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Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University football team opened the home portion of its 2009 schedule Saturday afternoon by dropping a 21-14 decision to Dayton in a non-conference game at Joe Walton Stadium. The loss drops the Colonials to 0-3 for just the second time in school history, while the Flyers improve to 1-1.

The Colonials were able to take an early 7-0 lead thanks to a takeaway by the defense unit. On the fourth play from scrimmage, Flyer quarterback Steve Valentino dropped back and had a pass attempt tipped into the air, with junior linebacker Alex DiMichele (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Sto-Rox) grabbing the interception and returning it five yards to the Dayton 20-yard line. 

RMU's offense was able to cash in, as on 4th-and-goal from the Flyer one-yard line junior running back Josh Keil (Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area) pounded through the line to score the first touchdown of the game and give Robert Morris an early 7-0 lead.

Dayton got on the board in the second quarter, using a nine-play, 74-yard drive that was capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Valentino to Justin Millio with 4:49 to play before halftime to knot the score at 7-7. After a three-and-out by the Robert Morris offense, the Flyers got the ball back at the Colonial 45-yard line with 3:18 remaining before the break and capitalized, taking a 14-7 lead into halftime when Brian Mack punched it in from two yards out.

Valentino came up with a pair of big passes on third down to keep the drive going, connecting with Nick Collins for a 23-yard completion to the RMU 20-yard line, followed by an 18-yard pass to Anthony Papp on 3rd-and-8 down to the RMU two-yard line.

The Colonial offense struggled to move the ball all game, compiling just 67 yards of total offense in the first half, 48 of which came courtesy of junior running back Myles Russ (Boca Raton, Fla. / West Boca).

The score remained 14-7 heading into the fourth quarter, and the Flyers were able to take a 21-7 advantage when Valentino tossed his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, this time an eight-yard completion to Justin Watkins for the score. The Colonial defense had held Dayton, but on 3rd-and-goal from the RMU 27-yard line, Robert Morris was flagged with a personal foul thanks to a face mask, giving the Flyers new life with a 1st-and-goal. Dayton took advantage, scoring the eventual game-winning touchdown on the next play.

Robert Morris was able to close its deficit to 21-14 with 2:41 to go when senior quarterback Camdin Crouse (Snow Shoe, Pa. / Bald Eagle), making his second collegiate start, connected with senior wide receiver Sherrod Evers (Philadelphia, Pa. / Mastbaum Area) for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Dayton, however, was able to run the remaining 2:38 of action off the clock when Valentino picked up a first down thanks to a 10-yard run on 3rd-and-9 from the 50-yard line.

Russ finished with 19 carries for 87 yards rushing on the afternoon, while Crouse completed 10 of his 21 passing attempts for 74 yards and a touchdown. Evers led the Robert Morris receiving corps with five receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown. Valentino finished 14-for-29 passing for 192 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and also led the Flyer ground game, accumulating 58 yards rushing on 21 attempts.

DiMichele paced the RMU defense for a third straight game, tying for game-high honors with 12 tackles, including seven solo stops. He was one of three Colonials to record a double-digit tackle game, as senior safety Michael Landers (Springdale, Pa. / Springdale) recorded 11 takedowns, while junior linebacker Elias Navarro (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / South Plantation) finished with a career-high 10 stops.

Robert Morris continues a two-game home stand Saturday, Sept. 26, when it welcomes Bryant to Joe Walton Stadium for a Noon kickoff that marks the Northeast Conference opener for both programs. For the Bulldogs, in the second year of a four-year reclassification period from Division II to Division I, the contest marks their inaugural NEC game.