Central Connecticut State (1-5 / 1-2) @ Robert Morris (1-5 / 0-3)
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at Noon
Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) - Moon Township, Pa.
Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team returns home for the first time in three weeks this Saturday, Oct. 20, at Noon as the Colonials host Central Connecticut State at Joe Walton Stadium. RMU is coming off of the short end of a 38-35 decision at Bryant last week, the Colonials' first loss in their past 18 games in which they've scored at least 30 points. Nolan Nearhoof provided a bright spot for RMU last weekend as he posted three sacks, which was more than enough to move him into the career lead at Robert Morris in that category. This is Central Connecticut's first visit to Moon Township since the squads met in 2010 with the NEC title essentially hanging in the balance as RMU claimed a 42-24 victory in that matchup. RMU has rushed for at least 170 yards in each of its past three games. RMU will welcome five individuals into its Athletics Hall of Fame at halftime, including former strong safety Ray Thomas (1997-2000), who tallied 240 career tackles, and longtime radio announcer Chris Shovlin. After facing the Blue Devils, Robert Morris will head right back on the road to take on Wagner Oct. 27.
Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Robert Morris senior defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof had a memorable day this past Saturday at Bryant as he broke RMU's all-time program record for career sacks. Nearhoof tied his single-game career high with three sacks and, in the process, became the first Colonial ever to surpass 20 sacks as he finished his day with 21.5. Ray Gensler (2003-06) previously held the record with 19. Nearhoof claimed his second-consecutive All-NEC First Team honor in 2011 despite missing the final two games due to injury. In doing so, Nearhoof became just the third player in the league, on offense or defense, to earn an all-conference first team award in both 2010 and 2011. In addition to topping the program in sacks, Nearhoof currently ranks as RMU's active leader in tackles (175) and tackles for loss (27.5). Nearhoof is currently tied for the NEC lead in sacks per game and is tied for 12th nationally.
Saturday's Opponent - Central Connecticut State is one of just three opponents Robert Morris faced in each of the first 18 years the Colonials fielded an intercollegiate program, joining fellow NEC foes Saint Francis and Wagner. All-time the Colonials are 13-5 (.722) against the Blue Devils, and the home team has won each of the past seven games in the series. The last time these two programs met at Joe Walton Stadium (11/6/10) RMU posted a 42-24 victory to clinch its sixth NEC championship.
All-Time Series vs. Central Connecticut State
RMU leads, 13-5
9/17/94 - W, 24-17; Away
9/30/95 - W, 45-3; Home
9/28/96 - W, 35-13; Away
9/27/97 - W, 44-21; Away
9/26/98 - W, 42-17; Home
9/25/99 - W, 27-24; Away
10/21/00 - W, 41-3; Home
10/20/01 - W, 38-18; Away
9/21/02 - W, 14-0; Home
10/11/03 - W, 27-17; Away
10/9/04 - L, 21-34; Home
10/15/05 - L, 14-21; Away
10/14/06 - W, 23-17 (OT); Home
10/13/07 - L, 10-16; Away
11/1/08 - W, 27-14; Home
10/10/09 - L, 20-34; Away
11/6/10 - W, 42-24; Home
11/5/11 - L, 24-31; Away
@ Moon Township, Pa. - RMU, 7-1
@ New Britain, Conn. - RMU, 6-4
CCSU Quick Outs - Robert Morris and CCSU own 10 NEC championships between the two programs, with the Colonials having produced six and the Blue Devils four … RMU won its first 10 games over CCSU, its longest winning streak against one opponent in school history … In the last meeting between these two squads at Joe Walton Stadium (11/6/10), Robert Morris posted a 42-24 victory to clinch the NEC title while simultaneously eliminating the Blue Devils from contention … The home team has won each of the last seven meetings in the series … Only six of the prior 18 meetings have been decided by fewer than 10 points, and five of those games occurred in Connecticut.
On This Date (Oct. 20) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris met CCSU 11 years ago to the day and came away with a 38-18 victory. Although the final score appears one-sided, the game was in doubt for much of the way as the Colonials trailed, 18-12, in the final minute of the third quarter before erupting for 26 points in the game's final 16 minutes while simultaneously holding CCSU scoreless. The Colonials' offense was on fire as it racked up 476 yards of total offense, the fourth-highest road total in RMU history, a figure which was almost equally balanced between rushing (235) and passing (241). Sam Dorsett (1999-2003) tallied 208 rushing yards, the second-highest road sum in Colonial history, on 27 attempts, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Tim Levcik (1998-2001) was 17-of-29 for 241 yards and tossed three touchdown passes while Stephen McNair (2001-02) caught five passes for 106 yards, including a touchdown. Corey Oaks (2001-02) notched an interception and recovered his own forced fumble to aid the win.
