Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University football team scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning touchdown pass with 3:49 to play, to cap the largest comeback in school history as the Colonials defeated Central Connecticut State, 27-24, in Northeast Conference action on a cloudy and sometimes wet Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium.
 
RMU trailed, 24-6, with under 10 minutes to go in the third quarter before launching a furious rally that was keyed in part by three turnovers forced by the Colonial defense. The 18-point deficit is the largest ever overcome in a victory in Robert Morris history as the previous mark of 14 had been achieved on multiple occasions.
 
In addition to winning the turnover battle, Robert Morris had advantages in a variety of statistical categories including first downs, passing yards, total yards of offense, time of possession, third down conversion percentage, fourth down conversion percentage and red zone conversion percentage.
 
Senior Hunter Khaleghi was a key part of the victory for RMU as he went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including connecting on a career-long 42-yard attempt, and also dribbled an on-side kick that the Colonials recovered. His four made field goals broke a school record that had stood since 1998, and Khaleghi also tied the RMU single-game record for points scored via kicking with 13.
 
Junior Derik Abbott completed a career-high 18 passes on 28 attempts and threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns with zero turnovers. Abbott, who also caught a pass on a two-point conversion, becomes the first RMU quarterback ever to throw for multiple touchdowns in each of his first three starts.
 
Sophomore Nic Lamica was the game's leading receiver as he caught a career-high eight passes for a career-best 112 yards and hauled in a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, his second score in as many weeks.
 
Senior Ryan Thermil ran for a career-high 113 yards, 94 of which came in the second half.
 
After RMU punted on its first possession, CCSU used a 10-play drive to move to the RMU 11-yard line, but the Colonials held firm to force a field goal try that was converted.
 
CCSU tried to add to its lead on its next drive after a Colonial turnover, but the RMU defense again notched a stop in the red zone and the subsequent field goal attempt was wide left.
 
Robert Morris used the momentum of the stop to tie the game as a 14-play drive was capped off with a 39-yard field goal by Khaleghi. On two different third-down plays on the drive, Abbott connected with junior Luke Centofanti for conversions, including a fantastic, leaping 19-yard catch on a third-and-12 play.
 
Head coach John Banaszak then pulled into his bag of tricks as sophomore Sam Woods successfully recovered an onside kick on the final play of the first quarter. The special teams spark helped RMU take its first lead of the game as Khaleghi hit a 42-yarder on the ensuing drive.
 
CCSU came right back on its next drive to retake the lead as it benefited from a roughing-the-quarterback call and a 40-yard pass to take a 10-6 edge. After a RMU punt, the Blue Devils then found the end zone on five plays to move their advantage to 13 points.
 
RMU punted on its next drive, and Central Connecticut State again drove into RMU territory, but the Colonials forced a turnover on downs.
 
Robert Morris then drove inside the Blue Devils' 10-yard line but could not convert on a fourth down try, essentially closing the first half.
 
Central Connecticut State added to its lead with the first drive of the second half as it marched 75 yards to seemingly take control of the game.
 
However, the Colonials then began to fight back as they drove 60 yards, converting two third downs with rushes, before Khaleghi connected from 32 yards out.
 
CCSU drove into RMU territory on its next drive, keeping the pressure on, but sophomore Andy Smigiera notched a leaping interception, his second pick in the last three games.
 
Robert Morris responded by putting together its longest scoring drive of the season as it drove 91 yards on 16 plays. The Colonials converted three third downs on the drive, all with Abbott passes, and one fourth down with a Thermil rush. Abbott, who was 4-for-4 for 69 yards on the drive, hit Lamica with a 25-yard TD strike to pull the Colonials within one score. Thermil also ran for 41 yards on the drive.
 
The Colonial defense then continued its strong second half by forcing a three-and-out, and the subsequent punt by the Blue Devils was returned 31 yards by senior defensive back Antwan Eddie into Blue Devil territory.
 
RMU would convert on a fourth-and-six pass to Centofanti on the ensuing drive before Khaleghi broke the record with his shortest field goal of the day.
 
On the third play of CCSU's next drive, senior Forrest Mason jarred the ball free from the Blue Devil quarterback on a sack, his first-career forced fumble, and subsequently recovered the pigskin to give the RMU offense golden field position.
 
RMU didn't waste time taking advantage as Abbott nailed senior Duane Mitchell on a slant on the second play of the next drive to put the Colonials on top. Robert Morris then elected to go for two, and this time it was the opposite of the previous play. Thermil took a direct snap and pitched the ball backwards to Mitchell—Mitchell then lofted a pass to a wide open Abbott for the conversion.
 
CCSU moved the ball near midfield on its next drive, but junior David Taylor jumped the route and posted RMU's second pick of the half and his fourth of the season.
 
RMU forced Central Connecticut State to use all of its timeouts on its final drive of the game, but its subsequent punt was blocked, giving the Blue Devils one final chance.
 
However, the Robert Morris defense was up to the task as it held CCSU to -16 yards on its final three plays. Senior linebacker Mike Stojkovic tackled a Blue Devil on a screen pass inbounds on a third down play, which let time expire and sent the Colonial sideline into jubilation.
 
Stojkovic notched a team-high nine stops, including a half-tackle for loss, while Mason tallied eight hits and a pass breakup in addition to his strip sack. The duo helped the Colonial defense limit the Blue Devils to only 116 passing yards.
 
Mitchell, who caught a pass for the 29th consecutive game, moved into second place in career receptions at RMU (114) Saturday and also edged into sole possession of fourth place in touchdown grabs (16).
 
Eddie slid into third place in career punt return yards at Robert Morris (498) with his long return Saturday.
 
Abbott moved into the career top 10 at RMU in passing yards with his effort Saturday.
 
RMU ran 82 offensive plays, marking the fourth time this season in which it has run at least 80, tying the school record.
 
The victory marked the first win for head coach John Banaszak at the Division I level.
 
RMU will return to the field next Saturday, Oct. 25, as it makes the trek to Bryant in a NEC contest at 1:00 p.m.