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Independence Day Magazine

Moon Township, Pa. – True freshman Rameses Owens ran for 154 yards, but the Monmouth Hawks used a considerable advantage in points off turnovers to take down the Robert Morris University football team, 51-20, in the Colonials' non-conference finale at a chilly Joe Walton Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
Despite the hosts having the edge in time of possession, offensive plays and having more than 50 fewer penalty yards, Monmouth's takeaways proved to be the difference. The setback for RMU deadlocked the all-time series between the squads at 10-10.
 
Owens ran for his 154 yards on just 24 carries, averaging over six yards per attempt. He reset his season-long with a 39-yard gallop in the second quarter. Owens, who surpassed 150 yards in a game for the second time in his young career, tallied the most rushing yards by an individual against Monmouth in the Hawks' last 29 outings.
 
Senior Duane Mitchell contributed 70 receiving yards and caught a touchdown. In doing so, he moved into third place in career receptions at RMU (108) and also became the third Colonial ever to surpass 1,500 receiving yards.
 
After each team punted on its first sequence of the game, Monmouth jumped on top with a pair of eight-play scoring drives on its next two possessions, the second of which was a mere 44 yards.
 
RMU would move near midfield on its next drive before being unable to convert in a third-and-long situation. The Colonial defense got a stop in a big way the next time on the field as sophomore Andy Smigiera notched the first interception of his career, taking away a potential touchdown in the end zone. Robert Morris was unable to take advantage, though, as the game's next three drives ended in punts.
 
Monmouth added two field goals on its next two drives while RMU amassed 85 yards on its final two drives of the half but would not come away with any points.
 
The Hawks would use the benefit of Colonial turnovers to score on their first three possessions of the second half to put the game out of reach.
 
Robert Morris would strike the scoring column in the third quarter with a 15-play, 86-yard drive. Junior Derik Abbott was 5-for-6 on the drive for 55 yards with all of his completions going to classmate Sean Gavin, including a 19-yard scoring strike on fourth down. The play marked the first touchdown of Gavin's career.
 
Each team scored a pair of touchdowns in the final stanza with RMU notching its TD's on drives of 61 and 85 yards, the latter of which was capped by a 29-yard toss from Abbott to Mitchell after the quarterback scrambled well to evade pressure.
 
Abbott posted career highs in completions and passing yards while throwing the first two touchdowns of his career while making his first career start. He becomes the 21st distinct Colonial to earn his first-career start in 2014.
 
Mitchell's touchdown moved him into a tie for fourth in career receiving TD's at Robert Morris.
 
Senior linebackers Mike Stojkovic and Jake Tkach tied for team high honors with nine tackles. Sophomore defensive end Ryan Lewis tied his career high with seven stops while sophomore linebacker Jimmy Masson notched his first-career sack.
 
Sophomore Nic Lamica notched three receptions after starting every previous game of the season at linebacker.
 
RMU tallied 52 carries as a team Saturday, tied for the sixth-highest figure in single-game school history. The Colonials were also 3-for-3 on fourth down, marking the first time they were perfect with at least three attempts since October 2011.
 
Saturday marked 36 days since RMU last played at home, setting a new program long for most days between home games within the same season.
 
With its non-conference schedule completed, Robert Morris will finish its slate by meeting every Northeast Conference team over the next seven weeks. That stretch begins next Saturday, Oct. 11, as RMU travels to face defending conference champion Sacred Heart. Kickoff is set for Noon.