Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University football team allowed just 49 yards in the second half as they shutout visiting Virginia Military Institute (VMI), 23-0, in its Homecoming contest Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium. The Colonials improve to 2-1, their best mark through three games since 2010, while the Keydets slip to 0-3.
The Colonials defense also posted its first shutout since the Northeast Conference championship season in 2010, a 38-0 victory over Albany (Oct. 16, 2010). RMU forced three turnovers, came up with four sacks and had nine tackles for loss while holding VMI to 182 yards, including just 49 yards in the second half and three in the fourth quarter.
Gerald Ferguson was all over the place for that defense. He had five tackles, a pair of sacks, three tackles for loss, forced a fumble and also recovered a fumble.
Adam Wollet topped all players with 11 tackles.
Andy Smigiera, playing in his first game this season, tallied nine stops and came up with the team's first interception of the year, returning it 55 yards.
Offensively, the Colonials had their best day throwing the football since the last time these two teams met on Sept. 28, 2013. RMU threw for 321 yards in that contest. Saturday,
Jimmy Walker and
Mathew Barr combined for 297 yards through the air. Walker went 18-33 for 291 yards and three touchdowns.
Warren Robinson was his favorite target, catching five passes for 73 yards while a total of seven different players had receptions.
Walker and the offense wasted little time in setting the tone. On the first play from scrimmage, the junior signal-caller found Robinson for 39 yards. Two plays later,
Brandon Magee dragged his toes inside the back of the end-zone to haul in a 23-yard touchdown pass and finish off a three-play, 68-yard drive that put the Colonials ahead, 7-0, just 1:31 after the opening kickoff.
The Colonials next scoring march was a bit more methodical, covering 48 yards in 12 plays and 5:54 of playing time. Passes to running backs
Harrison Dreher and
TJ Neal covered 27 yards, keeping the drive alive before Walker found tight end
Reggie Green, who fought off a defender, from five yards away to put the blue-and-white on top, 14-0, with 1:50 left in the opening quarter.
Dreher hauled in a short pass, then avoided most of the Keydets defense to go in from 15 yards to give Robert Morris a 20-0 lead on the team's first drive of the second half. Freshman kicker
Nick Bisceglia added a 32-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to cap the scoring and a 13-play, 65-yard drive that covered 7:06.
Nine different players had carries for a VMI rushing attack that totaled 75 yards. Tyain Smith led that effort with 24 yards. Quarterback Austin Coulling was 12-22 for 107 yards and an interception. Smith also led the team with four receptions for 37 yards.
Robert Morris goes on the road to #2 North Dakota State Saturday, Sept. 23, for a 3:30 p.m. Eastern game in the Fargo Dome. It will be the third all-time meeting between the Colonials and the Bison and the second game against a top-10 opponent this season for RMU.
