Capsule
The Robert Morris University football team takes to the road for the final time this season for a Noon contest against Northeast Conference foe Bryant University, Saturday, Sept. 5, at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, R.I. The Colonials are coming off a 19-6 win over Central Connecticut. Bryant has lost three of its last four games including a 35-31 loss at Duquesne last week.
 
vs. Bryant
> The Colonials are 2-6 all-time against Bryant
> RMU has never won at Beirne Stadium
> Colonials have won two of the last three games
> Bryant won the first five meetings
 
About the Bulldogs
> Bryant is 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the NEC
> They have league wins over Wagner and CCSU
> NEC losses have come to SFU and Duquesne
> Offensively, average 346.9 yards with 93.8 rushing and 253.1 passing
> They allow 373.2 yards, 133.6 on the ground and 239.6 through the air
> QB Dalton Easton is 158-286 (55.2%) for 2,025 yards, 19 TD and 11 INT
> RB Ryan Black get the majority of handoffs rushing 68 times for 217 yards (27.1/g)
> RB Brenden Femiano is the leading rusher at 70.2 yards per game
> WR Taylor Bathelette is the top target with 35 receptionis and 6 TD (16.4 yds./rec.)
> WR Matt Sewall has 27 catches while Keenan Thompson leads team with 7 receiving TDs
> LB Jesse Nemerowicz leads squad with 65 stops
> DE Dillon Guthro has 4.5 sacks and 10.5 TFL
> LB Thomas Costigan has 3.5 sacks
> FS Danny Hughes leads the team with 2 INT
> K Ricky Perez is 7-9 on FG with a long of 51
 
Musket Shots
> P Adam Check is the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week (8 P, 39.5 avg., 3 I20)
> QB Joe Carroll has started the last three games going 38-86 for 405 yards and 2 TD
> LB Gee Stanley was named to the FCS Stats Freshman of the Year Watch List
> LB Gee Stanley is 16th nationally with 0.83 sacks/game (7.5 total)
> Stanley tied the RMU freshman record for sacks (Matt Grayson, 1998)
> Dante Satcher set team records with a 100-yd kickoff return and 173 KO return yards vs. SFU
> Satcher leads the nation in kickoff return TDs (2)
> Warren Robinson is second in the nation in punt return TDs (1) and 27th in punt returns (10.0)
> The Colonials 24.85 yard kickoff return average is 12th in the nation
> RMU is 8th in the nation in red zone defense at 67.6% (allowed 25 scores on 37 trips)
> Defense is 21st nationally with 2.67 sacks/game
> RMU is 14th nationally in punt return def. (3.83)
> Satcher and Robinson are the only players in team history with multiple kick return TDs
> Robinson set a school record with 123 punt return yards vs. Malone
> He had an 81-yard punt return for a TD, the second longest in team history
> WR Tim Vecchio had eight receptions, third most in team history, vs. Malone
> DB Andy Smigiera was named a semifinalist for the 2016 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy
> RB Sam Woods' 52-yard TD pass to WR Eldin Anu vs. Youngstown State was first passing TD by a non-quarterback in team history
> RMU was picked sixth in the 2016 NEC Football Coaches Preseason Poll
> Seniors Marcelis Branch (DB) and Andy Smigiera (DB) were Preseason All-NEC picks on defense
 
 
TEAM NOTES
 
RMU Picks Up Pulley
> Three-star recruit Izon Pulley signed a scholarship agreement with RMU on Nov. 1
> A 6-4, 255-pound defensive end from Olney, Md. and Our Lady of Good Counsel HS
> Had offers from Illinios, Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Iowa and Miami (Fla.)
> Will enroll at RMU in spring semester
 
Standing in the Hall of Fame
> Three more football players join the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016
   > DB Jason Hempstead (1999-03)
   > WR Tyjuan Massey (2002-05)
   > RB Myles Russ (2007-10)
> The trio brings the total number of football members in the Hall of Fame to 17
> For more information, see the inset on page five
 
Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
> Senior DB Andy Smigiera was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy
> The award is given to the best football player in the country for academic success, football performance and community service
> He is a Preseason All-NEC Selection
> Smigiera was a CoSIDA Academica All-District pick last season
 
Delay, Part Trey
> The Colonials had a game delayed for the third time this season when an electrical issue caused the lights to shut off for 15 minutes in the fourth quarter at Duquesne
> Lightning in the Youngstown area forced RMU into a weather delay for the second consecutive game
> The YSU delay lasted 1:06 in the first quarter, from 4:39 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
> The RMU-Dayton tilt was called with 9:37 left in the fourth quarter due to inclement weather
> It was the first time in team history RMU did not play a full 60-minute game
> Play was initially stopped at 3:17 p.m. for lightning
> Delay lasted until 5:06 p.m. when the remainder of the game was called by officials
 
