GAME 12
Sacred Heart (7-4 / 4-2 NEC) vs. Robert Morris (6-5 / 5-1 NEC)
Saturday, November 23, 2019 • Noon
Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) • Moon Township, Pa.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Brian Cleary (color)
Video: RMUColonials.com • NECFrontRow.com 
Twitter: @RMUFootball • Instagram: @RMU_Football
 
Slant Routes
 
- The Robert Morris University football team concludes its 2019 season Saturday by hosting Sacred Heart for a Noon kickoff at Joe Walton Stadium.  Prior to the game, the Colonials will honor their senior class.
 
- RMU is coming off a 49-28 loss @ Central Connecticut (11/16), which snapped a five-game winning streak. The Blue Devils scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to snap a 14-14 halftime tie. CCSU claimed at least a share of the 2019 Northeast Conference title with the win and earned an automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs.
 
- The Colonials are looking for their fourth straight victory at Joe Walton Stadium, which would be the longest winning streak at home since posting eight consecutive wins over the course of the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
 
- Senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez blocked a punt @ Central Connecticut (11/16), with safety Jacob White picking up the ball and scampering 21 yards to the end zone for the first touchdown of the day for Robert Morris.
 
- Senior wide receiver DeLano Madison registered the first 100-yard receiving effort of his career against the Blue Devils, posting six receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Madison hauled in touchdown passes of 13 and 44 yards.
 
- A total of four Colonials posted double-digit tackle performances @ CCSU, with linebackers Thomas Neal and Aniello Buzzacco leading the way with 11 each. In addition, safety Mason Gray and linebacker Olivier Pageotte-Andre each recorded 10 stops. It marked a career high in takedowns for Neal and Pageotte-Andre.
 
- Linebacker Aniello Buzzacco enters Saturday's game leading the Northeast Conference while being tied for sixth in the NCAA FCS ranks for total tackles with 117. His average of 10.6 stops per game is tied for eighth in the NCAA FCS.
 
- Defensive backs Mason Gray and Tavin Harville are tied for second in the Northeast Conference in passes defended with 12 each. Gray owns 10 breakups and two interceptions, while Harville is tied for the league lead in interceptions (3) while owning nine pass breakups.
 
- In its last home game, Robert Morris stretched its winning streak to five with a 41-21 victory over Duquesne (11/9) to conclude a three-game homestand. The Colonials forced seven turnovers in the win, including four interceptions.
 
- Safety Mason Gray posted two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns, in the win over the Dukes. Gray's interception returns were 36 and 81 yards, and he tied an NCAA FCS record with a pair of pick sixes, becoming the first student-athlete in the NCAA FCS ranks to turn the trick since 2013. Gray was tabbed the NEC Defensive Player of the Week for his role in RMU's win over Duquesne, and the Colonials were also selected as the STATS FCS Team of the Week.
 
- Running back Terence Stephens, Jr., notched his second 100-yard rushing effort of the 2019 campaign in the win over Duquesne with 119 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts, an average of 5.9 yards per rush. Robert Morris is 3-2 (.600) in the five games in which Stephens has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing plateau the last two years.
 
- RMU posted its fourth consecutive win with a 28-17 victory over LIU (11/2) at Joe Walton Stadium. Quarterback George Martin threw touchdown passes of 31 and 24 yards and also recorded a 12-yard touchdown run. He finished 12-for-18 passing for 150 yards against the Sharks.
 
- Alijah Jackson returned in the victory over LIU (11/2) after missing a 24-20 victory over Bryant (10/26) and rushed for 128 yards on 15 carries, an average of 8.5 yards per attempt. Jackson owns five 100-yard rushing performances in 2019.
 
- Either Jackson or Stephens has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing barrier in 12 of RMU's last 19 games dating back to the 2018 season. During that span, Jackson owns eight 100-yard rushing performance and Stephens five. The duo each eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a 49-45 victory over Central State (10/20/18) at Joe Walton Stadium.

SACRED HEART LINKS
- Game Notes
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Buzz Lightyear - Linebacker Aniello Buzzacco finished with 11 tackles @ Central Connecticut (11/16), recording his sixth double-digit performance for stops in 2019. Buzzacco enters Saturday's game against Sacred Heart with 117 tackles, which has tied the Robert Morris single-season record for stops. Former linebacker Mike Cook (2009-13) recorded 117 takedowns in his final season with the Colonials in 2013 in 11 games, an average of 10.6 tackles per contest. The single-season record for tackles per game is 11.6, which was set by former linebacker Alex DiMichele (2008-10) in 2008.
 
In Search Of ... Running back Alijah Jackson will look to finish the season strong Saturday against Sacred Heart, as he enters the contest with 912 yards rushing in 10 games, ranking third in the Northeast Conference in rushing yards per game (91.2). Jackson is looking to become RMU's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2010, as he is 88 yards shy of eclipsing the plateau. Jackson ranks seventh all-time in program history with 1,480 yards rushing in 17 games, an average of 87.1 yards per contest. He also is tied for 10th for rushing touchdowns (9).
 
Meanwhile ... Running back Terence Stephens, Jr., is tied with his fellow backfield teammate, Alijah Jackson, for 10th in career rushing touchdowns with nine. Stephens has compiled 1,265 yards rushing in 21 career games at Robert Morris, which ranks ninth all-time in program history.
 
Gonzo - Senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez moved into a tie for fourth place all-time for career touchdown catches thanks to his 31-yard score in a 28-17 win over LIU (11/2). Gonzalez has hauled in 17 career touchdowns, which is tied with former wide receiver Duane Mitchell (2011-14). The school record of 21 is held by former wide receiver Tyjuan Massey (2002-05) and tight end Shadrae King (2008-11). Gonzalez enters Saturday's tilt against Sacred Heart ranked sixth all-time in school history for both career receptions (93) and receiving yards (1,434).
 
Three's Company - Robert Morris owns three of the top eight performers in the Northeast Conference in tackles entering Saturday's game against Sacred Heart. Linebacker Aniello Buzzacco leads the NEC with an average of 10.6 stops per games, and he is joined by safeties Mason Gray and Jacob White. Gray ranks fourth in the NEC with an average of 8.1 stops per game, while White is ninth at 7.2 takedowns a contest. White has also contributed nine passes defended in 2019, including seven breakups and a pair of interceptions.

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