GAME 6
RMU (0-5 / 0-1 Big South) @ Campbell (3-2 / 1-0 Big South)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 • 1:00 p.m.
Barker-Lane Stadium (5,500) • Buies Creek, N.C.
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TV: ESPN+
Talent: Chris Hemeyer (pxp), Jay Sonnhalter (color) & Daron Vaught (sideline)
Audio: RMU Athletics Gameday App
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp)
Twitter: @RMU_Football • Instagram: RMU_Football
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Slant Routes
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- The RMU football team heads to Buies Creek, N.C., for its first Big South road game of the 2022 season, taking on Campbell in a 1:00 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Barker-Lane Stadium.
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 - The Colonials are led by
Bernard Clark, Jr., who is in his fifth season leading the Colonials. In his first head coach position, Clark was named the 2019 Northeast Conference (NEC) Co-Coach of the Year and owns an overall record of 13-28 (.317).
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- RMU fell at home in its 2022 Big South opener, dropping a 48-0 decision to Gardner-Webb (10/8) at Joe Walton Stadium. In his first NCAA Division I start, freshman quarterback
Zach Tanner finished 12-for-26 passing for 101 yards.
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- The Colonials posted a pair of takeaways against the Runnin' Bulldogs, as defensive back
Sydney Audiger forced and recovered a fumble, while running back
Alijah Jackson also forced and recovered a fumble on an interception return by Raquan Ousley of Gardner-Webb.
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- Defensive back
Dakari Cabell paced the RMU defense against the Runnin' Bulldogs as one of three Colonials to finish in double figures in tackles with a career-high 13. Linebackers
Tony Brown and
Joe Casale added 11 and 10 takedowns, respectively, as the trio racked up 29 solo stops on the afternoon.
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- RMU dropped a 14-9 decision @ Delaware State (10/2) to open the month of October. The Hornets took advantage of a muffed punt to score a touchdown to grab a 14-3 lead, but running back
Anthony Purge scored on a three-yard run with 4:14 remaining to trim the deficit to 14-9. DSU recovered the ensuing onside kick and was able to run out the clock to seal the win.
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- Freshman
Zach Tanner came on in relief of starter
Jake Simmons at quarterback and finished 10-for-25 passing for 98 yards. Wide receiver
Bryce Bevins led the receiving corps with four catches for 36 yards, while on the ground running back
Alijah Jackson carried 14 times for 52 yards.
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- Defensively, the Colonials held the Hornets to just 115 yards of total offense, including 82 yards rushing and 33 yards through the air. Delaware State registered just five first downs, one of which came via penalty.
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- A total of five Colonials were named to the 2022 Big South Preseason All-Conference Team, which came as part of Big South Media Day presented by Buy1.com, held at the Charlotte Marriott SouthPark Hotel. Named to the 2022 Preseason All-Big South First Team was defensive back
Sydney Audiger, offensive lineman
Hayden Baron, running back
Alijah Jackson and defensive lineman
Rico Watson. In addition, linebacker
Jamar Shegog was tabbed 2022 Preseason All-Big South Honorable Mention.
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- As part of Big South Media Day presented by Buy1.com, RMU was picked to finish sixth in the league in 2022. The Colonials posted an overall record of 4-6 (.400) in 2022, including a 4-1 (.800) mark at Joe Walton Stadium, and tied for third in the league standings. North Carolina A&T was selected as the 2022 preseason favorite in the Big South.
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- RMU returns home to Joe Walton Stadium to host 2022 Big South preseason favorite North Carolina A&T Saturday, Oct. 22, at Noon. Presented by
Sewickley Savings Bank, the first 1,000 fans receive pink rally towels as part of RMU's Pink Game.
CAMPBELL LINKS
- RMU Two-Deep
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
- RMU Athletics Gameday App
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The All-Time Series (Campbell) – Saturday marks just the second meeting in the all-time series between RMU and Campbell. The Colonials claimed the first matchup between the two programs,
20-17 in overtime, last year at Joe Walton Stadium in the season finale. Former kicker
Nick Bisceglia (2017-21) connected for a 25-yard field goal in the extra period, and RMU sealed the win when Isaac Riffle missed a 24-yard field goal attempt on Campbell's possession in overtime.
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Defensively Speaking – RMU posted its finest defensive performance in the
Bernard Clark, Jr., era @ Delaware State (10/2), holding the Hornets to just 115 yards of total offense. It's the lowest amount by an opponent since the Colonials held Albany to just 91 yards Nov. 4, 2006, at Joe Walton Stadium. The school record for fewest total yards allowed also came during the 2006 campaign, when RMU held Rowan to -19 yards of total offense in a 21-0 victory Sept. 23, 2006, which also came at the Joe. In that contest the Profs managed just 25 yards through the air and -44 yards rushing as the Colonials racked up eight sacks on the afternoon.
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The Backfield – Fifth-year
Alijah Jackson will be a key component for the offense in 2022 as well as a veteran presence for the unit. In 35 career games, Jackson has amassed 2,568 yards rushing on 599 attempts, an average of 4.29 yards per carry. He ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards and is looking to become just the third student-athlete in program history to eclipse 3,000 yards on the ground. All-time leading rusher Myles Russ (2007-10) posted 4,271 yards, while Sam Dorsett (1999-2003) finished with 3,847. Jackson owns eight career 100-yard rushing efforts, with each of his three from the 2021 campaign coming at Joe Walton Stadium. In RMU's season finale last year, a 20-17 overtime triumph over Campbell (11/20) at the Joe, Jackson finished with a season-high 132 yards on 23 attempts.
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Still On Top – The program's first running back, Tim Hall (1994-95), spent two seasons with the Colonials and during his career rushed for 2,908 yards. He accomplished the feat on 393 carries, an average of 7.40 yards per attempt. That total remains No. 1 in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) record book entering the 2021 season, a span that hits 26 years this fall.
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