GAME 3
Dayton (1-0) vs. Robert Morris (0-2)
Saturday, September 14, 2019 • 3:00 p.m.
Joe Walton Stadium (3,000) • Moon Township, Pa.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Talent: Adam Gusky (pxp) & Brian Cleary (color)
Video: NECFrontRow.com • RMUColonials.com
Twitter: @RMUFootball • Instagram: @RMU_Football

Slant Routes
 
- The Robert Morris University football team closes a two-game homestand Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff against Dayton at Joe Walton Stadium. The game is part of the University's Homecoming festivities.
 
- RMU opened its home schedule with a 13-7 loss to Kentucky State (9/7). The Colonials slipped to 16-10 (.615) all-time in home openers, including a mark of 6-10 (.375) at Joe Walton Stadium.
 
- Senior running back Terence Stephens, Jr., finished with 69 yards rushing on 13 attempts against the Thorobreds, an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He scored the lone touchdown of the afternoon for Robert Morris with a two-yard run that gave the Colonials a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. He also caught one pass for nine yards.
 
- In his first home start under center, sophomore George Martin finished 7-for-16 passing for 70 yards while also rushing three times for 31 yards. He connected with senior wide receiver Deonte White twice for 24 yards as well as sophomore running back Alijah Jackson twice for 21 yards.
 
- Sophomore defensive lineman Ezra Tupuola and freshman defensive back Jacob White each finished with nine tackles for RMU against the Thorobreds to garner game-high honors. Tupuola recorded four solo stops, while White finished with three. Tupuola leads RMU through two games with 15 tackles.
 
- Robert Morris opened its 26th season of NCAA Division I football and its 2019 campaign with a 38-10 loss @ Buffalo (8/29). It marked the first time in program history the Colonials took on an opponent from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
 
- In his first career start, redshirt sophomore quarterback George Martin completed seven of his nine passing attempts for 92 yards. He completed three passes to senior wide receiver DeLano Madison for 60 yards, including a 34-yard strike.
 
- Redshirt sophomore Alijah Jackson paced the RMU ground game against the Bulls with 85 yards on 13 attempts, an average of 6.5 yards per carry. He provided a 28-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter that cut the deficit for Robert Morris to 14-7.
 
- RMU is led by Bernard Clark, Jr., who is in his second season as head coach. He was named the third head coach in program history at a press conference at Joe Walton Stadium Dec. 19, 2017.
 
- In his first season on the sidelines, Clark helped the Colonials more than double their offensive output. Robert Morris averaged 24.6 points per game in 2018 after scoring at a 10.2 points per game clip in 2017.
 
- Robert Morris was picked seventh in the 2019 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, which was unveiled at the fifth annual NEC Social Media Day at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., July 24. Tabbed the preseason favorite was Duquesne, which earned seven first-place votes. Rounding out the top five is Sacred Heart, Central Connecticut, Wagner and Bryant.

DAYTON LINKS
- Game Notes
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Fresh Faces - On the defensive side of the ball, a number of student-athletes in their first year in an RMU uniform are already making an impact. Sophomore defensive lineman Ezra Tupuola has been at the head of the line, as he owns a team-high 15 tackles through two games, including eight solo stops. Among the returners, sophomore linebacker Aniello Buzzacco has racked up 14 takedowns in two games, including eight solo tackles. Last season he finished the year with 13 stops total. 
 
Sparks ... Senior wide receiver DeLano Madison and redshirt sophomore running back Alijah Jackson made the biggest splash plays for the Colonials in their 2019 season opener @ Buffalo (8/29). Jackson produced a 28-yard touchdown run and also had a 26-yard rush, while Madison hauled in catches of 21 and 34 yards from redshirt sophomore quarterback George Martin. Last season, Robert Morris finished with 55 plays from scrimmage last year that were 20 yards or longer.
 
... And Fire - Through two games, Robert Morris owns eight plays of 20 yards or longer, with senior DeLano Madison and sophomore Aljiah Jackson each owning three. Senior running back Terence Stephens, Jr., meanwhile, owns seven money rushes for the Colonials. He has carried six times for a first down, including three on third down, and owns one of RMU's two rushing touchdowns in 2019.
 
Missing Target - Senior Matthew Gonzalez missed RMU's 2019 home opener against Kentucky State (9/7) due to injury. Last season, Gonzalez finished with at least one score in eight of RMU's 11 and enters Saturday's game against Dayton with a receiving touchdown in six consecutive home games dating back to the 2017 campaign. Over that stretch he has hauled in nine touchdowns.
 
Still On Top - Inaugural RMU running back Tim Hall (1994-95) finished with 2,908 yards in two seasons as a member of the Colonials. He accomplished the feat in 393 carries, an average of 7.40 yards per attempt. That yards per rush remains No. 1 in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) record book entering the 2019 campaign, a span of 23 years.

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