Bulldog Stadium (4,400) - Smithfield, R.I.

Top Story - The Robert Morris University football team makes its longest conference trip of the season this Saturday, Oct. 25, as it continues NEC play by facing Bryant at Bulldog Stadium at 1:00 p.m. RMU rallied for a thrilling victory over Central Connecticut State last week as it scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to claim a win that came down to the game's final play. The Bulldogs entered the national rankings for the second time this season this week after winning their NEC opener by 15 points on the road a week ago. After RMU's last-second victory, three Colonials were bestowed weekly honors with Hunter Khaleghi (special teams), Nic Lamica (rookie) and Forrest Mason (defense) each winning the first such award of their careers. With a catch this week, senior Duane Mitchell would tie the Robert Morris record for consecutive games with a reception as he has he enters the weekend having caught a pass in each of the past 29 games RMU has played. After the long trip, Robert Morris will enjoy its final bye before returning home for back-to-back games against a pair of NEC foes, beginning with Wagner.

Quick Stat of the Afternoon - Last week against Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris trailed 17-6 at the half and then fell behind 24-6 early in the third quarter after the Blue Devils scored on the opening drive of the half. At that point, CCSU had not committed a turnover and had accrued 281 yards of total offense compared to RMU's total of 180. However, RMU rallied by scoring the game's final 21 points. Robert Morris forced turnovers on three of the Blue Devils' next four drives, with the lone exception being a three-and-out. Meanwhile, the RMU offense scored on four consecutive possessions to give the Colonials the lead. Robert Morris finished +2 in turnovers and ended the game leading in total yards after trailing by more than 100 earlier in the half as the Colonials held CCSU to 59 yards of offense in the final 29 minutes of play. And that is how RMU posted the largest come-from-behind win (18 points) in program history.

Saturday's Opponent - Bryant is the current conference foe that RMU has played the least with the Bulldogs joining the league in 2009. The Bulldogs had the Colonials' number, winning each of the first five games in the series, until last year when RMU posted a 24-3 victory with a stout defensive effort, including two interceptions by cornerback Antwan Eddie. Each of the last four RMU losses to Bryant has been a one-possession game. That includes RMU's last game at Bryant, a three-point setback that featured seven lead changes.

All-Time Series vs. Bryant
Bryant leads series, 5-1

10/18/08 - L, 7-20; Away
9/26/09 - L, 13-20; Home
11/13/10 - L, 21-27; Away
10/22/11 - L, 27-34; Home
10/13/12 - L, 35-38; Away
11/2/13 - W, 24-3; Home

@ Moon Township, Pa. - Bryant, 2-1
@ Smithfield, R.I. - Bryant, 3-0

Bryant Series Quick Outs - RMU's tilt against Bryant in 2010 marked the first time the program played a game as a ranked team, as the Colonials entered the game #25 in the Nov. 8, 2010, NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) rankings according to The Sports Network … This weekend's game will mark the first time that Bryant has played Robert Morris with the Bulldogs being nationally ranked … The teams combined for just 27 points last year after totaling 134 combined points in the previous two meetings … Robert Morris has had a lead over Bryant in each of their past four losses to the Bulldogs, including leading in the second half in three times … Robert Morris has had a higher red zone conversion percentage in five of the six previous meetings, while the teams had an equal percentage in the other game ... RMU notched 13 TFL in last year's game, its second-highest total against a Division I opponent in program history.

On This Date (Oct. 25) in Robert Morris Football History - Robert Morris has played three previous times on October 25 and has come away with a win each time. All three of these victories came in conference contests, two of which were on the road and two of which were against Wagner. RMU won two of the games by at least 21 points, but its closest outing on this date came in 2003 in what was Wagner's final visit to Moon Stadium. Drew Geyer's (2002-05) two first-half touchdown passes gave RMU a 13-9 lead at the break, but Wagner rallied to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. The Colonials pulled ahead once more only to see the Seahawks tie the game on the ensuing kickoff return with under three minutes left. RMU had the last laugh as Nate DiLorenzo (2003-06) hit a 22-yard field goal with five seconds left to lift the hosts to a 31-28 win. Geyer threw for 277 yards and three scores while Sam Dorsett (1999-2003) rushed for 113 and a TD. Three different Colonials tallied interceptions on the sunny afternoon.

Head Coach John Banaszak (first season; Eastern Michigan '75) - John Banaszak became the second head football coach in Robert Morris University history in December 2013. He served as an assistant coach and assistant head coach for the Colonials for 11 consecutive years prior to taking over the top spot. Banaszak was selected as Coach-In-Waiting in January 2012, allowing for a simple transition following the 2013 campaign.

