Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Robert Morris University football team had multiple school records rewritten Saturday afternoon, but RMU was unable to turn those performances into a victory as it fell to Duquesne, 22-0, in Northeast Conference (NEC) action in each team's season finale at a wet Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field.
 
Seniors Tony LaMancusa and Duane Mitchell both broke records Saturday along with the Colonial defense setting a new standard. Senior defensive back Antwan Eddie also had a rate stat record finalized Saturday with his career coming to a close.
 
The Colonial defense racked up 15 tackles for loss against the Dukes, which marked a new single-game school record against a Division I foe. The 15 stops in the backfield were the product of nine distinct Colonials who each contributed at least one tackle for loss. RMU posted 33 tackles for loss in its final three games of the season.
 
Mitchell caught seven passes for 91 yards Saturday to break his own single-season school record for receptions. Mitchell, who finished with 54 grabs in 2014, also reset the single-season school record for receptions per game (4.91). He caught a pass for the 33rd consecutive game, extending his own school record, as he hauled in a pass in every game in his career playing wide receiver.
 
LaMancusa broke RMU's career punting yards record Saturday as he tallied three punts downed inside the 20 yard line. It was the seventh time in his career that he notched at least a trio of punts downed inside the opponents' 20, tying a school record. He also became the first Colonial in school history to start 44 games in his career, surpassing a mark that was held by Nick Schirtzinger.
 
True freshman Ryan Richards Jr. led a strong defensive effort for the Colonials as he posted a team high and season high tying nine tackles, including seven solo hits, a season-best three tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. Fellow true freshman Drew Allen posted the first interception of his career against Duquesne, an athletic, one-handed grab near the goal line.
 
Richards, Allen and company helped hold the Dukes to a 3-for-16 mark on third down after the Dukes came into the game leading the league in third down conversion percentage.
 
After RMU's starting quarterback was injured on the first play from scrimmage, a turnover by the Colonials would set the Dukes up with fantastic field position, which they took advantage of with a four-yard pass to take the lead.
 
A trio of punts followed before Duquesne drove into the red zone. Despite having first-and-goal, the Colonial defense held and forced a field goal by the hosts.
 
Allen intercepted Duquesne on its next drive before seven consecutive punts essentially brought the half to a close. RMU posted 70 yards on its final four drives of the half to the Dukes' 51 on their final four possessions as the Colonials twice moved into Duquesne territory.
 
Duquesne used a 12-yard pass to score on the first drive of the second half to add to its advantage. RMU would again move into the Dukes' half of the field before turning the ball over on downs.
 
The Colonial defense then forced a Duquesne punt with a three-and-out. Robert Morris ran 10 plays on its next possession, again moving to the Dukes' side of the field, but would be forced to punt facing a fourth-and-long.
 
Duquesne tacked on a field goal early in the fourth quarter before the game's next two drives ended in punts.
 
On the game's final four possessions, two for both teams, each would advance the ball once into the others' territory, but a turnover on downs and an interception ended those two scoring chances.
 
Sophomore defensive end Ryan Lewis tied his career high with seven stops, all of the solo variety, and reset a career best with three tackles for loss, including a sack. Sophomore linebacker Zach Cooper made a career-high seven hits while senior linebacker Jake Tkach also finished with seven tackles, which allowed the latter to close the season with a team-leading 84. Sophomore linebacker Jimmy Masson added six stops, including a career high three tackles for loss.
 
Senior defensive back Codi Casper, a four-year member of the program, made his collegiate debut Saturday.
 
Robert Morris entered the game sixth nationally in fewest penalty yards per game, and it compiled a figure small enough Saturday to break its single-season program record in that category.
 
RMU accumulated 171 pass completions on the season, the second-highest figure in program history and the most in 10 years.
 
Eddie will depart Robert Morris holding the school's career record for average punt return (13.07 yards). Mitchell finished his career with 133 receptions for 1,848 yards despite only serving as a wide receiver for three seasons.
 
Robert Morris used 11 distinct offensive starting lineups in 2014, and 27 Colonials earned their first-career start on the year, 17 of whom had never played in a collegiate game before this season.
 
RMU fell to 7-3 in the last 10 games it has played as part of the NEC's annual broadcast package.