Robert Morris (0-1) @ No. 17 Youngstown State (0-1) Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Stambaugh Stadium (20,630) - Youngstown, Ohio Radio: ESPN 970 AM (Chris Shovlin - play-by-play & Brian Cleary - color) Audio on the internet at: www.970espn.com / Live Video: ESPN3
Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team takes to the road for the first time in 2015 this Saturday, Sept. 12, as it makes a short jaunt to take on Youngstown State at 7:00 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. The Colonials dropped their opener against Dayton as the Flyers rallied in the fourth quarter to eke out a win. Youngstown State gave Pittsburgh everything it could handle in its opener but came up on the short end of a 45-37 decision. The Penguins have won four national championships, making YSU the third school Robert Morris has played in its history that has won a FCS title. True freshman Mathew Barr, an Ohio native, became the first true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for RMU since 1994 as he went the distance last week. Sophomore strong safety Ryan Richards Jr. became the first Colonial to win a weekly honor after the season’s opening week in six years when he was selected Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week. RMU will return home next weekend as it hosts Notre Dame (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 19, as part of the University’s Homecoming festivities. Quick Stat of the Evening - Robert Morris suffered a close loss in its opener, dropping a 27-24 decision to Dayton. However, the Colonials have shown an ability to bounce back from such setbacks throughout their history. RMU is 15-9 (.625) all-time when playing after a loss of four or fewer points in its previous game (within the same season). The Colonials have a mark of 6-2 (.750) when playing at home in these situations and 9-7 (.563) when hitting the road. Robert Morris has won three of its past four games after suffering a tight loss in its previous contest with two of those three victories coming on the road. In fact, in each of those three games, the Colonials rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to pull out a win. RMU most recently achieved this during the middle of the 2013 season—after falling by a single point the week prior, Robert Morris scored a touchdown in the final 90 seconds to post a 17-13 comeback win at Wagner. Saturday's Opponent - Saturday’s game between Robert Morris and Youngstown State marks the inaugural meeting between the two programs. Robert Morris owns a record of 19-13-1 (.609) when facing off with an opponent for the first time. Youngstown State is one of four new programs on RMU’s schedule this year, the most new foes the Colonials have faced since their inaugural season. The matchup with the Penguins will make 2015 the sixth consecutive season in which RMU has played at least one new opponent. Of RMU’s previous 33 games against a firsttime opponent, 17 have come on the road. In those games, RMU is 7-9-1 (.441). On This Date (Sept. 12) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played twice on September 12 and dropped decisions both times. Like this Saturday, both of those contests were also non-conference road tilts that served as RMU’s second game of the season. The most recent time the Colonials played on this date was in 2009 when RMU traveled to Bucknell for the only time in program history. After the Colonials and Bison played the first half to a 10-10 draw, Bucknell found the end zone with two defensive touchdowns in the first three minutes of the second half to seemingly take control. Robert Morris fought back with 13 straight points to pull within a point late in the fourth quarter, but the Colonials could not secure points on either of their final two drives and lost 26-23. RMU had a large advantage in total yards (348-183) thanks primarily to a tremendous effort against the run that saw the Colonials hold the Bison to -18 rushing yards. Ian Milanak (2006-09) posted 4.5 tackles for loss in the setback.
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 State 7 p.m. NOTRE DAME (Ohio) # 3 p.m. @ #9 South Dakota State 6 p.m. @ Wagner * Noon SACRED HEART * Noon DUQUESNE * 6 p.m. @ Central Conn. State * Noon EAST TENNESSEE STATE Noon @ 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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