Moon Township, Pa. - Sam Nina-Sinkam blocked a 22-yard field goal attempt by sophomore kicker Garrett Clawson (Duncansville, Pa. / Hollidaysburg) with two seconds to play to help salvage a 17-14 victory for Bucknell over the Robert Morris University football team Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium. The win improves the Bison to 2-0 on the 2008 campaign, while the Colonials fall to 1-1. 

RMU got the ball back with just two minutes to play after junior linebacker Ian Milanak (North Apollo, Pa. / Apollo Ridge) blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt by Bucknell's Will Carney. The Colonials quickly moved the ball down the field, as senior quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, Ohio / Shadyside) connected with four different receivers in the two-minute offense.

A big play came when Cwalinski hooked up with senior wide receiver Chris Kozak (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) for a 26-yard gain down to the Bison 28-yard line. Three plays later Cwalinski tried to hook up with Kozak again, this time in the end zone, but despite an incompletion Brandon Simmons of Bucknell was flagged for pass interference.

Robert Morris received new life with a first-and-goal at the Bison two-yard line, and it looked as if the Colonials were going to win the game when sophomore halfback Myles Russ (Boca Raton, Fla. / West Boca) scored from a yard out with 18 seconds remaining. However, senior Sherrod Evers (Philadelphia, Pa. / Mastbaum Area) was whistled for an illegal shift, pushing the ball back five yards to the Bucknell six-yard line. 

Cwalinski tried unsuccessfully to connect with both Evers and Kozak, respectively, in the end zone on the next two plays, setting up Clawson's 22-yard field goal attempt to try to tie the game and send it into overtime.  

In a game that featured 17 penalties combined between the two teams, RMU took a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter when Cwalinski hit Evers for a 43-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker. The play was set up by the Colonial defense, as junior free safety Michael Landers (Springdale, Pa. / Springdale) intercepted Bucknell's Marcello Trigg at the RMU 18-yard line and returned it 24 yards to set up the Colonial offense at its own 42-yard line. Three plays later Cwalinski connected with Evers to give Robert Morris the early lead. 

The Colonials had an opportunity to extend their lead, but Clawson missed a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter. Bucknell responded off the missed attempt, using a nine-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Trigg to Alex Lair to tie the score, 7-7. The Bison were able to take a 10-7 advantage into halftime thanks to a 44-yard field goal from Carney as time expired in the first half. Carney attempted a 49-yard field goal and missed wide right, but Robert Morris was flagged for roughing the kicker. The five-yard penalty allowed Carney a second chance, and he drilled one from 44 yards to give Bucknell the lead at the break.

RMU responded on its first possession of the second half to take a 14-10 lead when on the second play of the drive Russ hit a seam and found daylight to scamper 68 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Bucknell would score what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown on a halfback pass, as Nolan Applegate hit Alex Odenbach for a 26-yard touchdown at the 7:46 mark of the third quarter. Applegate received a toss from Trigg and rolled out to his right to look for running room before finding Odenbach open in the end zone for the score. It was the first play of the drive for Bucknell, as Robert De La Rosa recovered a Cwalinski fumble after a sack. 

Robert Morris turned the ball over three times on the afternoon, all fumbles, while committing eight penalties that totaled 80 yards. Cwalinski finished 15-for-25 passing for 265 yards and a touchdown but was sacked three times, while Evers produced his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game by recording seven catches for 118 yards and a score. Russ paced the Colonials on the ground, finishing with 14 attempts for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Ryan Smith paced the Bucknell running attack with 13 carries for 60 yards, while Trigg finished 10-for-16 passing for 130 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing 10 times for 26 yards. The Colonial defense was paced by sophomore linebacker Alex DiMichele (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Sto-Rox), who finished with a game-high 19 tackles, while junior linebacker Adam Lawrence (Big Run, Pa. / Dubois Area) contributed 13 takedowns. Junior defensive end Mark Szymanski (Cadogan, Pa. / Ford City) recorded eight stops, including three for losses that totaled 11 yards.

The Colonials are next in action Saturday, Sept. 20, when they travel to Dayton for their first road contest of the 2008 campaign. Kickoff at Welcome Stadium is 1:00 p.m.