Capsule
After spending the last two weekends in the Buckeye State, Robert Morris University returns to Joe Walton Stadium to host another Ohio-based team in Malone University in a 7:00 p.m. game Saturday, Sept. 24. The Colonials come in seeking their first victory of the season while the Pioneers have suffered back-to-back losses after opening the year with a win against Taylor University (Ind).
 
vs. Malone
> This is the inaugural meeting between the Colonials and Pioneers
> Malone is the seventh different Division II opponent that RMU will take on joining Alderson Broaddus, C.W. Post, Mercyhurst, Gannon, New Haven and Notre Dame (Ohio)
> RMU is 7-5 against DII programs
> RMU is 17-10 overall against non-Division I competition
 
About the Pioneers
> Malone is 1-2 enter Saturday's game
> They opened the season with 39-33 OT win against Taylor University
> The Pioneers have lost their last two games - on the road at Truman State and home vs. Notre Dame (Ohio)
> The Pioneers are averaging 410.3 yards of offense, 202.7 rushing and 207.7 passing
> Matt Blasiole is rushing for 132.3 yards/game
> QB John Iacucci is 46-86 for 623 yards, two TDs and one interception
> WR Ashton Dulin is their top receiver at 17 receptions, 15.8/catch and 89.3/game
> The Pioneers give up 430.3 yards per game
> LB Keith Williams is the leading tackler (31)
> DB Daniel Tepe has two interceptions
 
Musket Shots
> 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
> It was also the longest play from scrimmage by the team this season
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley is 3rd in FCS averaging 1.5 sacks/game
> RMU is 13th in FCS with four interceptions
> LB Adam Wollet is 44th nationally averaging 9.7 tackles
> The Colonials 32.3 yard kickoff return average is fourth in the nation
> Dante Satcher opened the season with a school-record 99 yard kickoff return
> RMU is 14th in the nation in red zone defense at 57.1% (allowed eight scores on 14 trips)
> Defense is 16th nationally with 3.0 sacks/game
> On offense in week one, nine players, including six freshman, made their first career start
> RMU was picked sixth in the 2016 NEC Football Coaches Preseason Poll
> Sophomore WR Kyle Buss was a Preseason All-NEC First Team selection
> Seniors Marcelis Branch (DB) and Andy Smigiera (DB) were Preseason All-NEC picks on defense
> The defense ranked in FCS top 25 in 3rd down defense, 4th down defense, passing yards allowed, passing efficiency defense, sacks, tackles for loss and total defense
> Special teams accounted for three touchdowns in 2015 (kick return, punt return, blocked punt return)
> Head coach John Banaszak boasts a 43-29 carrer record in six seasons, 5-20 in his third season at RMU

 

TEAM NOTES
 
Weather Delay, Part Deux
> 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
 
First Time For Everything
> RB Sam Woods 52-yard TD pass to WR Eldin Anu vs. Youngstown State was the first passing TD by a non-quarterback in team history
> 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, Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League
> During his tenure as receivers coach with Arizona, he mentored Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston
 
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
 
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
> They attended different high schools - Nic went to Forest Hills Central and Tyler went to Grand Rapids Christian
 
Not Halfway Home
> In 2015, the team trailing at the half posted an impressive 5-4 (.556) record
> In the first 21 seasons of RMU football, the team trailing at the half won only 13.5% of the time
 
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, right)
> 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-25 in these categories:
  > 13th in interceptions (4)
  > 14th in red zone defense (8-14, 57.1%)
  > 16th in sacks (3.50/game)
 
National Rankings - Individual
> Colonials rank in the top 50 in these categories:
  > DB Marcelis Branch is 42nd with 1.3 passes defensed per game
  > LB Gee Stanley is third at 1.5 sacks per game
  > Stanley is 38th at 1.5 tackles for loss per game
  > LB Adam Wollett is 44th averaging 9.7 tackles per game
 
Dread Naught
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley has 4.5 sacks in two games
> He is third in the nation in sacks
> The freshman record for sacks is 7.5 by Matt Grayson (1998)
> He had a game-high nine tackles in his RMU debut vs. Alderson Broaddus
> Stanley is third on the team with 19 tackles
 
