Fairfield, Conn. – The Robert Morris University football team was unable to overcome a nightmarish first quarter and dropped its Northeast Conference opener to Sacred Heart, 52-13, on an overcast and wet Saturday afternoon at Campus Field.
 
Sacred Heart, fresh off a win over nationally ranked Delaware, proved why it was chosen as the league's preseason favorite as each team opened its NEC slate.
 
Junior Derik Abbott completed 14-of-24 passes for a career-high 230 yards and two touchdowns for RMU, tossing multiple scores for the second straight week.
 
Abbott's TD passes were hauled in by junior Justin Kempka and sophomore Nic Lamica with both Colonials finding the end zone for the first time in their respective careers.
 
Lamica, who posted a career-best 93 receiving yards, led a receiving corps that saw junior Luke Centofanti contribute a career-high 53 yards while senior Duane Mitchell, who caught a pass for the 28th consecutive game, totaled 50 receiving yards.
 
True freshman Rameses Owens led the ground attack for RMU with 70 rushing yards while sophomore Andy Smigiera topped the RMU defense with a career-high tying nine tackles.
 
Sacred Heart scored on each of its first-quarter possessions, aided by a blocked punt and a double reverse rush for a touchdown. The Pioneers held the Colonials to punts on their first three drives of the game to jump out to an early lead that they would never relinquish.
 
RMU's first scoring drive culminated on a third-and-goal play where Sacred Heart came ready for the run, but Abbott lofted a pass to a wide open Kempka. Later in the second quarter, RMU drove inside Sacred Heart's 25-yard line, but an untimely fumble stopped the momentum.
 
Sacred Heart scored on its first drive of the second half to dim any hopes of a Colonial comeback.
 
Robert Morris got within a yard of a touchdown on its first possession of the fourth quarter but could not punch it in. Later in the period, Lamica hauled in Abbott's second touchdown pass of the day as he beat his man down the left sideline and made the grab in the end zone.
 
Senior Tony LaMancusa, a four-year starter at punter, broke the Robert Morris career record for punt attempts Saturday and now has 231 in his career.
 
Senior defensive back Antwan Eddie moved into RMU's career top 10 in passes defended Saturday.
 
RMU will be back in action next Saturday, Oct. 18, as it hosts Central Connecticut State in a NEC matchup at Noon.