Head Coach Joe Walton (19th season; Pittsburgh '57) - At the forefront of the football renaissance at Robert Morris University throughout its 19-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.
The one constant associated with the program, Walton was named the first head coach July 27, 1993. He started the program from scratch, completing everything from hiring assistant coaches to purchasing equipment to recruiting student-athletes for the team's inaugural season in 1994. He owns an overall record of 106-84-1 (.558).
Walton's fingerprints are all over the football program,and to prove that, RMU has played its home games since 2005 in a stadium that bears his name. 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.
“It's hard to believe,” Walton speaks on how fast time has elapsed. “I've said this many times before, and I mean it when I say that this situation is one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my life. It happened at the right time. Before this position became available, I felt I was too young to quit coaching, but I wasn't anxious to get back into pro football. When this came along, it was the perfect fit. This situation was the perfect opportunity for me to continue to do what I like to do, and I've loved every minute of it.”
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.
Last Time Out - Robert Morris set seasons highs in points (35) and total yards (406) last Saturday at Bryant … RMU's 406 yards of total offense was its best output in its past 14 road games … RMU had fewer turnovers than its opponent for the third-consecutive game … The Colonials were a perfect 4-for-4 on converting red zone opportunities into touchdowns … Duane Mitchell caught a pair of touchdown passes, the first multi-TD game of his career … Fullback Nick Groat scored his first-career touchdown … True freshman Brian Jones tallied his first-career interception … Chris Thompkins posted a career-best two sacks … Jeff Sinclair jumped into third place in career total offense, surpassing 5,500 yards, and moved into fourth place in career TD passes with 48.
Against the Trend - Entering last Saturday's tilt at Bryant, in which RMU scored a season-high 35 points, Robert Morris had won 17 consecutive games, including 14 straight NEC contests, when scoring at least 30 points, a stretch that dated to the 2005 season. The last time RMU lost when scoring 30+ had been Oct. 29, 2005 when it fell to Stony Brook, 38-37. Additionally, prior to last Saturday, the Colonials had not lost on the road when scoring at least 30 points since Oct. 18, 1997 when they dropped a 33-30 decision to Towson.
Offensive Defense - Brad Banas intercepted a pass and returned 55 yards for a touchdown last week, marking RMU's second defensive TD in the past three weeks. It's the first time since 2008 that RMU has at least two defensive touchdowns in one season.
Run Forrest Run - The RMU offense has been chewing up chunks of yardage on the ground over the team's past three games as they have piled up 553 rushing yards, including tallying at least 170 in each of those outings. The past three games represents just the third time since 2001 in which RMU has rushed for at least 170 yards in three (or more) consecutive games with the other streaks happening during 2008 and 2010. Also, RMU's 197 rushing yards at Bryant last week was its best such road total in over six years.
Turnovers (Don't) Matter - The RMU defense has displayed an ability to force turnovers in its past three games as it has forced eight in this span. However, despite only committing four turnovers of its own during this stretch, RMU is only 1-2 (.333). In fact, the Colonials committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in each of their last two games and lost them both. That unfortunate feat marked the first time in school history in which RMU has committed fewer turnovers than its opponent in consecutive games and lost twice.
Regulation Only - Entering Saturday's game against Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris will have gone 64 consecutive games without having a contest go into overtime. That is the longest such streak in program history since the NCAA instituted overtime in college football for the 1996 season. In fact, every other current member of the NEC has played at least one overtime game since RMU's last such contest. The last time the Colonials headed to overtime was Oct. 14, 2006 when RMU upset No. 19 Central Connecticut State, 23-17 (2OT), in what was the program's first-ever game against a nationally ranked opponent. After Jacky Candy (2006) intercepted a Blue Devil pass right near the goal line in the second extra session, Erik Cwalinski (2005-08) hooked up with Mario Hines (2004, 2006-07) for a game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-12. That contest against the Blue Devils remains the only home game in RMU history to go into overtime.