At the end of the 2013 season, he was named as the Assistant Coach of the Year at the FCS level as selected by the American Football Coaches Association. He was one of five coaches selected for dedication to their teams and communities. He was the first RMU coach, as well as the first from the NEC, to claim this honor.

The 2013 season was Banaszak's sixth as assistant head coach for Robert Morris. Among his numerous duties with the program, he was responsible for tutoring the defensive line and the special teams unit.

Under Banaszak's guidance in 2013, Robert Morris led the NEC in net punting, punt return defense and punt return average. Banaszak was also a key component in instructing a RMU defense that finished second in the NEC in total defense within league play in 2013. Robert Morris finished its regular season ranked among the top 25 nationally in at least seven defensive categories including total defense.

With Banaszak's assistance, RMU has led the NEC in total defense four times in the past 10 years and ranked among the top four nine times in the past 11 seasons.

Banaszak was a key component to a 2010 defense that led the NEC in total defense as the Colonials claimed the NEC's inaugural berth in the FCS Playoffs. In 2006, he helped tutor an RMU defense that led I-AA in total defense, allowing an average of just 228.36 yards per game.

10 of the 13 players in school history to earn All-NEC recognition on the defensive line have come under the tutelage of Banaszak, including Nolan Nearhoof (2009-12), who was named the 2012 NEC Defensive Player of the Year after breaking both the school and league records for career sacks. Nearhoof would go on to earn All-America honors, becoming the third Colonial defensive lineman to claim an All-America nod under Banaszak in a seven-year span.

As much as Banaszak's presence has been felt on the defensive side of the ball, the same can be said on special teams. He has helped five distinct Colonials win an award at return specialist within the past decade.

A graduate of Eastern Michigan, Banaszak signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 1975 season and was one of only three rookies to make the defending Super Bowl champion team out of training camp.

Primarily a special teams player on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl X championship team, Banaszak started five games the following season and then started at both right end and inside tackle in 1977 before suffering a knee injury that forced him to the injured reserve list.

Between 1978 and 1980, Banaszak started 45 regular-season games at defensive end as the Steelers won back-to-back Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XIII, Banaszak recorded six tackles, including a pair of sacks, and a fumble recovery in a 35-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys, which garnered him Defensive Player of the Game honors. The following year, Banaszak helped the Steelers to a 31-19 victory over the Rams.

Last Time Out - Robert Morris scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning touchdown pass with 3:49 to play, as the Colonials defeated CCSU, 27-24 … RMU won the turnover battle and led in first downs, total yards and time of possession … Sophomore Sam Woods recovered an onside kick … Sophomore Andy Smigiera notched a leaping interception, his second pick in the last three games … RMU converted three third downs and a fourth down on a 91-yard scoring drive … Senior Forrest Mason posted his first-career forced fumble … Senior linebacker Mike Stojkovic notched a team-high nine stops, including one on the game's crucial final play.

Special Special Teams - Senior Hunter Khaleghi had one of the finest special teams performances in school history last week and earned NEC weekly honors. He was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts against CCSU, breaking a school record for field goal makes. It was also the most converted by any athlete in a NEC contest since 2002. He hit from a career-long 42 yards in the second quarter and also connected from 39 yards out to begin his day. Khaleghi added a successful onside kick to his ledger as well.

D-Fence - Senior Forrest Mason was a thorn in the side of the CCSU offense last week and earned NEC weekly honors as a result. He finished with eight tackles and forced the turnover that directly led to RMU's winning TD. On the eight stops he was in on, the CCSU ballcarriers combined for just 10 net yards. His biggest play was a strip sack and fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter with RMU trailing. He was the first Colonial defensive lineman to claim NEC Defensive Player of the Week since 1999.

Filling In - Senior Ryan Thermil was a big piece to the win for Robert Morris last week. Thermil ran for a career-high 113 yards, 94 of which came after halftime. He moved the sticks with RMU going for it on fourth down on a drive that ended with a TD. His effort made him the second Colonial this season to rush for 100+ yards in a game (Rameses Owens). It is the first time since 2009 that two Colonials ran for 100 yards in a game in the same season.

Taylor's Quartet - After entering 2014 without a career start, junior David Taylor has had quite the impact from his cornerback position thus far this season. Taylor has four interceptions in seven games, a mark which has him tied for first in the Northeast Conference. Taylor also blocked a field goal try at Lafayette as he came roaring off the corner to get a piece of the pigskin.

Trick-or-Treat - Robert Morris' thrilling comeback win last week may not have been possible without some well-executed, but rarely run, plays by the Colonials. RMU successfully recovered an onside kick against the Blue Devils, the first time it recovered one since October 2012. RMU also converted a two-point conversion with a pass to primary quarterback Derik Abbott.