Staten Island, N.Y. - The Robert Morris University football team scored two touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the game and recovered an ensuing on-side kick but could not complete its comeback as it fell to Wagner, 23-13, Saturday afternoon on a mild day at Wagner College Stadium.

RMU gained more yards per play than Wagner and had fewer than half of the Seahawks' total penalty yards, but that was not enough for the Colonials to earn their fourth-consecutive victory at Wagner.

Senior Jeff Sinclair (Natrona Heights, Pa. / Highlands) threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, tallying the fifth multi-TD game in his last six outings. Sinclair, who fell just short of notching at least 250 yards of total offense for the third straight week, became just the third Colonial in history to surpass 6,000 career yards of total offense and the fifth to reach the 400-completion plateau.

Sinclair helped pick apart Wagner's pass defense better than the Seahawks' average opponent. Wagner entered the game allowing fewer than 154 passing yards per game, but the Colonials' passing total was more than 50 percent higher than that.

True freshman D.J. Hayes (West Mifflin, Pa. / West Mifflin) registered his first-career touchdown reception as he hauled in a 38-yard catch in stride in the end zone.

Senior linebacker Brad Banas (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) posted a game-high 10 tackles and added a sack to lead the Robert Morris defense.

Wagner is the national leader in kickoff return yardage, and it showed why on the game's opening play as Otis Wright returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score.

Robert Morris had a solid opening drive as it started on its own 25-yard line and advanced the ball down to the Seahawks' 8-yard line. The Colonials converted two key fourth downs on the drive courtesy of a Ryan Thermil (Fort Washington, Md. / St. Joseph's & St. Agnes) rush and a pass to tight end Tyler Digby (New Westminster, British Columbia / New Westminster). RMU eventually could not convert on a third-down rush and was forced to attempt a field goal, but the Seahawks made another big special teams play and blocked it.

Wagner followed up with a 12-play, 79-yard drive that allowed the hosts to tack on a field goal although the Colonial defense did well to prevent a touchdown as the Seahawks had first-and-goal from the 7-yard line.

The next three drives resulted in punts although the Colonials had advanced the ball inside Wagner's 40-yard line on one possession before being stopped.

Wagner concluded the half with a 9-play, 48-yard drive as David Lopez's field goal drilled the left upright but still snuck through the goalposts as time expired.

After three more punts, Wagner produced a 17-play, 89-yard drive that helped the Seahawks extend their lead. RMU appeared to have Wagner stopped on a third-down play, but an untimely pass interference penalty was called. The Colonials then stuffed Wagner short on two goal-line rushes and looked as though they might have held Wagner again, but the officials ruled that the ball just broke the goal line on a rush attempt.

After the game's first turnover, Wagner was set up with the ball on RMU's 13-yard line, but the Colonial defense did well to not allow a first down and forced another field goal try.

The RMU offense truly found its groove on its next possession as it went 76 yards on just five plays, a drive which was capped off by a 39-yard pass from Sinclair to junior wide receiver Donte Jeter (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Oliver).

The Colonials forced a punt after five plays on the Seahawks' next drive, and RMU took over on its own 14-yard line.

Robert Morris moved the ball to near midfield on a 31-yard pass to senior William Quarles (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin), and the guests would tighten the proceedings when Sinclair hit Hayes deep down the field for the rookie's second-career reception. RMU attempted a two-point conversion, but the pass was wide of its target.

Senior Greg Langer (Wexford, Pa. / Pine-Richland) then attempted a brilliant on-side kick that popped up in the air, giving the Colonials a chance to grab it. Junior Evan Taylor (Redding, Calif. / Shasta) pounced on the loose ball as RMU was successful on its first such try of the season.

However, RMU was unable to score again and would proceed to turn the ball over on downs, essentially ending the game.

Senior Nolan Nearhoof (Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area) had eight tackles and a sack, extending his program record in the latter category to 23.5.

Robert Morris fell to 12-7 all-time against Wagner. Linebacker Luke Mueller (Cranberry Township, Pa. / Seneca Valley) made his first-career start for the Colonials.

RMU will return home next weekend as it hosts local rival Duquesne Saturday, Nov. 3. The opening kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. in a game that will air live on ESPN3 and ROOT Sports.