Cape Girardeau, Mo. – The RMU football team picked up its first conference victory of the season, downing Southeast Missouri State 21-20 on Saturday afternoon. The Colonials improved to 3-6 overall, with a 1-3 mark in Big South-OVC play. The Redhawks fell to 4-5 and dropped their first conference game of the season as they now sit at 3-1 in the conference.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
With eight seconds remaining,
Shakespeare Louis broke up a pass on 4th-and-19 to seal the game for RMU.
In the 3rd quarter, SEMO took a 20-14 lead with just over eight minutes to go. The following RMU drive started at their own 22-yard line as the offense marched 78 yards on 13 plays resulting in a Colonials touchdown that put them ahead for good. RMU quarterback
Anthony Chiccitt threw for 65 yards on the game-winning drive, including the scoring play which was a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Chaese Jackson.
FIRST QUARTER AMBUSH
The Colonials came out the gate firing to start the game as they scored two touchdowns in the first frame. RMU had their first scoring drive set up after a
Seth Verilus interception put RMU at the Redhawks 10-yard line to start their series. A pair of rushes from
Cyrus Bonsu set up a Chiccitt two-yard rushing touchdown on 4th-and-2, putting the Colonials on the board, 7-0.
The Colonials started their second scoring drive at their own 25-yard line but it wouldn't take long to put another touchdown on the board. With the ball at the RMU 34-yard line, the Redhawks were called for an unnecessary roughness penalty that set the Colonials up at the 50-yard line. Two plays later, Chiccitt connected with wide receiver
Noah Robinson on a 51-yard touchdown that put the Colonials up 14-3 to end the first quarter. Chiccitt threw for 84 yards in the first frame while Robinson paced the Colonials with 61 yards in the opening quarter.
THE ROBINSON EFFECT
Colonials wide receiver
Noah Robinson had yet another stellar performance as he recorded his fourth 100-yard receiving game as well as tying the conference mark for receptions in a game this season with 11. Robinson finished the day with 167 yards, setting career-highs in both categories and averaging just over 15 yards per catch. Robinson leads the Colonials with 57 catches for 683 yards so far this season with two games remaining.
ON THE DEFENSIVE
Joe Casale paced the Colonials on the defensive, registering 10 tackles with five of those being solo stops. Linebacker
Jamar Shegog filled the stat sheet as he recorded nine tackles while adding two pass break ups, two quarterback hits and one sack.
Seth Verilus had the lone interception for the Colonials as he also returned it 15 yards to set up the first score for RMU.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Chiccitt finished 20-of-32 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and one pick while Moyer rushed for 68 yards on 19 attempts. Tight end
Chaese Jackson had four catches while also hauling in a receiving touchdown as he is now tied with Robinson for the team lead in touchdown catches with five.
ROAD WARRIORS
This was the first road win for the Colonials since October 19, 2019 when they defeated Wagner, 21-13. Furthermore, this was the first conference victory since November 20, 2021 when the Colonials downed Campbell in overtime, 20-17.
UP NEXT
The Colonials will come back home to Joe Walton Stadium as they'll host Charleston Southern next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+
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