Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University football team couldn't get out of its own way Saturday as Sacred Heart took advantage of a mistake-prone Colonial team to claim a 26-13 victory on a cool, sunny Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium.
RMU, which allowed only one scoring drive over 45 yards, held Sacred Heart to a mere 1.6 yards per rush, as the guests tallied only 70 yards on the ground on 43 carries. The Colonials collected 12.0 tackles for loss on the afternoon while holding Sacred Heart under 300 yards of total offense.
Junior linebacker
Jimmy Masson and true freshman running back
Dante Satcher provided highlights for the Colonials by each finding the end zone for the first time in their respective careers.
Masson registered a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The return on the second pick of his career placed among the 10 longest interception returns in RMU history.
Satcher posted a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to begin the second half. It was the fourth kickoff return for a touchdown in Colonial history, but it was the longest one of the quartet.
Redshirt senior linebacker
Jake Tkach posted a game-high and career-best 16 tackles in the setback.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman
Austin Trgovcich had a monster game as he notched career highs in tackles (12), tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (2.5) while adding a pair of quarterback hurries.
Redshirt senior captain
Mike Stojkovic and redshirt junior linebacker
Kimani Smith each added 10 tackles Saturday with the former contributing 2.0 tackles for loss and the latter adding 2.5 tackles for loss.
No points were scored on the game's first six drives. On these sequences, the Pioneers picked up one first down and 20 total yards while RMU netted two first downs and 44 total yards.
Sacred Heart struck late in the first quarter on a 36-yard touchdown pass, a score that occurred two plays after a RMU penalty extended the drive on fourth down.
The next five drives culminated in three punts along with a fumble by the Colonials and a turnover on downs by the Pioneers.
A 30-yard return on a play in which RMU was punting out of its own end zone gave the Pioneers starting field position in the red zone. Sacred Heart took advantage with a six-play drive that ended with a 1-yard rush on third-and-goal.
After a Colonial punt, Masson intercepted a pass near midfield before zigging and zagging his way back through the Pioneer offense to paydirt.
A punt and a turnover followed RMU's opening score before the Pioneers took advantage of a short field. Sacred Heart added an insurance touchdown right before the half on a 42-yard drive that ended with a six-yard quarterback keeper.
Satcher began the second half with a bang. He caught the ball near the right hash marks, sprinted through a hole near the right sideline before cutting back across to the left, taking the ball the distance for a touchdown.
RMU forced a three-and-out by Sacred Heart on its first drive of the half. The Colonials then drove 46 yards to the verge of the red zone, but a field goal attempt hit the right upright and fell to the side.
A trio of punts followed before a Colonial interception set Sacred Heart up with a drive start in the red zone. RMU put forth a valiant effort to keep the Pioneers out of the end zone, but a short field goal was converted in the final minute of the third quarter.
Sacred Heart recorded a strip sack on the next drive to regain possession. RMU held the Pioneers without a first down on their ensuing drive, but the guests once again tacked on a field goal to add to their lead.
Robert Morris moved into Sacred Heart territory on its next drive before giving the ball away. The Colonials then forced a three-and-out and appeared to return the ensuing punt for a touchdown, but the play was called back on a penalty.
Three of the game's next four drives ended in punts along with one interception thrown by Robert Morris. That quartet of drives essentially closed out the game.
Satcher's kickoff return was the second-longest touchdown of any type in Robert Morris history. It also was the fifth non-offensive touchdown scored by RMU this season, one off tying the school record.
RMU held Sacred Heart to a 5-for-20 mark on third down, the second consecutive week it held an opponent at 25% or under.
Redshirt senior captain
Forrest Mason added eight tackles, including a career-high-tying 2.5 tackles for loss. Junior weak safety
Andy Smigiera finished the day with eight tackles, two pass breakups and a blocked kick.
Redshirt freshman
Kyle Buss contributed six receptions for 91 yards Saturday. True freshman
Warren Robinson notched his first reception of the season against Sacred Heart.
True freshman
Adam Check drilled a 64-yard punt to the Sacred Heart 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. His blast registered as one of the 10 longest punts in RMU history.
Robert Morris has its lone bye of the season next weekend. The Colonials will be back in action by hosting local rival Duquesne Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6:00 p.m.