Academic Accolades
> Senior Andy Smigiera and 2016 graduate Nick Faraci were both named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academica All-District II honorees in 2015
> Faraci was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team
> It was the sixth time in the last six seasons a Colonial earned Academic All-America honors
 
First Time For Everything
> DB Marcelis Branch returned a blocked FG 63 yards for a TD, the first such score by RMU
> WR Warren Robinson is the first player in team history with two punt return TDs
> RB Dante Satcher is the first player in team history with two kickoff return TDs
> RMU has two first time opponents on its schedule this season - Alderson-Broaddus and Malone
> The Colonials are 24-16-1 when playing an opponent for the first time
> RMU also had a game called - against Dayton - before the full 60 minutes was played for the first time in history
 
NFL Experience for Miller
> Offensive coordinator Mike Miller has spent 12 seasons in the National Football League
> Most recently, he was the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals in 2011 and 2012
> He spent six seasons with the Cardinals
> Miller was also an assistant with the Buffalo Bills (2004-05) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-2003)
> He has also spent time in the press box as a public relations assistant with the Steelers, Colts and the Pittsburgh Penguins
> During his tenure as receivers coach with Arizona, he mentored Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston
 
Brother Act
> Tyler Lamica joins brother Nic Lamica on the RMU roster in 2016
> The elder Lamica, Nic, is a redshirt-junior who started seven games at tight end last season
> The younger Lamica, Tyler, is a freshman linebacker currently seated in the two deep at outside linebacker
> Nic returns to LB at RMU after spending last season at tight end
> Nic went to Forest Hills Central and Tyler went to Grand Rapids Christian
 
Score 30 or More
> Since the inception of RMU football in 1994, RMU is 72-5 (.935) when scoring 30 or more points
> The Colonials are 29-0 when tallying 40 or more points
 
The Founding Father
> RMU had only one coach in its first 20 seasons of existence, Joe Walton
> Walton was a former NFL tight end and head coach (see sidebar on page two)
> He was a four-time NEC Coach of the Year
> Under his guidance, RMU won two NCAA I-AA mid-major national titles
> Walton was inducted into the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> RMU ranks in the top-30 in these categories:
   > 8th in red zone defense (25-37, 67.6%)
   > 19th in 3rd down conv. pct (47-146, 32%)
   > 21st in sacks (2.67/game; 24 total)
22nd in defensive TDs (2)
22nd in fumbles recovered (8)
28th in scoring defense (22.4)
 
National Rankings - Individual
> Colonials rank in the top 50 in these categories:
   > 10th in fumbles recovered (2, Eldin Anu and Adam Wollet)
   > 16th in sacks (7.5, Gee Stanley)
   > 30th in forced fumbles (0.29/g, Steve Fiadewornu)
 
Dread Naught
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley has 7.5 sacks tying the RMU freshman record set by Matt Grayson (1998)
> Stanley is 16th in the nation in sacks (.83/game)
> He leads the team with 9.5 TFL
> He has had a season-high nine tackles vs. Alderson Broaddus and Duquesne
> Stanley is fifth on the team with 52 tackles
> He is second on the team with 26 solo stops
 
Pride of Poland ... Ohio
> Sophomore LB Adam Wollet leads RMU with 73 tackles
> Ranks eighth in the nation with two fumble recoveries
> He is second on the team with 26 solo stops
> He had a career high 12 tackles against Sacred Heart and Dayton
> He is tied for third on the team with three pass break ups
 
Joltin' Joe Uhatafe
Junior linebacker is second on the team with 64 tackles and 42 solo stops
> Had a career-high 14 stops at Sacred Heart
> Has double-digits stops in three games
 
Hurricane Watch
> Hurricane, W.Va., native Zach Cooper is third on the team with 63 tackles
> Made a career-best 12 tackles at Duquesne
> He has 2.5 sacks this season
> His 6.5 tackles for loss rank second on the team
> Cooper has two hurries and three PBUs
> He has started 14 consecutive games at OLB
 
