Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU football team returned to action Saturday after a bye, dropping a 45-3 decision to East Tennessee State at Joe Walton Stadium in front of 2,629 fans. The Colonials slipped to 0-3 during the 2022 campaign.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Buccaneers got behind the wheels of Jacob Saylors, who rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to bolster East Tennessee State. He scored on runs of 15, 39 and two yards, respectively, the last of which gave ETSU a 28-0 lead at the 8:41 mark of the second quarter. The score came off of a takeaway for the defense of the Buccaneers.
Jake Simmons, earning his first start at RMU, was intercepted by Sheldon Arnold II at the 37-yard line of East Tennessee State. He returned the pick 46 yards, setting up the offense for the Buccaneers at the 17-yard line of the Colonials. ETSU was whistled for holding on the first play of the drive, but two plays later Saylors rushed around the right to get the ball back in the red zone, and three plays he later punched in it.
OPENING SCORE
Both teams went three-and-out on their opening possession of the contest, but despite moving the chains twice East Tennessee State stalled on its next drive. The Colonials were pinned deep in their own territory and moved to near midfield before also stalling, bringing on the punt unit. Erek Campbell of the Buccaneers broke through the line and blocked a punt by
George Souders III. The ball was eventually scooped up at the 15-yard line by Harold O'Neal, who scampered into the end zone for the first score of the contest and a 7-0 lead for ETSU.
CLOCK WINDING DOWN
East Tennessee State scored the final touchdown of the contest with just five seconds left on the clock in the first half, as Tyler Riddell hit Einaj Carter with a 56-yard touchdown pass. The two teams exchanged field goals in the second half, with RMU scoring its points courtesy of a 39-yard field goal from sophomore
Jayson Jenkins at the 13:13 mark of the fourth quarter. Riddell finished 7-for-12 passing for 111 yards, while Simmons finished 12-for-21 for 97 yards for the Colonials. Sophomore
Corbin LaFrance saw the most extended action of his young career under center in the second half, finishing 7-for-12 passing for 66 yards, including a 20-yard strike to wide receiver
Feyisayo Oluleye.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
RMU came up with a pair of takeaways in the second half, with defensive backs
Gregory Young II and
Tim White each recording their first career interceptions. Defensive back
Sydney Audiger paced the defense for the Colonials, finishing with 12 tackles, including seven solo, and recording RMU's lone tackle for loss. Linebackers
Amauri Floyd and Jose Casale each finished with seven takedowns, while defensive back
Dakari Cabell also recorded seven tackles.
UP NEXT
RMU heads back out on the road, visiting Alumni Stadium in Dover, Del., Saturday, Oct. 1, for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff against Delaware State.
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