Albany, N.Y. - Albany jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back in handing the Robert Morris University football team its fifth straight loss Saturday at University Field, 45-17. The defeat drops the Colonials to 3-6 overall, including 2-3 in Northeast Conference play, while the Great Danes improved to 6-3 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the NEC.

On the second offensive play of the game, a botched handoff led to a Robert Morris fumble, and Albany was able to gain possession when Dave Nicomini came up with the loose ball at the Colonial 16-yard line. The RMU defense stuffed Albany on its drive, including a pair of sacks of quarterback Vinny Esposito, forcing the Great Danes to settle for a 33-yard field goal from Jason Fralicker. After Robert Morris went three-and-out on its next two possessions, Albany took a 10-0 lead when David McCarty capped a five-play, 53-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown run. 

The Great Danes would extend their lead to 17-0 with 48 seconds left in the first quarter when Omar Johnson scored from two yards out. The drive went just nine yards thanks to a blocked punt by Albany, as Dave West broke through the RMU line untouched and blocked a punt by freshman Nick Schirtzinger (Hurricane, W.Va. / Hurricane) after the Colonial offense went three-and-out for the third straight series. Freshman Ryan Nearhoof (Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area) came up with the ball after the blocked punt at the RMU nine-yard line, and Robert Morris turned the ball over on downs. Three plays later Johnson hit paydirt to give the Great Danes a 17-0 edge.

Robert Morris got on the board with 12:01 to play before the half when junior Michael Walser (Thornville, Ohio / Sheridan) capped an 11-play, 52-yard drive with a 41-yard field goal. The deficit was closed to a touchdown, 17-10, when junior quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, Ohio / Shadyside) connected with senior wide receiver Julian Ellison (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Carrick) for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 4:45 left before the break. The big play came on special teams, as faced with a 4th-and-3 from its own 47-yard line, Robert Morris was forced to punt. However, Albany was flagged for roughing the kicker on Schirtzinger's attempt, and the Colonials got the ball back with a fresh set of downs at the Albany 38-yard line.

Despite 10 unanswered points, Albany came right back to stretch its lead to double digits again, 24-10, when McCarty caught a pass in the flat, broke a couple of tackles and scampered 61 yards down the sideline for a Great Danes touchdown. The Colonials would get no closer, as McCarty opened the second half with eight straight rushes for 58 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run to extend the Albany lead to 31-10. Justin Gannon added a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to give Albany a 38-10 lead with 6:35 to go, and the Colonials answered with a seven-play, 62-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a three-yard strike from Cwalinski to freshman tight end Sean McElhinny (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette). Omar Johnson scored his second touchdown of the day, an 18-yard run, with 1:24 remaining to cap the afternoon's scoring.

McCarty finished with 228 all-purpose yards on the afternoon, rushing for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries and adding a reception for 61 yards and a score. Johnson added 70 yards on the ground on 16 carries as the Great Danes compiled 292 rushing yards and 377 yards of total offense. Cwalinski finished 19-for-37 passing for 223 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while Ellison notched the first 100-yard receiving game of his career with six catches for 116 yards and a score.

The RMU defense was paced by senior linebacker Chad Wengert (Kempton, Pa. / Kutztown) and sophomore safety Nathan Argenta (Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic), who each finished with 11 tackles. Senior linebacker Jordan Howard (Uniontown, Ohio / Lake) and sophomore linebacker Adam Lawrence (Big Run, Pa. / Dubois Area) each finished with 10 tackles. Lawrence recorded two of RMU's seven sacks on the afternoon, all of which occurred in the first half.

Robert Morris closes out its 2007 campaign Saturday, Nov. 10, when it welcomes Sacred Heart to Joe Walton Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. NEC contest.