Branching Out
> He has started 21 consecutive games and is the active RMU leader with 40 career starts
> His 40 starts are second all-time among defensive players
> DB Marcelis Branch blocked a field goal and returned it 63 yards for a TD at Duquesne
> It was the first blocked FG return for TD in team history
> He is fourth on the team with 57 tackles
> He had a career-high 10 tackles against Saint Francis
> He also has an interception, returning it 15 yards
> Second on the team with three pass break ups
> A Preseason All-NEC pick, he had one interception, three PBU's and four passes defensed last season
 
Get it Back
> RMU has forced a total of 15 turnovers, seven interceptions and eight fumble recoveries
> The eight fumble recoveries rank 22nd in the nation
> The Colonials two defensive TDs also rank 22nd
> Six players have fumble recoveries and six have interceptions
 
Boom Sack-a-Lacka
> RMU ranks 21st nationally with 2.67 sacks per game
> Colonials collected four sacks against Alderson Broaddus, Malone and Duquense
> The Colonials have two or more sacks in seven of nine games
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley has accounted for 7.5 of those sacks
> Eight different players have recorded at least a half sack
> DE Ryan Lewis has 4.5 sacks
> LB Zach Cooper and Zack Zamiska have 2.5 sacks each and Derian Smith has 2.0
> RMU tied the team record with 34 sacks last season (34, 2006)
 
Swiss Steve
> In seven starts this season, DT Steven Fiadewornu has 18 tackles
> In season opener vs. Alderson Broaddus, he made nine tackles
> He had five career tackles coming into the season
> Added 0.5 tackle for loss and forced a fumble
> Hometown is Zurich, Switzerland
 
Safety Smigiera
> WS Andy Smigiera returned to the lineup against Liberty making 5 tackles
> On the game's first play, he had a pass break up
> He is a Preseason All-NEC selection
> Smigiera had a total of 19 passes defensed last season (8 PBU)
> He tied with Ryan Richards, Jr., for the team lead with three interceptions
 
25-7
> The defense ranked in the FCS top-25 in seven different statistical categories - and the top 15 in five categories in 2015
   > 7th - Sacks by (3.09/G)
   > 11th - Third down conversion pct. (.309)
   > 14th - Fourth down conversion pct. (.333)
   > 14th - Pass yards allowed (172.0/G)
   > 14th - Tackles for loss (7.7/G)
   > 18th - Passing efficiency defense (108.13/G)
   > 21st - Total defense (321.4/G)
> RMU has ranked in top 25 in total in defense in four of last five seasons
> 2015 tied the team record with 34 sacks
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES
 
Quarterback Carousel
> The Colonials have used five different quarterbacks this season
> Andrew Romanchak, Luke Brumbaugh, Joe Carroll and Chase Bodeman have all made starts at QB
> Mathew Barr has also taken snaps under center
> All but Carroll have missed time due to injury
 
Tim Time
> Freshman WR Tim Vecchio leads the team with 28 receptions and 223 yards
> He hauled in eight passes for 64 yards against Malone
> Its the third most catches in team history and ranks 11th in the record book (10 - two players; 9 - eight players)
 
Carroll's First Career Start
> R-JR QB Joe Carroll made his first career start at Duquesne
> In three starts, he is 38-86 for 405 yards, two TDs and three interceptions
> He was 7-18 for 122 yards in his first game
> He tossed a pair of touchdown passes
> Completed his first pass to Eldin Anu for 8 yards
 
Romanchak Under Center
> R-Freshman Andrew Romanchak made his quarterbacking debut in week one and his first start at Dayton
> He went 8-of-9 for 68 yards against Malone
> This season, he is 56-119 for 424 yards
> He finished 13-32 for 121 yards and one interception in week one
> Romanchak has tossed eight interceptions
 
Going to the Wells
> Sophomore Malik Wells made his first career start at Liberty
> He has 266 yards in the last five games
> Leads the team with 292 rushing yards and two rushing TDs
> Wells had 17 carries for 73 yards vs. Flames
> He had just two carries coming into that game
 
Un-Dante-d
> Sophomore RB Dante Satcher has 71rushes and nine receptions
> He leads the team with 80 offensive touches
> He leads RMU with 237 rushing yards
> He set career highs for rushes, 20, and yards, 88, against Malone
 
Going, Going, Gonzo
> Freshman TE Matthew Gonzalez hauled in four passes for 40 yards vs. CCSU
> He had three reception coming into the game
> In seven games, he has seven receptions for 69 yards
 
Third and Long
> Of the 120 third downs RMU has faced this season, 43 have been third-&-10 yards or more
> RMU is 14-34 (41.2%) when facing third-and-four yards or shorter
> Colonials are 5-86 (5.8%) when facing third and five or longer
 
