Brookings, S.D. – The
Robert Morris University football team had the ball and trailed by just 10 points late in the third quarter, but No. 6/7 South Dakota State pulled away late to claim a 34-10 decision in non-conference action on a gorgeous, sunny Saturday evening at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
RMU had a sizeable advantage in rushing yards (228-125) as the Colonials averaged 6.0 yards per carry to just 3.5 for the Jackrabbits. It marked the 14th time in program history, but just the fourth since the turn of the century, in which a Colonial team averaged at least 6.0 yards per carry.
Robert Morris also won the turnover battle, picking off the Jackrabbits twice, after SDSU had entered the game having only committed one total turnover in its past six games.
RMU, who was already playing without leading rusher
Rameses Owens, had four quarterbacks see action since starter
Mathew Barr was forced to leave the game at halftime.
Redshirt junior
Kimani Smith had a strong all-around performance to lead the Colonial defense as he notched eight tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and two pass breakups.
A completion from Barr to redshirt freshman
Kyle Buss and a pair of rushes by sophomore
Cole Blake got RMU one first down on the game's opening drive before it was forced to punt.
South Dakota State found the end zone with a 70-yard drive on its first possession as it scored on a third-and-goal improvised pass after the quarterback was flushed from the pocket.
Robert Morris punted on its next drive, and the Jackrabbits then drove into the red zone, but Smith made an athletic, leaping grab to haul in the second interception of his career and keep the hosts off the board.
RMU used the takeaway to get on the board early in the second quarter as it drove 58 yards on 11 plays. A leaping 25-yard reception by redshirt sophomore
Nic Lamica highlighted the sequence as it moved the chains on third down. Junior
Connor Shennan knocked through a career-best 46-yard field goal to get the Colonials on the board.
SDSU answered with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Jacks picked up 70 of the yards through the air but scored on a 3-yard rush on third-and-goal.
Robert Morris did not back down, though, as it answered with a seven-play, 83-yard touchdown drive. After both Blake and Buss picked up first downs with rushes to move the ball near midfield, Barr reeled off a 54-yard run to move the ball near the goal line. On third-and-goal, Barr rolled to his right and lofted a pass toward the back of the end zone where Lamica made a jumping grab, tallying his second TD catch of the season and the fourth of his career.
South Dakota State moved inside the RMU 10-yard line on its next drive, but RMU kept the hosts out of the end zone on two rushes and a pass to force a field goal attempt that was converted.
True freshman
Dante Satcher rushed for two first downs on the next drive, helping move the ball into SDSU territory, before RMU was forced to punt.
The Jackrabbits again drove into the red zone on their next drive, but the Colonials prevented three goal-to-go pass attempts from reaching their targets. SDSU converted a field goal in the final minute of the half to set the score at 20-10 heading into intermission.
South Dakota State went for it on fourth-and-one in RMU territory on the first drive of the second half, but redshirt senior captain
Mike Stojkovic stuck the ballcarrier in the backfield to force a turnover on downs.
After RMU committed its lone turnover of the game, the Colonial defense returned the favor when junior weak safety
Andy Smigiera picked off a pass at his own 2-yard line.
With Robert Morris backed up, the Colonials were unable to pick up a first down and had to punt out of their own end zone. As a result, the Jackrabbits needed to drive just 32 yards to find the end zone and add on to their lead.
A three-and-out by RMU and a seven-play, 69-yard touchdown drive by SDSU all but put the game out of reach.
Each team would reach the red zone once more, but neither would add to its point total. RMU's chance came after Satcher posted a 54-yard rush in which he evaded multiple defenders.
Satcher posted a game-high 85 rushing yards and finished with 128 all-purpose yards. Barr had netted a season-best 70 rushing yards before he was forced from the game.
With its efforts Saturday and last weekend, RMU posted back-to-back games with at least 200 rushing yards for the first time since 2010.
Shennan's field goal was one of the 10 longest in RMU history and also allowed him to become the sixth Colonial in program history to reach double-digit field goals in a career.
Smigiera's interception was his first of the season and the fourth of his career. For the second time in three weeks, sophomore cornerback
Drew Allen tied his career high of seven tackles.
Saturday marks the first time in its past six regular-season games that SDSU did not win the turnover battle.
RMU will remain on the road next weekend as it commences Northeast Conference play with a bout at defending co-champion Wagner.
