Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU football team opened their conference schedule with a road loss to Gardner-Webb, 31-16. The Colonials dipped to 2-4, while the Bulldogs improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big South-OVC.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
A slow start on the offensive side of the ball proved costly by the game's end as the Colonials couldn't capitalize on their first three possessions, which led to three straight touchdown drives from the Bulldogs. By the midway point in the second quarter it was 28-3 in favor of Gardner-Webb but Robert Morris ended up making a valiant effort to comeback in the second half. The Colonials held the Bulldogs to seven points in the second half while scoring two touchdowns of their own to make it highly competitive in the fourth quarter.
FAIR PLAY
RMU defensive end Garret Fairman had the best defensive performance from anyone on the field as he had an interception, while also scoring a touchdown on a 17-yard fumble recovery. Both of these turnovers came in the second half and helped spark the Colonials rally that brought them to within two scores. Fairman's interception came at the 1:41 mark in the 3rd quarter as Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Caldwell got pressured by RMU defensive end Tizlam Muhammad which caused the errant throw. Fairman's scoop and score came off a forced fumble from Muhammad as those two caused havoc on the Bulldogs front during the entire second half. The duo of Fairman and Muhammad combined for seven tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery.
SCORING DRIVES
The Colonials got on the board first in the game by way of a 32-yard field goal courtesy of Jayson Jenkins but it was set up nicely with quarterback Anthony Chiccitt starting the drive at RMU's own 25-yard line. Early in the drive, Chiccitt found running back DJ Moyer for 11 yards then Connor Becker for 14 yards to continuously move the chains. The drive was mixed with successful runs from Cyrus Bonsu, Tayshaun Mayfield, and Moyer to put them in field goal range. The lone touchdown drive from the Colonials came off a muffed punt from the Bulldogs that was caused by RMU's Maleek Huggins. RMU started the drive at Gardner-Webb's 28-yard line as it was capped off by a Bonsu rushing touchdown from one yard out. The Bulldogs didn't help themselves as the Colonials were driving as they forced a roughing the passer penalty on Chiccitt that moved the ball to the one yard line which set up the score.
JACKSON KEEPS STACKING
Colonials tight end Chaese Jackson was once again a main target for Chiccitt in this contest as he hauled in 10 catches which led the Colonials for 58 yards. Jackson is second on the team with 26 receptions as he trails wide receiver Noah Robinson with a team-leading 37 catches. Jackson continues to move up the Colonials leader board as he is second on the Colonials in receiving yards with 261 and tied for first with four touchdown catches, as both of those marks are paced by Robinson.
RESILIENT DEFENSE
RMU defenders Dee Pierce and Joe Casale continue to pace the Colonials with tackles week after week as they both finished with eight stops today, in Pierce's case he had seven solo tackles.Tony Brown, Trey Woods, Muhammad, and Casale all had tackles for loss with Woods recording a 10-yard sack. The Colonial defense had a second half to remember as they held the Bulldogs to seven points and forced two turnovers with one of them becoming a touchdown.
UP NEXT
RMU will stay on the road as they travel to Rhode Island to face off against Bryant next Saturday at 4 p.m. The Colonials will be back at Joe Walton Stadium October 28th when they host Tennessee Tech for a noon kickoff.
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