Finding 14 Targets
> Fourteen different players have caughts passes for RMU this season
> WR Tim Vecchio leads the team with 28 receptions
> WR Warren Robinson has added 13 receptions
> Five different players have scored touchdowns
> Robinson, Vecchio, Blake Skuratowicz, Trey Edwards and Eldin Anu have touchdowns
> Edwards second career catch was a 65-yard TD pass against Duquesne
 
Hello Mr. Robinson
> WR Warren Robinson taken six snaps out of the "wildcat" formation in the last two games, rushing for 25 yards
> He also has 13 receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown this season
> Hauled in a season-best three passes at Dayton
> He had two catches against both Alderson Broaddus and Youngstown State
> Also returns punts for the Colonials
 
Who to Anu?
> RB Sam Woods hit WR Eldin Anu for a 52-yard TD pass against Youngstown State
> It was the second touchdown pass by a non-quarterback in RMU history
> It is the second longest play from scrimmage for RMU this season
 
Barr Set
> Sophomore QB Mathew Barr made his 2016 debut against Malone
> He was 5-of-13 for 24 yards and a TD
> In 2015, earned two of the last three NEC Rookie of the Week accolades in 2015
> Barr started nine games last season, going 90-188 for 989 yards
 
Cole Shortage
> The team's top returning rusher, junior Cole Blake, will miss all of the 2016 season due to injury
> Blake rushed for 722 yards on 170 carries last season
> He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and had two TDs
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> RMU ranks in the top-30 in these categories:
   > 12th in kickoff return average (24.85)
   > 14th in punt return defense (3.83)
 
National Rankings- Individual
> Colonials rank in the top-50 in these categories
> 1st kickoff return TDs - Dante Satcher (2)
> 2nd punt return TDs - Warren Robinson (1)
> 27th punt return avg - Warren Robinson (10.0)
 
Intimidation Factor
> Due to its dangerous kick return, the Colonials last three opponents have opted not to kick deep
> The strategy has given RMU an average starting field position at their own 40 the last two games
> "Upmen" Jonah Lisbon, Luke Centofanti and Jonathan Wanat are averaging 13.6 yards per return the last two games
 
Specialty Scoring
> Special teams has accounted for four of the teams 23 touchdowns this season
> RMU is one of two teams in the nation with a KO return TD, a punt return TD and blocked FG return TD (Central Arkansas)
> Marcelis Branch blocked a FG and returned it 63 yards for a TD, the first in team history
> Satcher has kickoff returns of 100 and 99 yards
> Warren Robinson has an 81 yard punt return TD
> Satcher is the only player in team history with more than one kickoff return TD
> Robinson is the only player in team history with two punt return TDs
 
Check Marks
> Adam Check is averaging 37.2 yards on 69 punts this season
> He needs seven punts to pass the single season record of 75 (Tony LaMancusa, 2014)
> He needs 138 punting yards to set the single season record (2,704, LaMancusa, 2014)
> Check set school records punting 12 times for 455 yards at Youngstown State
> He has planted 19 punts inside the 20
> His long is 53 yards
> His career avg. of 37.00 is third at RMU
 
The Tin Man
> Sophomore Dante Satcher has the two longest kickoff returns in team history
> He had a 100-yard return for TD against Saint Francis
> Satcher set the school record for return yards in a game with 173 vs. the Red Flash
> He had a 99-yard kickoff return against Alderson-Broaddus
> He is first in the nation averaging 43.1 yards per kick return
> His career kick return average of 29.2 yards is second in team history (35.6, Archie Wannamaker 96-98)
> He is the career leader with three KO returns for TD
> He had a 96-yard return for a score against Sacred Heart (10/10/15) last season
 
Robinson Returns
> Warren Robinson is 27th in the nation averaging 10.0 yards per return
> He is the only player in team history with two punt return TDs
> He had an 81-yard return for a TD vs. Malone
> His 13.4 career punt return avg. is the best in team history
> In 2015, Warren Robinson set the single-season school record for punt return average (18.2 yds.)
> Robinson ranked second nationally in punt return average in 2015
> He has three of the four longest punt returns in team history - 81(T), 66(T) and 58
 
Shennan-igans
> Kicker Connor Shennan is 4-11 on FG this season
> He made a career-long 47-yd FG against Central Connecticut
> 14 of his 26 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks
> He has had four field goals blocked
> His 17 career FGs are fifth in RMU history
> For his career, 47 of 121 kickoffs have been touchbacks
> He also punted 28 times with 40.7 average
> Six of 28 punts pinned opponents inside the 20

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