MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU football closes out a two-game homestand Saturday afternoon when the Colonials (3-4, 1-1 NEC) welcome Mercyhurst (1-6, 0-2 NEC) to Joe Walton Stadium. Kickoff for the NEC matchup is slated for 2:00 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday marks the seventh meeting between the Colonials and Lakers, with the all-time series tied, 3-3. RMU owns a 1-2 record against Mercyhurst at Joe Walton Stadium, with its lone home victory coming in 2024 when the Colonials rolled to a 55-28 win.
LAST WHISTLE
The two programs most recently met Nov. 15, 2025, when Mercyhurst earned a 27-13 victory over RMU in Erie.
The Colonials finished the contest with 260 yards of total offense, including 205 on the ground. Through the air, RMU completed 5-of-18 passes for 79 yards.
Mercyhurst totaled 378 yards of offense and 24 first downs in the victory. The Lakers completed 19-of-27 passes for 206 yards while adding 172 yards on the ground.
SCOUTING MERCYHURST
Mercyhurst (1-6, 0-2 NEC) enters Saturday looking to snap a three-game skid after falling to Central Connecticut, 43-40, last weekend. Quarterback Alex Gevaudan threw for career highs of 409 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the first Mercyhurst quarterback to eclipse 400 passing yards in a game since 2015. For his performance, Gevaudan was named the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Offensive Player of the Week.
Through seven games, the Lakers are averaging 21.6 points and 290.6 yards of offense per game, including 216.1 yards through the air. Defensively, Mercyhurst is allowing 43.7 points and 466.7 yards per contest while forcing nine turnovers and recording 11 sacks.
RMU LATELY
RMU (3-4, 1-1 NEC) enters Saturday looking to bounce back from a 26-15 setback against New Haven. The Colonials have been involved in several tightly contested games over the past month, including a three-point loss at FBS Buffalo, a 33-31 Homecoming victory over Norfolk State and a one-point setback at Morgan State.
Quarterback Carson Haggard has helped pace the offense during that stretch, throwing for 918 yards and eight touchdowns over the last three games. He threw for 296 yards and four touchdowns against Norfolk State before recording a career-high 376 passing yards and three scores at Morgan State. The latter performance earned Haggard his third consecutive NEC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Jaqai Carter has also emerged as one of Haggard's top targets. Carter hauled in nine passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns against Norfolk State before adding nine receptions for 141 yards and a score against New Haven.
Defensively, Amanuel Dickson continues to anchor the Colonials. After recording 18 tackles at Buffalo, Dickson has registered at least nine stops in each of RMU's last four games. He most recently broke the program's single-game record with 21 tackles against New Haven while adding a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss.
Osman Kamara also turned in a career performance against the Chargers, finishing with 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks as the Colonials held New Haven to just 239 yards of total offense.
DOMINANT DICKSON
Junior linebacker Amanuel Dickson continues to establish himself as one of the top defenders in the FCS. Dickson was named the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Defensive Player of the Week following a record-setting performance against New Haven, finishing with a game-high 21 tackles, including 11 solo stops, to go along with a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
His 21 tackles established a new RMU single-game record and were the most recorded by an FCS player during Week 7.
The performance also earned Dickson Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention recognition. Through seven games, he has totaled 82 tackles, highlighted by 18 stops at Buffalo, 11 against Norfolk State and nine at Morgan State before his record-breaking performance against New Haven.
JUMPIN' JAQAI
Wide receiver Jaqai Carter (R-So. | Charlotte, N.C.) earned NEC Prime Performer honors following his standout performance against New Haven.
Carter hauled in nine receptions for a game-high 141 yards and a touchdown, averaging 15.7 yards per catch. He provided RMU's biggest offensive play of the afternoon in the fourth quarter, connecting with Carson Haggard for a 55-yard touchdown.
The 141-yard performance marked Carter's second 100-yard receiving game of the season, while the 55-yard touchdown reception was his longest of the year. Carter accounted for more than half of RMU's 246 passing yards in the contest.
NEC WEEKLY HONORS
Galen Combs – Offensive Player of the Week (8/31)
Khalil Hunter – Defensive Player of the Week (8/31)
Bryson Costa – Special Teams Player of the Week (9/7)
Jake Lopinto – Defensive Player of the Week (9/14)
Carson Haggard – Offensive Player of the Week (9/28)
Jake Lopinto – Defensive Player of the Week (9/28)
Carson Haggard – Offensive Player of the Week (10/5)
Carson Haggard – Offensive Player of the Week (10/12)
Amanuel Dickson – Defensive Player of the Week (10/19)
WAYS TO WATCH
Saturday's matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+ and NEC Front Row with the "Voice of the Colonials," Chris Shovlin, alongside former RMU defensive back Dr. Raymond "Smoke" Thomas.
Fans can also listen live through the RMU Athletics Gameday App, which serves as a one-stop destination for exclusive content, including live audio, podcasts, fan guides and promotional offers from RMU Athletics sponsors. Fans can download the app by searching "RMU Colonials" in the App Store or Google Play. Live statistics will also be available through SIDEARM.
THE ROAD AHEAD
RMU returns to the road next weekend, traveling to New Britain, Conn., to face Central Connecticut State in the SI TV NEC Football Game of the Week. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
