GAME FOUR
at #2 NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
9.23.17 // 3:30 PM Eastern
Fargo, N.D. // Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (19,000)
 
Capsule
The Robert Morris University football team looks to improve to 3-1 when they travel to Fargo, N.D., for a 3:30 p.m. Eastern game, Sat., Sept. 26, against the second-ranked North Dakota State Bison at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. The Colonials went to 2-1 for the first time since 2010 with a 23-0 win over VMI last week. The Bison were off last week and are 2-0 having outscored their opponents 112-20.
 
All-Time vs. North Dakota State
> The Colonials are 0-2 against NDSU
> NDSU won the last game, 52-0, in 2012
> The first meeting between these teams came in the 2010 NCAA FCS Playoffs
> The Bison won that game, 43-17
> Both games were played at the Fargodome
 
Musket Shots
> LB Gerald Ferguson is the NEC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in '17
> Ferguson had five solo stops, 3.0 TFL, two sacks and caused two turnovers vs. VMI
> WR Warren Robinson is the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week
> Robinson averaged 24.3 yards per punt return, including a 38-yarder
> Robinson is 7th nationally averaging 17.3 yards per punt return
> LB Adam Wollet tied his career-high with 12 tackles at YSU, his fourth game with 12 stops
> RMU has committed just two turnovers in three games, ranking 14th in the nation
> The team's win over Dayton was their first in a season-opener since 2008
> It was also the team's first over Dayton since 2000
> Punter Adam Check was named to the 2017 Preseason All-NEC team
> Check set team records for punts (85) and punt yardage (3,150) in 2016
> Richards Jr. is the only All-NEC pick returning to the team in 2017
> He was a second team selection last year with 51 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one interception
> WR Tim Vecchio was the Colonials offensive MVP in 2016 with 35 receptions (308 yds.)
> The Colonials return 15 starters - 7 on offense, 7 on defense and 1 special teams
 
About the Bison
> NDSU is ranked second in the nation, sporting a record of 2-0
> They have outscored their two opponents, Mississippi Valley State and Eastern Washington, 112-20
> They average 607.5 yards per game, 436.5 on the ground
> Holding opponents to 131.0 yards of offense per game
> Lance Dunn leads the team with 290 rushing yards, averaging 11.2 yards per rush
> QB Easton Stick is 18-25 for 257 yards and two touchdowns
> RJ Urzendowski has caught six passes for 102 yards, an average of 17.0 yd/catch
> Chris Board leads the team with nine tackles
> Robbie Grimsley has a pair of interceptions and four passes defensed
 
TEAM NOTES

Dr. Howard In College Football
> RMU President Dr. Chris Howard is serving a three-year term on the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee
> He is also on the planning committee to commemorate the 150th birthday of college football
> Howard was a running back at Air Force
> He won the NFF Campbell Trophy, the highest academic award for a football player
 
USMC Sports Hall of Fame
> RMU head coach John Banaszak was inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in July 2017
> He is one of just 45 members of the exclusive club
> When he separated from the Marine Corps, he was a corporal serving as a supply clerk after a two-year appointment
> Banaszak won three Super Bowls as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers
 
Colonials Marine Corps Members
> WR Janar Walker spent four years in the United States Marine Corps prior to enrolling at RMU
> He is a 2011 graduate of Woodland Hills
> RMU head coach John Banaszak was also a US Marine upon high school graduation
> Banaszak reported to Parris Island in 1969 and served a two-year appointment
 
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
> Freshman kicker Nick Bisceglia joins brother Matt Bisceglia at Robert Morris
> Matt is a goalkeeper on the RMU soccer team
> Both attended Kiski Area High School
 
Branch Lands With Atlanta Falcons
> DB Marcelis Branch '17 signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent
> He was given a spot on the practice squad
> Was fouth on the team with 12 tackles in the preseason
> Branch also plays on the Falcons kickoff return, kickoff coverage and punt coverage teams
> He was an All-NEC first team pick in 2016
> Started 42 games, a record for an RMU player on defense

