Box Score Moon Township, Pa. - Monmouth turned three fourth-quarter turnovers into nine points and the visiting Hawks snapped the Robert Morris University football team's five-game winning streak Saturday afternoon, 16-7, at Joe Walton Stadium. The defeat drops the Colonials to 5-3 overall on the 2006 campaign, including 3-1 in Northeast Conference play, while Monmouth improved to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in league action.
With the score tied, 7-7, late in the fourth quarter, RMU sophomore quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, Ohio / Shadyside) was picked off by Matt Hill of the Hawks at the Colonial 36-yard line. Four plays later David Sinisi scored from two yards out to give Monmouth a 13-7 advantage with 2:58 left to play after the extra point was blocked. Robert Morris tried to respond on its next drive but Cwalinski's pass to sophomore Sherrod Evers (Philadelphia, Pa. / Mastbaum Area) on fourth-and-nine was tipped by Hawks linebacker Mike Castellano, and the Colonials turned the ball over at their own 21-yard line. Fred Weingart would help Monmouth seal the victory with a 39-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining.
After a scoreless first half, the Hawks took a 7-0 lead when Boland connected with wide receiver Adam San Miguel for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 6:04 to play in the third quarter. After holding the Colonials on their next possession, Boland started to drive the Hawks before fumbling, and freshman cornerback Jacky Candy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Stranahan) pounced on the loose ball to give the ball back to Robert Morris. On the next play Cwalinski hooked up with junior split end Mario Hines (Ecorse, Mich. / Ecorse) for a 38-yard touchdown pass on a flea-flicker to tie the score, 7-7.
Robert Morris almost took its first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter, but Cwalinski was intercepted by Monmouth's Jamaal McClintock at the Hawks one-yard line trying to connect with Hines. After holding the Hawks to three-and-out, the Colonials again began to drive, marching down to the Monmouth 15-yard line after Cwalinski hooked up with Evers for a 19-yard pass on fourth-and-six. On the next play, however, freshman halfback Brian Harden (Sunrise, Fla. / Stranahan) fumbled, and Castellano came up with the loose ball to give the ball back to the Hawks.
Cwalinski finished 14-for-30 passing for 189 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while Boland completed 17 of his 30 passing attempts for 223 yards and a touchdown. Cwalinski's favorite target was Hines, who caught four passes for 63 yards and a score, while senior split end Michael Rogers (Duarte, Calif. / Citrus J.C.) added four catches for 36 yards. San Miguel led the Monmouth receiving corps with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Robert Morris takes to the road for its next contest, traveling to Long Island, N.Y., for a 1:00 p.m. NEC contest at Stony Brook, Oct. 28.
Notes: The win is the fourth in a row for Monmouth against Robert Morris and ties the all-time series between the two clubs, 6-6 ... Junior linebacker Chad Wengert (Kempton, Pa. / Kutztown) paced the Colonial defense with 12 tackles, while senior safety Brian Pruitt (Steubenville, Ohio / Steubenville), junior safety James Kazil (Georgetown, Pa. / South Side) and junior linebacker Jordan Howard (Uniontown, Ohio / Lake) each had 10 stops ... Senior defensive lineman Ray Gensler (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Keystone Oaks) teamed up with junior defensive lineman Kelvern Grant (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / Hallendale) to sack Boland in the first quarter, helping Gensler establish a new RMU career record for sacks with 17.5 ... Senior Moises Hernandez (Miami, Fla. / LaSalle) paced the RMU ground game with 56 yards on 11 carries, an average of 5.1 yards per rush.
