Loretto, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University football team fell behind early and never recovered as it dropped a 21-0 affair at Saint Francis in its road finale Saturday afternoon at a chilly, but mostly sunny, DeGol Field.
RMU rushed for 174 against the league's top defense, the highest figure the Red Flash have yielded this season except for a contest at nationally ranked Youngstown State. The Colonials also did not allow a sack to a Saint Francis team that came into the game among the top 20 in that category at the FCS level.
On the other side of the ball, the Colonials picked off Saint Francis quarterback Zack Drayer twice after he entered having thrown four interceptions on the year. That helped RMU limit the hosts to just 116 passing yards, their second-lowest output of 2015.
Sophomore
Cole Blake ran for a team-leading 119 yards, surpassing the century mark for the third time this season. Sophomore
Rameses Owens also had a productive day running as he rushed for 61 yards on just 11 carries.
Redshirt junior cornerback
Marcelis Branch and junior weak safety
Andy Smigiera each tallied an interception Saturday, the fifth and sixth of their career, respectively. Branch finished with seven stops, including a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup while Smigiera totaled eight hits, including a half tackle for loss.
A penalty set Robert Morris back with regard to down and distance on the game's opening drive, and it was forced to punt. Saint Francis fielded the boot near midfield and promptly took advantage, as it capped a 55-yard drive with a 6-yard pass.
After Blake picked up one first down, the Colonials were again forced to punt. The Red Flash used a long rush to reach the red zone. RMU looked as though it might force a field goal attempt, but a pass interference penalty on third down gave the hosts new life. Saint Francis took advantage with a quarterback keeper for a score.
True freshman running back
Dante Satcher returned the ensuing kickoff into Red Flash territory. On the second play of that drive, Saint Francis was gifted an interception off a fortunate deflection with the officials controversially ruling that the ball did not hit the ground first.
Robert Morris registered two tackles for loss on the next drive to force a Saint Francis punt. RMU then drove into the red zone, but Saint Francis picked off a pass in the end zone on the 10th play of its possession.
The Colonials held Saint Francis to -3 yards on the next drive, forcing a punt. RMU again moved into Red Flash territory on its next possession before having to punt the ball back.
Saint Francis then drove into Colonial territory before RMU stuffed the hosts on a fourth-and-one rush to turn the ball over on downs.
RMU punted on its final possession of the half before Saint Francis ran the clock out, bringing the game to intermission.
Each team punted twice to open the second half without picking up a first down.
Saint Francis then attempted to connect on a deep pass down the middle of the field, but Smigiera was in prime position to make a jumping interception.
Each team punted on its next possession with neither picking up more than five yards.
Robert Morris then had a drive begin with promise as Blake and Owens rushed the ball into Red Flash territory. The Colonials would eventually be forced to try a field goal attempt that sailed wide.
Saint Francis took momentum from the missed opportunity by the guests as it drove down the field for its final score, which came courtesy of a six-yard pass.
After RMU punted, Branch jumped a route to pick off the Red Flash after they had driven into the red zone. It marked only the second time all season that Saint Francis did not score when reaching red zone.
A pair of three-and-outs followed before Robert Morris drove 47 yards into SFU territory. A fourth down pass fell incomplete, which gave the hosts the ball and allowed them to run out the clock.
Sophomore cornerback
Drew Allen tied for the team lead with eight tackles while sophomore strong safety
Ryan Richards Jr. finished with seven, including a tackle for loss. Redshirt senior captain
Mike Stojkovic tallied 2.0 tackles for loss as part of a six-tackle day.
Redshirt freshman
Kyle Buss moved into fourth place in single-season receiving yards (675) at RMU with his performance Saturday.
After notching 8.0 tackles for loss against the Red Flash, RMU now has 79 on the season, the fourth-highest total in program history.
RMU fell to 15-6-1 all-time against Saint Francis with the defeat.
Robert Morris will conclude the 2015 season next Saturday, Nov. 21, as it hosts Bryant.