Pride of Poland ... Ohio
> Sophomore LB Adam Wollet leads RMU with 29 tackles (13 solo)
> He is 44th in the nation at 9.7 tackles per game
> He made a career-high 12 tackles at Dayton
> He leads the team with three pass breaks and a fumble recovery
 
Hurricane Watch
> Hurrcane, W.Va., native Zach Cooper is second on the team with 23 tackles
> He has registered at least six tackles in each game this season
> He has started seven consecutive games at OLB
 
Branching Out
> DB Marcelis Branch is 42nd in FCS averaging 1.3 passes defensed per game
> He is fourth on the team with 17 tackles
> He also has an interception, returning it 15 yards
> He had 35 solo and 28 assisted stops in 2015
> A Preseason All-NEC pick, he had one interception, three PBU's and four passes defensed last season
 
Get it Back
> The Colonials are 13th in the nation with four interceptions
> Robert Morris forced four turnovers in week one vs. Alderson Broaddus
> Three came from interceptions by Marcelis Branch, Travon Stott and Roger Richardson
 
Boom Sack-a-Lacka
> RMU ranks 16th nationally with 3.0 sacks per game
> They have at least two sacks in every game this season
> Colonials collected four sacks against Alderson Broaddus and three against Dayton
> Freshman LB Gee Stanley has accounted for 4.5 of those sacks
> DT Zack Zamiska, DE Ryan Lewis and DT Deiran Smith have one sack each
> LB Adam Wollet has half a sack
> RMU tied the team record with 34 sacks last season (34, 2006)
> Players who contributed for 24.5 of those sacks return to the roster this season
> Lewis had 4.5 sacks in 2015
 
Swiss Steve
> In his first two career starts, DL Steve Fiadewornu has 12 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
 
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
 
Seasoned Secondary
> The entire starting second from 2015 returns intact in 2016
> Redshirt senior Marcelis Branch, a two-time All-NEC player, was named to the preseason all-conference team
> Senior Andy Smigiera was also named to the Preseason All-NEC squad
> Junior Drew Allen started every game at corner back as a sophomore
> Ryan Richards, Jr., played all 11 games at strong safety
 
Sensational Secondary
> Colonials led the NEC in fewest yards allowed per attempt at 5.8 in 2015
> RMU had fewest passing yards allowed in league games last season (138.5)
> RMU had the second most pass break-ups in team history last season with 46
 
Safety Smigiera
> Andy Smigiera is also 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
> He finished with 62 tackles, 30 solo
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES
 
Who to Anu?
> RB Sam Woods hit WR Eldin Anu for a 52-yard TD pass against Youngstown State
> It was the first touchdown pass by a non-quarterback in RMU history
> It was also the longest play from scrimmage for the team this season
 
Second Half Surge
> RMU registered 103 yards of offense in the second half against Youngstown State
> The Colonials converted on 5-of-6 passes in the fourth quarter
 
Romanchak Under Center
> R-Freshman Andrew Romanchak made his quarterbacking debut in week one and his first start at Dayton
> He finished 13-32 for 121 yards and one interception in week one
> He is 28-71 for 203 yards overall
> Romanchak has tossed two interceptions
 
Third and Long
> Of the 41 third downs RMU has faced this season, 24 have been third-and-10 yards or more
> RMU is 4-8 when facing third-and-five yards or shorter
> Colonials are 2-33 when facing third and five or longer
 
10 Targets
> Ten different players have caughts passes for RMU this season
> WR Warren Robinson leads the team with seven receptions
> RB Dante Satcher has six receptions and Reggie Green has caught five passes
> WR Eldin Anu has caught the only TD pass of the year
> WR Kyle Buss leads the team averaging 20.5 yards per reception
> DeLano Madison had three catches
 
Hello Mr. Robinson
> WR Warren Robinson leads the team with seven receptions
> 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
 
