GAME 10
Duquesne (6-2 / 4-0) vs. Robert Morris (5-4 / 4-0)
Saturday, November 9, 2019 • 1:00 p.m.
Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) • Moon Township, Pa.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Talent: Tim Benz (pxp) & Brian Cleary (color)
Video: RMUColonials.com • NECFrontRow.com 
 
Slant Routes
 
- The Robert Morris University football team, winners of four consecutive games and five of its last six, concludes a three-game homestand at Joe Walton Stadium Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against Duquesne.
 
- The Colonials and Dukes enter Saturday's game with identical 4-0 records in the Northeast Conference. The two sit atop the league standings with Central Connecticut, which enters action this week ranked No. 20 in the STATS FCS Top 25.
 
- RMU is 4-0 in the Northeast Conference for the first time since 2010, and its four-game winning streak is also its longest since winning eight consecutive games, also in 2010.
 
- Robert Morris stretched its winning streak to four 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 posted 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.
 
- Senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in the win over LIU (11/2). Gonzalez has caught at least one touchdown pass in each of the last nine home games he's played dating back to the 2017 campaign. During that span, Gonzalez owns 12 touchdown receptions.
 
- The Colonials opened their three-game homestand with a come-from-behind victory over Bryant (10/26), earning a 24-20 win. Quarterback George Martin hit wide receiver Garrett Houser on a slant route for a 72-yard touchdown score in the fourth quarter to put the Colonials in front for good.
 
- Martin finished 9-for-20 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Bulldogs. Houser caught two of those passes for 100 yards, his first career 100-yard receiving effort, while tight end Matthew Gonzalez posted two receptions for 26 yards and a score.
 
- Running back Terence Stephens, Jr., posted his first 100-yard rushing effort of the 2019 season in the victory over Bryant and fourth of his career at Robert Morris with 101 yards on 27 attempts, an average of 3.7 yards per carry.
 
- Linebacker Aniello Buzzacco finished with a career-high 18 tackles against the Bulldogs, including eight in the fourth quarter. Buzzacco was one of three Colonials to finish with a double-digit tackle effort against Bryant (10/26), joining defensive back Jacob White and defensive lineman Supilani Mailei, who each finished with 10 tackles.
 
- Buzzacco and Houser were honored by the Northeast Conference for their roles in the win over Bryant, being named NEC Defensive Player of the Week and NEC Rookie of the Week, respectively.
 
- Buzzacco enters Saturday's game leading the NEC and ranked ninth in NCAA FCS with an average of 10.6 tackles per game. Over his last six contests, a stretch in which Robert Morris is 5-1 (.833), Buzzacco has compiled 76 takedowns, an average of 12.7 per contest.
 
- Alijah Jackson enters Saturday's game against the Dukes ranked second in the NEC in rushing, averaging 103.2 yards per game, and third in all-purpose yards per contest (123.6). Among NCAA FCS leaders, Jackson ranks 19th with an average yards per carry of 5.82 yards per attempt.
 
- Robert Morris has had a 100-yard rusher in six of its last seven games. During that span, Alijah Jackson owns five games eclipsing 100 yards rushing, while Terence Stephens, Jr., owns the other.
 
- Either Jackson or Stephens has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing barrier in 11 of RMU's last 17 games dating back to the 2018 season. During that span, Jackson owns eight 100-yard rushing performance and Stephens four. The duo each eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a 49-45 victory over Central State (10/20/18) at Joe Walton Stadium.
 
DUQUESNE LINKS
- Game Notes
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats

Comeback Kids - During RMU's four-game winning streak, the Colonials have trailed at  halftime in each contest before charging back in the second half to earn the win. Robert Morris trailed @ Saint Francis, 10-3, at the half before earning a 20-17 double overtime win. RMU also fell behind @ Wagner, 10-7, before earning a 21-13 win. The Colonials also trailed at intermission at home against Bryant (13-0) and LIU (17-14) before winning in the second half. Robert Morris entered the 2019 campaign just 16-106-1 (.134) all-time in program history when trailing at halftime, a record that has improved to 20-109-1 (.158).
 
Defense Wins Championships - A key reason RMU has been able to complete comebacks in the second half during its four-game winning streak has been due to the defense playing its part. In the last four games, the Colonials have outscored their opponents, 66-17, in the second half. Robert Morris allowed just 23 yards of total offense in the second half of its win over LIU (11/2) in erasing a 17-14 deficit. RMU has allowed an average of just 288 yards of total offense during its four-game surge.
 
Would You Look At That - Robert Morris enters Saturday's game against Duquesne leading the Northeast Conference in pass defense, allowing an average of 171.0 yards passing per contest. That's a stark contrast from a year ago, when the Colonials finished last in the circuit, allowing an average of 248.6 yards per game through the air. Defensive backs Mason Gray and Heavon Price each have recorded nine pass breakups for the Colonials in 2019, which ranks fourth in the NEC, while Tavin Harville owns three interceptions, which ranks second in the circuit.
 
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 game against Duquesne ranked sixth all-time in school history for career receptions (89) and eighth in receiving yards (1,364).
 
There When You Need Him - Senior tight end Matthew Gonzalez leads the Colonials in receptions with 27, but did you know that of his 27 catches, 21 of them (77.8%) have either given RMU a first down or a touchdown.
 
Back In The Saddle - Running back Alijah Jackson returned to the lineup in a 28-17 victory over LIU (11/2) after missing RMU's 24-20 win over Bryant (10/26) and paced the ground attack, accumulating 128 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries, an average of 8.5 yards per rush. Jackson, one of just five players in program history with at least 100 yards rushing in four consecutive games, has now eclipsed the 100-yard barrier in five of his last six games. Jackson enters Saturday's game against the Dukes ranked seventh all-time at Robert Morris for career rushing yards (1,394) and 10th in career rushing touchdowns (9).

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