Moon Township, Pa. -- Robert Morris University running backs Alijah Jackson and Terence Stephens Jr. each eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark as the Colonials won a 49-45 shootout against Central State (Ohio) Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium. The duo fueled an offense that tallied 539 yards, the second-highest total in team history, by combining for 288 rushing yards. The victory puts the Colonials at 2-5 on the season while the Marauders slip to 3-5.
 
Jackson rushed 18 times for 153 yards, an average of 8.5 yards per touch, and one touchdown. Stephens Jr. tacked on 153 yards on 20 touches and a score as they became the first RMU duo to eclipse the century-mark in a game since 1997 when Ralph Clark and Archie Wannamaker accomplished the feat against Monmouth. The Colonials finished with 289 rush yards, the fifth-best performance in team history.
 
Quarterbacks Jimmy Walker (9-15, 162 yds., 4 TD) and George Martin (5-7, 88 yds., 1 TD) combined to go 14-of-22 for 250 yards and five touchdowns, the second-most passing TDs in program history. Matthew Gonzalez and Mathew Barr each had five receptions. Three of the receptions by Gonzalez resulted in touchdowns, giving him 10 on the season and tying the RMU single-season record set by Tyjuan Massey in 2005. Gonzalez had 83 yards receiving while Barr led the team with 91 receiving yards.
 
Kevin Greenhow had 11 catches for 276 yards and three touchdowns for Central State. Trent Mays completed 22-of-40 passes for 364 yards and three scores. Terraris Saffold had 308 all-purpose yards, rushing for 111 yards, getting 149 yards on kickoff returns and catching five passes for 48 yards.
 
Robert Morris jumped out to a 28-10 lead and looked to have things under control when Brandon Magee went 52 yards to pay dirt on a pass from Walker with 10:49 left in the second quarter. Stephens started the scoring with a 41-yard run before Gonzalez caught a pair of touchdown tosses. Mays scored from a yard out and Trevor Teel hit a 29-yard field goal for the Marauders.
 
The Colonials took over at their own two yard line after Central State failed to convert on a fourth-down try. Two plays later, however, momentum swung in the visitors favor when Christian Lassiter hauled down Stephens in the end zone for a safety. The Marauders then scored two more touchdowns, failing a two-point try on the second one, to tally 15 straight points and cut the RMU lead to 28-25 on Saffold's 19-yard run early in the third quarter.
 
The Robert Morris offense rose to the task and the teams would trade scores for the remainder of the game. Walker hit Gonzalez for 18 yards, then Martin found Barr in the back corner of the end zone for a six yard TD before Jackson blasted 53 yards on a counter play in the fourth quarter. Central State scored on a pair of receptions by Greenhow and a Saffold rush.
 
The Colonials return to Northeast Conference action when they finish their two-game homestand against Saint Francis at Joe Walton Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 27. Kickoff is slated for Noon.