Un-Dante-d
> Sophomore RB Dante Satcher has 66 touches on 152 offensive plays (30.2%)
> He has 39 rushes and seven receptions
> Satcher is averaging 45.7 yards of total offense and 103.0 all-purpose yards
> Satcher finished with 161 all-purpose yards, returning a kickoff 99 yards for a TD, against Alderson Broaddus
 
Barr Set
> Sophomore QB Mathew Barr earned two of the last three NEC Rookie of the Week accolades in 2015
> He went 20-31 for 225 yards and two scores in week nine against East Tennessee State
> In season finale vs. Bryant, Barr completed 13 of 16 for 122 yards
> Barr started nine games last season, going 90-188 for 989 yards
 
Other Side of the Woods
> Redshirt-Junior Sam Woods has moved to running back after spending two seasons as a defensive back
> Woods is responsible for the only passing TD by a non-quarterback in team history, hitting Eldin Anu for 52 yards at YSU
> Woods had 35 career tackles, 34 of which came in his redshirt freshman campaign of 2014
 
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
 
Get on the Buss
> Redshirt sophomore WR Kyle Buss was the NEC Offensive Rookie of the Week last season
> He was also a finalist for STATS National Freshman Player of the Year
> He is the fifth RMU player to earn the NEC accolade, the most of any league school
> Among FCS rookies, he was second in receiving yards (742) and third in receptions per game (4.5)
> Buss set six RMU freshman records:
  > Season receptions (50)
  > Season receiving yards (742)
  > Season receptions per game (4.5)
  > Game receptions (9, twice UND, ETSU)
  > Game receiving yards (160, CCSU)
  > Longest reception (84, ETSU)
 
Freshmen Front Five
> Four of the five starting offensive linemen on the two-deep are true freshmen
> Redshirt junior LG Blake Chambliss is the lone upperclasssman on the two-deep
> Of the 10 offensive linemen listed, seven are freshmen or redshirt freshmen
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> RMU ranks in the top-40 in these categories:
  > 4th in kickoff return average (32.3)
  > 38th with a net punt average of 37.16 yards
  > 28th in punt return defense (2.3)
 
Super Satcher
> Sophomore Dante Satcher set a school record with a 99-yard kickoff return against Alderson-Broaddus
> He is averaging 111.0 all-purpose yards per game
> He had a 96-yard return for a score against Sacred Heart (10/10/15) last season
> His career kick return average of 26.7 yards is second in team history (35.6, Archie Wannamaker 96-98)
 
Robinson Returns
> Warren Robinson is averaging 5.2 yards on six punt returns
> He had his longest return of the season, 18 yards, last week at Youngstown State
> 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
> He had two of the three longest punt returns in team history - 66 yards vs. Notre Dame and 58 yards vs. Bryant
 
Check Marks
> Adam Check is averaging 37.4 yards on 25 punts this season
> Check set school records punting 12 times for 455 yards at Youngstown State
> He has planted five punts inside the 20
> His long is 53 yards
> Had 55 punts in 2015 averaging 36.7 yards
> His career avg. of 36.93 is third at RMU
 
Specialty Scoring
> Special teams has accounted for the team's first score this season - a 99-yard kickoff return by Dante Satcher
> The RMU special teams accounted for three touchdowns in 2015
> A blocked punt return, punt return and kickoff return accounted for the three specials teams scores
> Three players accounted for returns - Cole Blake (blocked punt), Warren Robinson (punt) and Dante Satcher (kickoff)
 
Shennan-igans
> Kicker Connor Shennan is 0-3 on FG this season
> Two kicks from 33 yards were blocked
> He missed a 42-yard attempt
> Three of his five kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks
> Shennan went 5-9 on FGs last season, connecting from 30, 46, 30, 36 and 19 yds.
> His 13 career FGs are fifth in RMU history
> 17 of his 36 kickoffs resuted in touchbacks
> He also punted 28 times with 40.7 average
> Six of 28 punts pinned opponents inside the 20
 
Kick Return Commendations
> The kick coverage unit was second nationally in kickoff return defense - 14.2 yards - in 2015
> In 2015, RMU led the NEC in touchback percentage - 47.2% of Colonials kickoffs
> No other NEC team was above 30%