Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU football team dropped a 42-31 decision to North Alabama Saturday night at Braly Stadium in Florence, Ala., in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Colonials slipped to 2-3 (.400) overall during the 2021 season, including 1-2 (.333) in the Big South.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Tied, 7-7, midway through the second quarter, the Lions scored on four consecutive possessions in less than seven minutes to grab a 35-7 advantage with just 1:34 left before halftime. Parker Driggers scored his second touchdown of the game with a seven-yard scamper to give UNA (1-6 / 1-2 Big South) a 14-7 lead. The score was set up by the special teams, as Kobe Warden returned a punt 23 yards to give the Lions the ball at the RMU 28-yard line. The Colonials couldn't get anything going on the ensuing offensive possession but pinned UNA deep in its own territory when George Souders placed a perfect punt that was downed by long snapper
Jacob Wilson at the four-yard line of the Lions. North Alabama was whistled for a false start on consecutive plays, but Driggers responded, getting outside and racing 99 yards to pay dirt to give the Lions a 21-7 lead.
THE SPECIALS
The Lions came up big on special teams again after grabbing a 14-point lead, as Montrell Campbell forced a fumble by
Jonathan Wynn, who returned the kickoff 38 yards before the miscue. Grayson Easterling pounced on the ball for UNA, and three plays later Jaxton Carson scored from four yards out to make it 28-7. On the first play after the fumble, quarterback Rett Files hit Takairee Kenebrew for 35 yards, setting up North Alabama in the red zone. RMU went three-and-out on its next drive, and the Lions struck again when Riles connected with E.J. Rogers for a 38-yard touchdown pass. In all, UNA scored 28 points using 12 plays and just 2:16 off the clock in the second quarter.
SETTLING DOWN
RMU scored before the break, marching 55 yards on nine plays and before kicker
Nick Bisceglia connected from 37 yards for a field goal to trim the deficit for the Colonials to 35-10. Quarterback
George Martin was 4-for-5 passing during the two-minute drill, including a 24-yard completion to wide receiver
James Westry and a 20-yard hookup with running back
Alijah Jackson that moved the ball to the six-yard line of the Lions. RMU had to settle for Bisceglia's trifecta, however, after Martin was sacked on third down.
MOMENTUM
The drive before the half seemed to energize the Colonials, who scored twice in the third quarter in cutting their deficit to 35-24. Martin tossed a pair of touchdown passes, one to Westry for 18 yards and another to Jackson from 22 yards out with 1:07 left before the final frame. Martin finished 7-for-12 passing during the quarter for 130 yards and overall completed 17 of his 40 opportunities for 252 yards. His favorite target was Westry, who notched his first career 100-yard receiving effort against the Lions with eight catches for 103 yards. He also added a 15-yard punt return to finish with 118 all-purpose yards in the contest.
THE DEBUT
Sophomore quarterback
Anthony Chiccitt saw his first action at the NCAA Division I level Saturday against the Lions, helping move the Colonials 81 yards on six plays and capping the scoring in the contest with a one-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Chris Charles. Chiccitt hit Westry for an 18-yard completion during the drive and also scrambled for 13 yards that set the Colonials up at the one-yard line of North Alabama. He finished 2-for-4 passing for 19 yards during the drive. Charles, meanwhile, caught his first career touchdown with the late score and was one of seven receivers to post a reception against UNA.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Driggers led all rushers in the game with 12 carries for 145 yards and three touchdowns for North Alabama, while Jackson compiled 86 yards on the ground on 18 attempts for the Colonials. Jackson also finished with a team-high 137 all-purpose yards thanks to three catches for 51 yards and a score. Defensively, RMU was led by defensive back
Sydney Audiger and linebacker
Jamar Shegog, who tied for game-high honors with eight stops each. Audiger finished with six solo tackles, while Shegog notched two-and-a-half tackles for loss, including one-and-a-half sacks. As a team, the Colonials posted four sacks. Safety
Jacob White notched one among his seven tackles and also finished with an interception.
UP NEXT
RMU travels to Boiling Springs, N.C., for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against Gardner-Webb Saturday, Oct. 23, before returning home to close out the month of October with a Noon kickoff against Hampton Saturday, Oct. 30, at Joe Walton Stadium.
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