Moon Township, Pa. – Senior Duane Mitchell broke a school record and the Robert Morris University football team played strong defense, but the Colonials dropped a 20-0 decision to Wagner in a Northeast Conference contest on a seasonable Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium.
 
The RMU defense yielded just 12 points and 215 yards of total yards offense Saturday. The Colonials, who allowed just one scoring drive longer than 40 yards, held an opponent under a 50% completion percentage for the third consecutive game and tallied 10 tackles for loss against the Seahawks.
 
Mitchell caught a pass on the game's third play from scrimmage. The third-down grab gave him a reception in 31 consecutive games, which surpassed RMU's previous school record held by Shadrae King. Mitchell also reached 125 career catches Saturday and 46 for the season, six shy of his single-season program record from last year.
 
Senior linebacker Jake Tkach tallied a game-high and career-high 13 tackles Saturday and tied his career high of three tackles for loss. True freshman Gerald Ferguson contributed season highs in tackles (10) and tackles for loss (3.0).
 
Robert Morris was forced into using four quarterbacks on the day due to injuries. Junior Derik Abbott completed his first two passes for 56 yards, including a career-long 42-yard strike, but was unable to return after the game's opening series.
 
Each team reached the red zone three times Saturday, but Wagner found more success in that area than the Colonials.
 
Robert Morris drove over 50 yards into the red zone on the game's first drive, getting inside Wagner's 10-yard line, but its field goal attempt was blocked.
 
Wagner drove into RMU territory on the ensuing possession, but Tkach and true freshman Ryan Richards Jr. dropped the ballcarrier short of the sticks on a fourth down rush.
 
RMU was then lined up to punt, but a poor snap forced the hosts into conceding a safety. Wagner followed by using a short field, after the free kick, to tack on a field goal on the final play of the first quarter after an apparent Colonial interception was nullified during the drive.
 
Robert Morris moved into Seahawk territory to start the second quarter before a sack killed the drive and forced a punt.
 
Wagner went three-and-out on each of its next two drives while the Colonials fumbled in Wagner territory on one and punted on the other.
 
The Seahawks then made it a two-score game with an 11-play touchdown drive as they scored on a third down rush right near the end of the half.
 
After each team punted once to start the third stanza, Wagner used starting field position near midfield to launch a short field goal drive after RMU held with its back to the wall in the red zone.
 
RMU reached Seahawk territory on its next two drives but punted after a sack and then just missed a connection on a fourth down pass while Wagner punted on two straight possessions. On the guests' second punt, senior defensive back Antwan Eddie returned the boot 44 yards into the red zone.
 
An untimely interception by the hosts then turned into six quick points for Wagner as the Seahawks brought the pick back nearly the length of the field.
 
Robert Morris then executed a beautiful trick kick return as a handoff during the runback confused the cover team as sophomore Andy Smigiera ran 57 yards to the Wagner 35-yard line. However, RMU was unable to take advantage as a turnover on downs kept the hosts from reaching the red zone.
 
Each of the next six drives culminated in a punt, essentially ending the contest.
 
True freshman Drew Allen notched six tackles and a pass breakup while Richards Jr. contributed seven stops as each made their first-career start Saturday. Junior offensive lineman Anthony Lucian also made his first collegiate start Saturday at left tackle, bringing RMU's season total of first-time starters to 26.
 
Eddie's punt return was the ninth longest in school history and moved him into second at RMU in career punt return yards.
 
Sophomore Nic Lamica posted game highs in both catches (six) and receiving yards (73) in the contest.
 
Sophomore linebacker Jimmy Masson reset his career high in tackles with eight.
 
RMU blocked a Wagner extra point try, its third blocked kick of the season.
 
RMU's lead in the all-time series against Wagner fell to 13-8. The Colonials dropped to 7-2 in their last nine games that have been part of the conference's broadcast package.
 
Robert Morris will play its home finale and honor its senior class next Saturday, Nov. 15, against in-state rival Saint Francis at Noon.