New Britain, Conn. - The Robert Morris University football team saw its losing streak reach four Saturday afternoon as Central Connecticut State posted a 31-24 victory over the Colonials at Arute Field.

The Blue Devils snapped a six-game losing streak with the win and improved to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Northeast Conference, while RMU dipped to 2-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Central Connecticut State grabbed an early 7-0 lead at the 8:41 mark of the first quarter when Brian Fowler produced a nine-yard touchdown run.

The score was setup by a special teams snafu by Robert Morris, as a low snap on a punt attempt was never handled by freshman Tony LaMancusa (Tonawanda, N.Y. / St. Joseph's), with the Blue Devils recovering at the nine-yard line of the Colonials.

RMU would tie the contest, 7-7, in the second quarter when junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair (Natrona Heights, Pa. / Highlands) capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run.

Sinclair rushed twice for 16 yards during the drive and connected with senior Jamie Cobb (Casa Grande, Ariz. / Scottsdale Community College) twice for passes that totaled 35 yards, including a 17-yard strike that moved the ball to the CCSU seven-yard line.

The Colonials would take a 10-7 lead on their next possession thanks to a 33-yard field goal from junior Greg Langer (Wexford, Pa. / Pine-Richland), but Sinclair was lost for the rest of the game due to injury during the drive.

Central Connecticut State would take the lead back, 14-10, thanks to a five-yard touchdown pass from Gunnar Jespersen to David Sabilia with 1:24 left before the break, but freshman quarterback Matt Layman (Hilton Head, S.C. / Hilton Head Prep), subbing for Sinclair, gave RMU some spark heading into halftime, marching the Colonials 56 yards on four plays in just 39 seconds before capping it with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cobb. Layman completed all four of his passes during the drive for 61 yards.

Robert Morris would struggle offensively in the third quarter, however, going three-and-out on each of its three possessions. The Blue Devils took the lead for good with 3:47 to go in the third quarter when Jespersen tossed his second touchdown pass of the day, this time a 15-yard score to Raul DeBenendittis.

Fowler added a 13-yard touchdown run and Juan Duque a 31-yard field goal to push CCSU's advantage to 31-17 in the fourth quarter, but Layman engineered another quick scoring drive, marching Robert Morris 67 yards on just three plays, connecting with junior tight end Paul Evans (Elma, N.Y. / Iroquois Central) for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 2:07 remaining.

The Colonials tried the on-side kick to get the ball back, but Denzell Jones made a diving grab to help Central Connecticut State retain possession.

Layman finished 12-for-16 passing for 163 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the most extensive action of his young career in place of Sinclair.

Senior wide receiver Anthony Coleman (Cheltenham, Md. / St. John's College High School) posted a career-high seven receptions for 87 yards to pace the receiving corps, while Cobb recorded four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Prior to his injury Sinclair compiled 47 yards rushing and a touchdown on eight attempts and was 4-for-9 passing for 49 yards. Redshirt freshman Deontae Howard (Clairton, Pa. / Clairton) finished with a career-high 86 yards rushing on 15 carries, but 67 of those yards came in the first half.

A total of six Colonials reached double-digits in tackles, led by junior defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof (Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area), who finished with a career-high 13.

Junior linebacker Kyle Cooper (Hurricane, W.Va. / Hurricane) added 12 stops, while safeties Cameron Chadwick (Vista, Calif. / College of Canyons) and D.J. Myers (Aliquippa, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) each recorded 11 takedowns.

Junior defensive lineman Steve Mitchell (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) and junior linebacker Mike Cook (Victoria, Minn. / Eden Prairie) each tallied 10 tackles.

Robert Morris returns home to Joe Walton Stadium to host Wagner in its final home game of the 2011 campaign Saturday, Nov. 12. Kickoff is Noon.

Notes: Central Connecticut State has won five of the last eight meetings between the two programs but Robert Morris owns a 13-5 (.722) edge in the all-time series ... The Blue Devils racked up 485 yards of total offense, the most allowed by the Colonials on the 2011 season ... CCSU featured a balanced attack, producing 279 yards rushing and 206 yards passing ... RMU finished with 358 total yards but ran a season-low 55 offensive plays ... Senior tight end Shadrae King (McKeesport, Pa. / McKeesport) finished with two receptions for 18 yards, extending his own school record for consecutive games with a catch to 28 ... In addition to Sinclair's injury in the first half, Robert Morris lost starters Sam Miller (Washington, Pa. / Washington) and Antwan Eddie (Homestead, Fla. / South Dade) to injury, and the pair did not return after halftime ... Robert Morris started the game in a two-tight end set, with Evans earning his first career start in place of junior fullback Nick Groat (Youngstown, Ohio / Austintown-Fitch) ... Evans is the 22nd different Colonial to earn his first career start in 2011 ... Junior Antwan Smith (Bryans Road, Md. / College of Canyons) recorded his first career interception with a pick of Jespersen in the end zone in the third quarter ... Coleman finished with 165 all-purpose yards against the Blue Devils to move into fifth place all-time at Robert Morris in the category with 3,408.