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)
> 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
 
Standing in the Hall of Fame
> Three football players joined 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
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> RMU ranks in the top-30 in these categories:
     > 4th Down Defense (1st, .000)
     > Fumbles Recovered (6th, 5)
     > Passing Yards Allowed (11th, 139.3)
     > Scoring Defense (12th, 13.3)
     > Total Defense (21st, 289.3)
     > Takeaways (24th, 6)
 
National Rankings - Individual
> Colonials rank in the top 50 in these categories:
     > Fumbles Recovered (Gerald Ferguson, 2nd, 2; Ryan Richards Jr., 2nd, 2; Greg Rose, 19th, 1)
     > Sacks (Gerald Ferguson, 21st, 1.00/gm)
     > Total Tackles (Adam Wollet, 30th, 10.0)
 
NEC Defensive Player of the Week
> LB Gerald Ferguson is the Defensive POTW for the second time in three weeks
> Against VMI, he had five tackles, three TFL, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery
> Ferguson is second nation with two fumbles recovered
> He is 21st with 3.0 sacks
 
Keydets Locked Up
> RMU shutout VMI, 23-0, the team's first shutout since 10/16/10 vs. Albany
> They held the Keydets to just 182 yards
> Its the fewest yards since holding Wagner to 170 on 10/3/15
> RMU has held 11 opponents under 260 yards since 2010
> That includes Dayton gaining just 257 yards in the season-opener
> Robert Morris has been a top-30 defense in eight of Farison's 13 seasons as DC
 
Guess Who's Back?
> S Andy Smigiera started against VMI, his first full game action since 2015
> He came up with the team's first INT of season, returning it 55 yards
> Smigiera had a total of nine tackles
 
Ball!
> RMU is 24th in the nation forcing six turnovers
> Five of those takeaways are fumble recoveries, sixth in the nation
> Three players - Gerald Ferguson (2nd), Ryan Richards Jr. (2nd) and Greg Rose (19th) - are top-20 nationally in fumble recoveries
> RMU had 11 fumble recoveries in 2016, ranking 17th nationally
 
Senior Laden
> The Colonials list five seniors on their starting two-deep
> Three of those seniors are in the defensive backfield
     > Ryan Richards, Jr.
     > Andy Smigiera
     > Drew Allen
> Linebackers Joseph Uhatafe and Gerald Ferguson are also seniors
> DT Zack Zamiska is also a senior and will likely return to the starting lineup soon
 
Brains and Braun
> ILB Adam Wollet leads RMU with 30 tackles
> He ranks 30th nationally averaging 10.0 tackles per game
> Made 12 stops at Youngstown State, tying his career high
> He led RMU with 89 tackles in 2016
> Registered a career-best 12 tackles vs. Dayton, Sacred Heart and Wagner in 2016
> He was named to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District II Team
 
Derian on the D-Line
> Sophomore DL Derian Smith made his first start vs. Dayton
> Is fourth on the team with 16 tackles, including 3.0 TFL and 1.0 sack
> He was one of four players to tally seven tackles against Dayton
> Smith has four solo stops and eight assisted tackles
 
D-Line Depth
> Seven players have seen time on the defensive line for the Colonials
> Six different defensive linemen have registered a tackle for RMU
> Derian Smith leads that group with 16 stops
> Amir Fenwick, Chris Stanford, Zack Zamiska, Izon Pulley, Greg Rose and Justin Boyette have also played
> Mike Lamb may also see time in that position
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> Colonials rank in the top-30 in these categories:
     > Fourth-Down Conv. Pct. (20th, .800)
     > Fumbles Lost (20th, 1)
     > Passes Had Intercepted (17th, 1)
     > Passing Yards per Completion (21st, 14.45)
     > Turnovers Lost (13th, 2)
 
National Rankings - Individual
> Colonials rank in the top-50 in these categories:
     > Passing TDs (Jimmy Walker, 43rd, 4)
     > Passing Yards (Walker, 44th, 4)
     > Passing Yds./Comp. (Walker, 15th, 15.05)
     > Yards/Pass Att. (Walker, 46th, 7.33)
     > Yards/Reception (Tavin Allison, 21st, 22.57)
 
