MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU football team held off a last-second field-goal attempt by Norfolk State to secure a thrilling 33-31 victory Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium. The Colonials improved to 3-2 overall after
Tahseen Howard's 100-yard missed field-goal return for a touchdown and
Carson Haggard's late game-winning touchdown pass helped propel RMU to the two-point win.
FIRST QUARTER
Norfolk State struck first, opening the game with a seven-play, 76-yard drive that ended with Rocco Ciocca hauling in a 17-yard touchdown pass from DaJean Goldmond.
The Colonials responded on their next scoring drive, as Haggard connected with
Noah Schaerli for a 15-yard touchdown. Haggard delivered a perfectly placed pass to the corner of the end zone, allowing Schaerli to make the catch and get both feet inbounds to tie the game.
SECOND QUARTER
Haggard continued to find his rhythm in the second quarter, connecting with
Jaqai Carter for a 21-yard touchdown down the right side of the field to give the Colonials a 14-7 lead.
With 49 seconds remaining before halftime, senior cornerback
Tahseen Howard delivered one of the game's biggest plays. After Norfolk State missed a field-goal attempt, Howard scooped up the loose ball and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, extending the Colonials' advantage to 21-7.
The Spartans answered with a 32-yard field goal before halftime, trimming the RMU lead to 21-10 heading into the locker room.
THIRD QUARTER
Haggard and Carter connected again in the third quarter, this time on a 22-yard touchdown strike to extend the Colonials' lead to 27-10.
Norfolk State responded with a strong offensive push, however, scoring three consecutive touchdowns to swing the momentum and put pressure on the Colonials.
FOURTH QUARTER
The Spartans scored twice in the fourth quarter, turning a 27-17 deficit into a 31-27 lead and putting the Colonials in a difficult position late in the contest.
With 3:27 remaining, Haggard and the RMU offense took over. The Colonials marched 72 yards on just five plays, using 1:56 of game time to put themselves in position for the go-ahead score.
Haggard capped the drive by finding Carter in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown, putting Robert Morris back in front, 33-31.
Norfolk State had one final opportunity to respond, advancing into field-goal range with limited time remaining. The Spartans lined up for a 52-yard attempt as time expired, but the kick fell short, sealing the two-point victory for the Colonials.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Norfolk State finished with 25 first downs compared to 19 for the Colonials. The Spartans also held a 114-70 advantage in rushing yards, while RMU controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for 31:47.
- Both offensive lines limited the opposing pass rush, as each team surrendered just one sack. Asher Wilson recorded RMU's lone sack.
- Redshirt senior running back Donta Whack led the Colonials' ground game with 39 rushing yards against Norfolk State.
- RMU's 33 points marked its highest offensive output of the 2026 season and its most points in a game since a 31-13 victory over Stonehill during the 2024 campaign.
CAREER DAYS FOR HAGGARD AND CARTER
Sophomore quarterback
Carson Haggard turned in a career performance Saturday, throwing for a career-high 296 yards and four touchdowns. He also completed 71.4% of his passes, marking his best completion percentage of the season.
Haggard has now surpassed 1,000 passing yards on the season, totaling 1,068 yards and 12 touchdown passes through five games. He has also added two rushing touchdowns for the Colonials.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver
Jaqai Carter also enjoyed a career day, serving as Haggard's top target throughout the contest. Carter hauled in a career-high nine receptions for 171 yards and three touchdowns, recording career bests in all three categories.
Through five games in 2026, Carter has totaled 317 receiving yards and five touchdowns, continuing to emerge as a key contributor in the Colonials' passing attack.
QUOTABLE – HEAD COACH BERNARD CLARK
On today's victory: "That's the first time we've scored more than 28 points this season, so I'm excited about that. We came out flat in the second half, and Norfolk State moved the ball well and made stops when they needed to. Coach Vick did a great job making adjustments, but I really like the way we finished the game."
On the Homecoming event: "Everyone played a part today, from the offense and defense to special teams. This is the place Joe Walton built, and I love seeing the alumni come back to celebrate him and our university. It's always meaningful to play well when our alumni and community are here."
UP NEXT
The Colonials return to the road next week for their final non-conference matchup of the season, traveling to Baltimore, Md., to face another MEAC opponent in Morgan State. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, at 12:00 PM.
