Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU football team opened its 2021 spring schedule Saturday, dropping a 36-16 decision to No. 2 James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va., at Bridgeforth Stadium.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Dukes trailed after the first quarter for the first time since 2018 as the Colonials owned a 3-2 advantage after 15 minutes of play. JMU grabbed an early 2-0 edge after a bad snap by RMU sailed out of the end zone, leading to the first points of the contest. RMU responded, as the first career interception for linebacker
Aaron Green led to a 32-yard field goal from kicker
Nick Bisceglia. In addition to Green's interception of James Madison quarterback Cole Johnson, sophomore linebacker
Tiheem Crocker also picked off Johnson in the opening quarter, returning it 34 yards to the two-yard line of the Dukes with 1:28 left in the first quarter.
CAPITALIZING
The Colonials (0-1) scored off the second interception of Johnson when running back
Alijah Jackson scored from a yard out just six seconds into the second quarter. The two-point attempt failed, given RMU a 9-2 edge. The Dukes tied it with 8:49 to go before halftime when Johnson hit Kris Thornton for a 33-yard touchdown pass, but RMU answered on its next possession. Redshirt junior quarterback
George Martin finished 5-for-5 on a six-play drive that was capped by a 37-yard scoring strike to wide receiver
Jerry Hanks, Jr. In grabbing a 16-9 advantage, Martin engineered a drive that saw RMU march 82 yards for the lead.
THE SECOND HALF
Tied, 16-16, after the break, James Madison opened the second half with a 75-yard drive that took nine plays and used 4:19 off the block. Percy Agyei-Obese capped it with a seven-yard scamper for a touchdown that gave the Dukes the lead, 23-16. James Madison held the Colonials off the scoreboard in the final two quarters, limiting RMU to 39 yards of total offense.
STAT LINES
Redshirt junior quarterback
George Martin finished 15-for-30 for 165 yards and a touchdown in RMU's spring debut. He was sacked twice but did not throw an interception. Martin completed a pass to six different receivers, with redshirt junior
D'Andre Hicks leading the way by hauling in eight balls for 67 yards. On the ground, Jackson posted 25 rushing attempts for 49 yards and a score, including a 21-yard scamper in the opening quarter.
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
Redshirt senior safety
Jacob White added an interception for RMU Saturday afternoon as the Colonials picked off Johnson three times in the first half. Junior linebacker
Aniello Buzzacco picked up where he left off from the 2019 season, pacing the Colonials with 15 takedowns, including a career-high 10 solo tackles. It marks the third time Buzzacco has recorded at least 15 tackles in a game.
SMASHING DEBUT
Freshman safety
Lorenzo Euline was one of 10 Colonials making their first career start for RMU Saturday, and he joined Buzzacco with double-digit tackles. He finished with 12 stops, including four solo, and also recorded one of two sacks on the afternoon for the Colonials. Euline joined
Hayden Baron to earn a start in their collegiate debut as a true freshman, as Baron started at left guard for RMU.
UP NEXT
RMU opens the home portion of its 2021 spring schedule as well as a new era when it welcomes Monmouth to Joe Walton Stadium for a Noon kickoff Saturday, March 13. It marks the first league game for the Colonials in the Big South.
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