GAME 6
Robert Morris (1-4 / 0-0 NEC) @ Saint Francis (3-2 / 1-0 NEC)
Saturday, October 12, 2019 • Noon
DeGol Field (3,500) • Loretto, Pa.
NEC Champions: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2010
 
Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Radio Talent: Adam Gusky (pxp) & Brian Cleary (color)
Video: NECFrontRow.com • SFUAthletics.com
 
Slant Routes
 
- The Robert Morris University football team opens its 2019 Northeast Conference slate Saturday with a Noon kickoff in Loretto, Pa., against Saint Francis at DeGol Field. It marks the third contest of a four-game road swing.
 
- The Colonials own a mark of 11-12 (.478) all-time in Northeast Conference openers, including a record of 7-3 (.700) in league lidlifters on the road. In last year's NEC opener, RMU dropped a 49-46 decision @ Bryant (9/22). In that contest, running back Alijah Jackson rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns on 27 attempts, an average of 4.0 yards per attempt.
 
- Robert Morris concluded the non-conference portion of its 2019 schedule with a 45-10 loss @ No. 22 Youngstown State (9/28). Redshirt sophomore Alijah Jackson finished with 140 yards rushing on 20 attempts, an average of 7.0 yards per carry. It marked his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and sixth of his career.
 
- Sophomore linebacker Aniello Buzzacco posted his second consecutive double-digit tackle effort against the Penguins, recording a game-high 11 tackles, including nine solo takedowns. Buzzacco also recorded his first career interception @ Youngstown State.
 
- The Colonials picked up their first win of the 2019 campaign as well as their first road victory since 2015 with a 31-21 win @ VMI (9/21). The victory snapped a 21-game road losing slide.
 
- Redshirt sophomore running back Alijah Jackson gave RMU a 7-0 lead @ VMI with a 47-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and finished with 125 yards rushing on 20 attempts, an average of 6.2 yards per carry.
 
- Quarterback Caleb Lewis earned his first career start against the Keydets, completing 12 of his 17 passing attempts for 214 yards and a touchdown. He connected with senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez three times for 126 yards while hitting redshirt freshman Garrett Houser for a 15-yard touchdown.
 
- Sophomore linebacker Aniello Buzzacco registered his first career double-digit tackle game @ VMI with a game-high 13 stops, including three solo takedowns. He also registered one and-a-half tackles for losses that totaled seven yards.
 
- Alijah Jackson enters Saturday's game ranked second in the NEC in rushing yards (501) and rushing yards per game (100.2) as well as fifth in all-purpose yards per contest (124.6). Over his last nine games dating back to the 2018 campaign, Jackson is averaging 103.2 yards per contest on the ground with eight touchdowns and six 100-yard rushing performances.
 
- Robert Morris concluded a two-game homestand at Joe Walton Stadium with a 34-31 loss to Dayton (9/14). The Colonials compiled a season-high 447 yards of total offense, the sixth time in two seasons under head coach Bernard Clark, Jr., RMU has eclipsed 400 yards of total offense in a game.
 
- Redshirt sophomore quarterback George Martin finished 25-for-42 passing for a career-high 282 yards against the Flyers. He tossed a pair of touchdowns against one interception. His favorite target was senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez, who finished with eight receptions for a career-high 124 yards and a touchdown.
 
- Running back Alijah Jackson and tight end Matthew Gonzalez have eclipsed the 100-yard plateau for rushing and receiving, respectively, in the same game on two occasions in 2019.
 
SAINT FRANCIS LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats

Four In A Row - A total of four Colonials in program history have eclipsed the 100-yard rushing plateau in four consecutive games. It's a feat that hasn't been accomplished since 2010, when all-time leading rusher Myles Russ (2007-10) closed out the season with five consecutive 100-yard rushing performances. Also having turned the trick is Tim Hall (1994-95), Donald Dorsey (1998-99) and Sam Dorsett (1999-2003). Redshirt sophomore running back Alijah Jackson will look to become the fifth student-athlete Saturday @ Saint Francis, as he has accumulated 400 yards rushing over the last three games, an average of 133.3 yards per game. During that span, Jackson has rushed for five touchdowns and owns an average yards per carry of 6.3.  
 
Did You Know? Alijah Jackson leads Robert Morris in plays of 20 yards or longer with nine, including three that have gone for touchdowns. He also owns a team-high 18 rushing attempts that have either produced a first down or a score.
 
Action Jackson - In addition to having eclipsed the 100-yard rushing plateau in each of his last three games, redshirt sophomore running back Alijah Jackson has moved into the top 10 all-time at Robert Morris for career rushing yards. He enters Saturday's game @ Saint Francis with 1,069 yards after eclipsing 1,000 for his career @ Youngstown State (9/28). That total ranks eighth in the career record book. Jackson also owns a career rushing average of 5.63 yards per attempt, which sits fifth in school history, just behind former running back Archie Wannaker (5.77).
 
Gonzo - Senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez cracked the top 10 in program history for career receptions thanks to three catches in a 31-21 victory @ VMI (9/21). Gonzalez enters Saturday's NEC opener @ Saint Francis U with 75 career receptions, which ranks eighth all-time in school history. Sitting in seventh place is former wide receiver Opio Gary (1998-2000), who finished his career with 81 career catches. Gonzalez also ranks eighth all-time for career receiving yards with 1,194.

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