Transfer Impact
> A trio of transfers are listed as starters on the RMU offensive two-deep
> QB Jimmy Walker came to RMU from San Diego State
> Walker is 38-78 for 572 yards, 4 TDs and just one interception
> TE Reggie Green was once a Pitt Panther
> He has three receptions for 48 yards and a TD
> WR Tavin Allison first went to Eastern Michigan before arriving in Moon
> Allison leads RMU with seven receptions and 158 yards
> WR Eldin Anu, who will see time at receiver, transferred from Kent State
 
11 Targets
> 11 different players have caught passes for RMU
> Tavin Allison leads the team with 7 catches
> Every player who was been targeted this year has a reception
 
Favorite Targets
> QB Jimmy Walker is 18-26 targeting tight ends and running backs
> 11 of those completions have resulted in first downs and two in touchdowns
> 12-15 (.800) when targeting running backs
> 6-11 (.545) when targeting tight ends
 
Dreher's Debut
> RB Harrison Dreher made his long-awaited debut for RMU at Youngstown State
> He rushed 19 times for 84 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry
> He also returned three kickoffs for 41 yards
 
Valuable Vecchio
> WR Tim Vecchio was the Colonials Offensive MVP in 2016
> He led the team with 35 receptions and 308 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)
 
Cole Train Back on Track
> Cole Blake rushed for 69 yards against Dayton, his first game back since 2015
> Blake rushed for 722 yards on 170 carries in 2015
> He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and had two TDs as a sophomore
> Blake missed all of 2016 due to injury
 
Same Players, New Positions
> Former quarterbacks Mathew Barr and Andrew Romanchak have both moved to wide receiver
> Barr was the Colonials starting QB in 2015
> Barr will be available to take snaps under center if necessary
> Romanchak started four games at QB in 2016
 
Freshmen Front Five
> The two-deep lists five first-year players on the starting offensive line
> Four of those - LT Trevor Hicks, LG John Sheldon, RG Alex Minford, RT Dylan Young - are true freshmen
> C Eric McAllister is a redshirt-freshman
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
 
National Rankings - Team
> RMU ranks in the top-30 in these categories:
     > Punt Returns (6th, 17.25)
 
National Rankings - Individual
> Colonials rank in the top-50 in these categories:
     > Punt Returns (Warren Robinson, 7th, 17.3)
     > FG / Game (Nick Bisceglia, 32nd, 1.00)
 
Check Marks
> Adam Check was named to the Preseason All-NEC team as a punter
> Check owns the following RMU single game records
    > Punts - 12 vs. Youngstown State
    > Punt Yards - 455 vs. Youngstown State
> Check owns the following RMU single season records
    > Punts – 85
    > Punt Yards - 3,150
> He averaged 37.1 yards on 85 punts in 2016
> He planted 22 punts inside the 20
> His career avg. of 36.87 is fourth at RMU
 
Robinson Returns
> Warren Robinson is the only player in team history with two punt return TDs
> He had an 81-yard return for a TD vs. Malone
> His 12.95 career punt return avg. is third 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
 
Freshman Foot
> Freshman kicker Nick Bisceglia won the starting kicking job in camp
> He will handle both kickoffs and field goals
> He is 3-9 on field goals
> His gamewinning FG against Dayton came with :04 left
> Was an all-conference punter and kicker in high school
> Also played soccer for Kiski Area
> His brother, Matt, plays soccer at RMU
 
Specialty Scoring
> Special teams accounted for five of the teams 14 touchdowns in 2016
> LB Gerald Ferguson had a 26-yard blocked punt return for a TD at Bryant
> Marcelis Branch blocked a FG and returned it 63 yards for a TD, the first in team history
> Warren Robinson had an 81 yard punt return TD in 2016
> Robinson is the only player in team history with two punt return TDs