Box Score

New Britain, Conn. – The Robert Morris University football team scored 30 points in the second quarter to break open a close game and cruised to a 54-21 victory at Central Connecticut State in a Northeast Conference (NEC) contest on a cloud-filled Saturday afternoon at Arute Field.
 
With its win over the Blue Devils coupled with other results in the league, RMU moved into sole possession of first place in the NEC. The Colonials now control their own destiny for clinching the league's automatic playoff berth and could do so as early as next weekend if multiple games play out in the Colonials' favor.
 
Robert Morris' 54 points are the second most in single-game school history and the most since the program's undefeated 2000 campaign, a span of 141 games. The Colonials put up 40 of those points in the first half, which broke the school record for most points in a single half (first or second).
 
While the offense had a number of highlights, RMU's defense once again served as a catalyst for the Colonials. Not only did RMU hold the reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Week to just 10-for-26 passing, but four different Colonials registered interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Robert Morris added a fumble recovery on the day, forcing CCSU into five turnovers, and held the potent Blue Devil offense 100 yards under their season average.
 
Redshirt senior safety Eric Lowry (Johnstown, Pa. / Bishop McCort) got the pick party going with a 38-yard return into the end zone in the second quarter. It was Lowry's second interception in three weeks, and the fourth of his career, but his first-career score.
 
On CCSU's very next drive, just three offensive plays later, sophomore linebacker Kimani Smith (Erie, Pa. / Erie Cathedral Prep) stepped in front of a pass and brought it back 31 yards to the house, registering his first interception and first touchdown on the same play.
 
Saturday was the eighth time in RMU history that it tallied at least four interceptions in a game and the first in the program's past 37 games.
 
Junior wide receiver Duane Mitchell (Monroe Falls, Ohio / Stow) found the end zone for the third straight week and continued to move his way up in the record book. He hauled in four passes for 100 yards and also had a would-be 84-yard touchdown partially called back due to a sideline infraction by the Colonials. Mitchell's second 100-yard game in three weeks makes him only the second Colonial in school history to hit 700 receiving yards in a single season. He moved into fifth in single-season catches at RMU (42) and also edged into ninth in career receiving yards (1,138).
 
While RMU dominated the game, Central Connecticut actually broke into the scoring column first as the hosts used a nine-play, 74-yard drive, capped with an eight-yard touchdown pass, to pull ahead fewer than four minutes into the game.
 
RMU came right back and drove into the red zone as Mitchell and true freshman Alex Caratelli (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Blackhawk) hauled in passes of at least 20 yards on the drive, both of which converted third-down attempts. The Colonials would settle for a field goal as true freshman Connor Shennan (Plymouth, Mich. / Canton) would knock it through.
 
Robert Morris began producing turnovers on its next drive as senior safety D.J. Myers (Aliquippa, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) fell on a loose ball in CCSU territory, claiming his first career fumble recovery. The Colonial offense made quick work of the takeaway as junior Paul Jones (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Sto-Rox (Penn State)) found Mitchell for an 11-yard scoring strike with the receiver fighting his way over the goal line.
 
After RMU forced the game's first punt, the offense would drive 57 yards on 11 plays to tack on another field goal.
 
Fewer than three minutes later, RMU would turn a six-point lead into a three-possession cushion as Lowry and Smith brought back interceptions to the end zone.
 
Robert Morris would force a CCSU punt on the next drive, and a strong return by junior cornerback Antwan Eddie (Homestead, Fla. / South Dade) moved the ball into Blue Devil territory.
 
The offense would take advantage within four plays as Jones hit redshirt senior tight end Tyler Digby (New Westminster, British Columbia / New Westminster) with an eight-yard bullet.
 
The tide of momentum continued for the Colonials as the defense once again forced a three-and-out, and the offense would cross the goal line on six plays on their next drive. Jones capped the scoring sequence by scrambling to his left and lofting a pass that was hauled in by a lunging Deontae Howard (Clairton, Pa. / Clairton) in the back half of the end zone. The play marked Howard's first receiving TD of his career.
 
CCSU tried to pull slightly closer before the half and would move into RMU territory, but sophomore defensive back Marcelis Branch (Homestead, Fla. / Miami Southridge) would notch the Colonials' third interception of the quarter in the waning seconds, keeping the halftime margin at 40-7. It was Branch's first pick of the season and fourth of his career.
 
After a pair of punts opened the second half, RMU would score with an eight-play drive. Junior fullback Ryan Thermil (Fort Washington, Md. / St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) rushed for 39 yards on the drive, including a 14-yard touchdown to cap it.
 
Two more punts followed before senior linebacker Luke Mueller (Cranberry Township, Pa. / Seneca Valley (Thiel)) would notch RMU's fourth interception, corralling a deflected pass initially broken up by Eddie.
 
Robert Morris was unable to take advantage on its ensuing drive, though, and two more punts then followed, taking the game into the fourth quarter.
 
CCSU scored two touchdowns in the final half of the fourth quarter while the Colonials added one of their own in mop-up time when sophomore Kenny Davis (Cincinnati, Ohio / Walnut Hills) ran one in from 32 yards out, notching his first-career score in the process.
 
Senior defensive lineman A.J. Holderman (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) posted five tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. In doing so, he jumped into third in single-season tackles for loss at RMU (14.0). Redshirt senior linebacker Mike Cook (Victoria, Minn. / Eden Prairie (Winona State)) contributed six tackles and moved into a tie for 10th in single-season stops at RMU (97). Sophomore Brian Jones (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) tied for team high honors with a career-best seven stops.
 
Eddie extended his single-season school record in punt return yards to an even 400. Paul Jones tossed three touchdowns for the second straight week and the third time this season. Thermil carried the ball a career-high 12 times for 63 yards.
 
Robert Morris' seven touchdowns tied for the second most in single-game school history. The 101 interception return yards by the Colonials are their third-most in single-game school history.
 
Saturday's win for RMU snapped a string of the home team winning eight straight games in this series. RMU also moved to 9-1 in its last 10 games when forcing at least three turnovers.
 
Robert Morris will look to maintain its momentum when it takes the field again at home next Saturday, Nov. 16, against Sacred Heart, a squad that would clinch at least a share of the conference championship with a win.