MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU football team (2-2, 1-0 NEC) returns home this Saturday, October 3, welcoming Norfolk State (3-2, 0-0 MEAC) to Joe Walton Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 PM.
 
RMU LATELY
The Colonials are coming off one of their strongest performances against an FBS opponent this season, narrowly falling to Buffalo, 31-28, on the road.
 
RMU opened the scoring in the first quarter when Xavier Goulbourne broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run, giving the Colonials an early 7-0 lead. Buffalo answered in the second quarter, but RMU responded quickly as Carson Haggard broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown run. The two teams entered halftime tied at 14-14.
 
Buffalo took its first lead in the third quarter and extended its advantage early in the fourth. However, the Colonials continued to battle, as Haggard orchestrated a five-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that took just 46 seconds. The drive culminated with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Noah Schaerli, cutting the deficit to 31-28 with 1:46 remaining.
 
Despite the late push, RMU's comeback effort came up just short as Buffalo held on for the three-point victory.
 
TOP PERFORMANCES
RMU earned a pair of NEC weekly honors following its performance against Buffalo, as Haggard was named Offensive Player of the Week and Jake Lopinto earned Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Haggard accounted for 222 yards of total offense and two touchdowns against the Bulls. The sophomore completed 13 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown while adding 59 rushing yards and another score on four carries.
 
Lopinto turned in a career-best performance, recording 19 total tackles, including eight solo stops and 11 assisted tackles. His 19 tackles are tied for the second-most in a single game in program history.
 
Junior linebacker Amanuel Dickson also earned NEC Prime Performer recognition alongside Haggard and Lopinto after registering a career-high 18 tackles against Buffalo.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Haggard has appeared in all four games this season, completing 64 passes for 772 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 193.0 passing yards per game. Sophomore running back Xavier Goulbourne leads the team with an average of 4.7 yards per carry.
 
Through four games, sophomore wide receiver Galen Combs leads the Colonials with 307 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 15 receptions.
 
Defensively, sophomore Asher Wilson and junior David Johnson lead RMU with 2.5 sacks apiece. Dickson paces the Colonials with 41 total tackles, including a team-high 24 solo stops.
 
ALL-TIME VS. NORFOLK STATE
Saturday's matchup marks the first meeting between RMU and Norfolk State in program history.
 
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Norfolk State enters Saturday's contest riding a two-game winning streak after defeating Chicago State and Hampton, scoring more than 40 points in each victory. The Spartans opened the season with a win over Winston-Salem State before dropping consecutive contests to Old Dominion and No. 25 Virginia.
 
Through five games, redshirt junior Deljay Bailey has served as the Spartans' primary quarterback, throwing for 539 yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Elyjah Mitchell leads the receiving corps with 24 receptions for 274 yards and two touchdowns, while redshirt senior Brevin Caldwell has also found the end zone twice. Defensively, Brenden Thompson leads Norfolk State with 36 total tackles, including 16 solo stops.
 
The Spartans are led by head coach Michael Vick, a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. Norfolk State finished the 2025 season with a 1-11 overall record and an 0-5 mark in MEAC play.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday's matchup will stream live on SportsNet Pittsburgh+, ESPN+ and NEC Front Row. Fans can also listen to live audio from "The Voice of the Colonials," Chris Shovlin, through the RMU Athletics Gameday App.
 
The RMU Athletics Gameday App serves as a one-stop destination for exclusive content, including live audio, podcasts and fan guides, while also featuring promotional offers from RMU Athletics sponsors. Fans can download the app by searching "RMU Colonials" in the App Store or Google Play.
 
Live stats will also be available through SIDEARM.
 
UP NEXT
RMU returns to the road next Saturday, October 10, to face Morgan State. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM.