Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team concludes its 2011 campaign Saturday with a Noon kickoff against crosstown rival Duquesne at Rooney Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Colonials are coming off a 38-17 loss to Wagner (11/12) in their final home game of the 2011 season, RMU's fifth straight loss. Freshman quarterback Matt Layman earned his first career start under center against Wagner and finished 6-for-16 passing for 70 yards before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter. Sophomore Tyler Forbes came on in relief of Layman and completed 10 of his 21 passing attempts for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception and will make his first career start Saturday against the Dukes. Forbes hit senior wide receiver Jamie Cobb with a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks, while redshirt freshman Deontae Howard scored his first collegiate touchdown with a one-yard run with 5:49 remaining. Robert Morris enters Saturday's game against Duquesne having used eight different starting lineups on both offense and defense in 2011, with 25 Colonials having earned their first career start. In all, a total of 40 Colonials have earned starting assignments in 2011, including 19 each on both offense and defense.

Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Senior tight end Shadrae King will suit up in a Robert Morris uniform for the final time Saturday afternoon at Duquesne and will go down as arguably the best tight end in school history. King became the program's all-time leading receiver earlier this season, and it's only fitting he's coming off a performance against Wagner (11/12) in which he established an RMU single-season record for receptions. King finished with eight catches for 76 yards against the Seahawks, pushing his total this year in receptions to 49. That total broke the old mark of 47 that was established in 2009 by former wide receiver Sherrod Evers (2006-09). King's average of 4.90 receptions per game entering Saturday's season finale against the Dukes ranks fourth in the Northeast Conference and would also establish a new single-season school record.

Saturday's Opponent - Duquesne and Robert Morris will meet for the 13th time Saturday, with the Colonials and Dukes having split the previous 12 meetings. Robert Morris posted a 34-11 victory over Duquesne in last year's matchup at Joe Walton Stadium (10/30/10) as former running back Myles Russ (2007-10) rushed for 154 yards and two scores and in the process became the program's all-time leading rusher.

* ECAC Bowl

Head Coach Joe Walton (18th Season; Pittsburgh '57) - At the forefront of the football renaissance at Robert Morris University throughout its 18-year history is Joe Walton, who has built the Colonials from a fledgling program into one of the top Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams in the region.

During his tenure, Walton has led Robert Morris to the first Northeast Conference championship in 1996, guided RMU to a perfect 10-0 season in 2000 and in 2010 helped lead the Colonials to the NEC's inaugural bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs with their league-high sixth regular-season championship.

Under Walton's tutelage, the Colonials have claimed outright NEC regular-season titles three times (1997, 1999, 2000) while sharing three others (1996, 1998, 2010). Walton led Robert Morris to back-to-back ECAC Bowl victories in 1996 and 1997, and in 1999 and 2000 he guided RMU to a pair of NCAA I-AA mid-major national crowns according to Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette.

In 2010, Walton added to his legacy by engineering the Colonials on an eight-game winning streak for a share of the NEC regular-season title and the NEC's first bid in the NCAA FCS Playoffs. In the process he picked up his 100th career victory in the collegiate ranks.

Wagner Game Notes - Robert Morris had a three-game winning streak against the Seahawks snapped but still leads the all-time series, 12-6 (.667) ... Dominique Williams became the first player in the seven-year history of Joe Walton Stadium to rush for four touchdowns in a game ... Overall Williams is the third player to score four touchdowns at The Joe ... Former RMU wide receiver Tjuan Massey (2002-05) caught four touchdown passes in a 38-37 setback to Stony Brook (10/29/05) ... In that same game Stony Brook wide receiver Lynell Suggs posted four touchdown catches.

Calling The Signals - Sophomore Tyler Forbes will become RMU's third starting quarterback in as many weeks Saturday when the Colonials square off @ Duquesne. In addition, Forbes will be the third Robert Morris quarterback to make his first career start at Rooney Field, joining junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair and former Colonial Rich Demaio (2000-03). Sinclair finished 20-for-36 passing for 219 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions Oct. 3, 2009, with his 20 completions the most by a true freshman making his first collegiate start in a Robert Morris uniform. Demaio, in what was his only career start, finished 33-for-45 passing for 444 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions Nov. 15, 2003, establishing single-game school records for completions (33) and passing yards (444).

Filling The Hole - Sophomore defensive lineman Chris Thompkins earned his first career start against Wagner (11/12) in place of the injured Nolan Nearhoof and excelled, establishing a career high with nine tackles. Included in those nine takedowns was a half a sack, as he teamed with senior defensive lineman Sam Miller. In 10 games this season, Thompkins owns 27 stops, including four and-a-half tackles for losses and two and-a-half sacks.