at outside linebacker, becoming the 23rd Colonial to tally his first start in 2014, a number slated to increase this weekend. Robert Morris will remain home next weekend as it hosts in-state rival Saint Francis in its home finale. Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Saturday’s contest is part of the conference’s broadcast package and will be featured live on ESPN3. That fact should bode well for the Colonials based on recent history. Robert Morris is 7-1 (.875) in its last eight games that have been broadcast by the NEC, including 5-0 at home in this span. The Colonials have averaged 26.75 points per game in these eight affairs while allowing just 14.25 points per game over this set of games, including yielding only 10.80 at home. Saturday’s game will mark the second time that Robert Morris has faced Wagner with the bright lights on as the 2010 game between the squads was broadcast by the league. RMU trailed 9-0 at the half in that contest but scored 30 points in the game’s final 21 minutes to come away with a win on Staten Island. Since the 2005 season, Robert Morris is 9-4 (.692) when featured on a NEC broadcast, including 6-2 (.750) at Joe Walton Stadium. Saturday's Opponent - Wagner 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 Saint Francis. All-time the Colonials are 13-7 (.650) against the Seahawks. RMU owns nearly its entire advantage due to its play in home games. Robert Morris claimed an exciting 17-13 win last year in New York, the fourth straight year that the Colonials scored multiple touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Wagner. 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 (Nov. 8) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played three times before on November 8 and has produced one victory. All three contests were league affairs, and two of the three came against Albany. RMU’s first game on this date came in 1997 and was a win over Saint Francis that clinched the outright NEC championship for the Colonials. RMU didn’t waste time getting out to a fast start in the key contest as Jake Newman (1994-97) tossed two scoring strikes in the first quarter to stake RMU to a two-possession lead. A third Newman touchdown pass near the end of the half put the Colonials up 21-7 at the break. Robert Morris scored early in the second half, allowing it to go into cruise control. The defense pitched a shutout in the final 30 minutes, and RMU won 34-7. RMU racked up 220 rushing yards while holding the Red Flash to a mere 28. Fred Parker (1996-98) caught two scores while Brian Dunn (199497) grabbed two interceptions, sparking a three-game winning streak to close the season.
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 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.
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