Smithfield, R.I. – The Robert Morris University football team erased an 18-point deficit to take a three-point fourth quarter lead before ultimately falling at Bryant University, 49-46, in a Northeast Conference game Saturday afternoon at Bierne Field. The Colonials slip to 1-3 and 0-1 in the NEC while the Bulldogs move to 3-1 and 1-0 in league games.
 
The Colonials faced a 35-17 deficit early in the third quarter when Brenden Femiano rumbled in from nine yards out. From that point on, RMU outscored the Bulldogs, 29-14. The Colonials took a 46-42 lead with 6:46 to play in the fourth quarter when Jimmy Walker capped off an eight-play, 59-yard drive with a one-yard rush over the right side. EJ Jimenez set up the drive with an interception.
 
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs offense that had been quieted for much of the second half came back to life on the ensuing drive. Bryant went 75 yards on nine plays and got the go-ahead touchdown when Isaac McCray went 26 yards over the left side to give the host squad a 49-46 victory. A fumble ended the Colonials hopes of a final comeback.
 
Walker finished the day 20-of-28 for 238 yards and a touchdown, completing passes to eight different receivers. Alijah Jackson turned in the first 100-yard rushing performance by a Colonial since 2015 as he carried 27 times for 109 yards and a pair of scores. Walker added two rushing touchdowns as well.
 
The Bulldogs took advantage of a pair of first quarter fumbles by Robert Morris, taking a 14-0 lead after 15 minutes. Price Wilson converted the turnovers into points with a four-yard shovel pass to Jean Constant and another one-yard toss to Shelton McNeal. A nine-play, 72-yard drive by the Colonials stalled deep in Bryant territory. Nick Bisceglia cashed in on the lengthy drive with a 25-yard field goal.
 
Robert Morris put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 7:03, Jackson cutting the margin to 21-10 with just 1:43 left in the first half. Bryant, however, needed just 1:28 to score and pushed their lead back to 28-10 before the half.
 
The teams combined for four touchdowns in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Terence Stephen's 97-yard kickoff return set up a four-yard pass from Walker to Matthew Gonzalez. Femiano's nine-yard score came just 52 seconds later before RMU took three minutes before Stephen's scored on a 19-yard run. The Bullogs didn't need much time once again as Wilson connected with Declan Burt who went 60 yards down the right sideline to give Bryant a 42-24 lead. The Colonials accounted for the next three touchdowns, Walker's two scoring runs preceded by a two-yard effort by Jackson.
 
Wilson was 25-38 for 359 yards and four touchdowns. He was picked off twice, once by Myles Canton and once by Jimenez. Isaac McCray carried 13 times for 53 yards and Daniel Adeboboy had 54 yards on five touches. Vincent Nisivoccia hauled in eight passes for 115 yards and score. Two of Declan Burt's four receptions resulted in touchdowns.
 
Adam Wollet led the RMU defense with 12 tackles, including a 10-yard sack. Thomas Costigan had 16 for the host Bulldogs and Robert Brown added 11.