Moon Township, Pa. - Sacred Heart quarterback Tim Little ran for one touchdown and tossed a pair of scores in sending the Robert Morris University football team to its third straight loss Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium, as the Pioneers posted a 27-15 win over the Colonials.
SHU improved to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Northeast Conference with the win, while RMU slipped to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in conference action.
Junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair (Natrona Heights, Pa. / Highlands) gave Robert Morris an early 7-0 lead with a 22-yard touchdown run that capped a five-play, 61-yard drive on the opening possession of the game.
Chris Rogers would help Sacred Heart trim its deficit to 7-3 with a 32-yard field goal at the 7:22 mark of the first quarter, but junior Greg Langer (Wexford, Pa. / Pine-Richland) answered with his own trifecta, a 36-yard connection, to give the Colonials a 10-3 lead.
Little tied the game, 10-10, with a 15-yard touchdown run with 4:41 left before halftime, but RMU surged ahead, 13-10, on its next possession with a 45-yard field goal from Langer with just 2:01 remaining before the break.
Sacred Heart took control of the game after Langer's second field goal of the game, marching 58 yards on just seven plays before Little connected with Greg Moore for a 24-yard touchdown pass that propelled the Pioneers to a 17-13 advantage at intermission.
RMU's offense stalled in the second half, compiling 96 yards of total offense, including just 35 in the third quarter. Rock Tate would haul in a seven-yard touchdown pass from Little at the 3:11 mark of the third quarter that capped a six-play, 64-yard drive and gave Sacred Heart a 24-13 lead.
Rogers would add a 28-yard field goal with 5:44 to play to give the Pioneers a 27-13 lead, with Robert Morris accounting for its final points when Moore ran out of the end zone with under a minute to play to give the Colonials a safety.
Little finished 16-for-29 passing for 212 yards and two touchdowns despite being sacked four times, including three times by junior defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof (Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area). Moore racked up 163 all-purpose yards for the Pioneers, posting 17 carries for 55 yards rushing while recording six receptions for 108 yards and a score.
Sinclair finished 13-for-26 passing for 148 yards and was intercepted twice on the afternoon while also being sacked five times. Senior tight end Shadrae King (McKeesport, Pa. / McKeesport) finished with five receptions for 73 yards, while sophomore wide receiver Donte Jeter (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Oliver) caught four passes for 40 yards.
Nearhoof led Robert Morris defensively with 10 tackles, and produced a pair of quarterback hurries in addition to his trio of sacks.
In his first career start, sophomore linebacker Mark Centofanti (West Mifflin, Pa. / West Mifflin) finished with eight tackles, while senior linebacker Jon Krepps (Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon) and junior safety D.J. Myers (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) also each added eight takedowns.
RMU looks to snap its three-game slide Saturday, Nov. 5, when it takes on Central Connecticut State at Arute Field in New Britain, Conn., in a Noon game that will be televised live on PCNC.
Notes: The all-time series between Robert Morris and Sacred Heart is now tied, 7-7 ... The Pioneers finished with 300 yards of total offense compared to 239 for the Colonials ... RMU finished just 2-for-13 on third-down conversions and was unsuccessful on its only attempt going for it on fourth down ... Junior linebacker Mike Cook (Victoria, Minn. / Eden Prairie) produced a sack for Robert Morris as the Colonials finished with eight tackles for losses that totaled 35 yards ... Joining Centofanti in making their first career start against the Pioneers was freshman corner back Antwan Eddie (Homestead, Fla. / South Dade) ... A total of 21 Colonials have made their first collegiate start during the 2011 campaign ... King has now caught a pass in 27 straight games dating back to the 2009 season and extended his career record in receptions to 133 ... Nearhoof's three sacks give him a team-high seven and-a-half on the 2011 campaign and 16 for his career, three short of the Robert Morris career record held by former defensive lineman Ray Gensler (2003-06) ... Langer has converted five straight field goals and is 9-for-11 in the last six games.
