Robert Morris at Monmouth Game Thread

[rmutv]

First Northeast Conference game of the year. Both teams are coming off losses, although Monmouth looked much better against Maine than Robert Morris looked against Dayton.

Few notes:
-Adam San Miguel (Hawks) and Mario Hines (Colonials) are probably the best two wide receivers in the conference.
-Robert Morris has not beaten Monmouth since 2002. The overall series is tied at 6.
-Both teams share the record for the most NEC titles, sitting at 5 after Monmouth won last year's conference trophy.
-This is the first time EVER that someone other than Joe Walton will be leading the Colonials on the sideline. Walton has been the only coach of the program since it started with the 1994 season. He is staying in Pittsburgh this weekend to mourn the loss of his wife, Ginger, who passed away on Wednesday. I guarantee you that the Colonials will be trying to bring back a win for him.

Kickoff is moments away.

Updated stats are located here:
http://www.gomuhawks.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=67818&SPID=7664&DB_OEM_ID=14300#

Robert Morris radio feed is here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/teams/rri

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Monmouth with the first offensive drive of the game after winning the coin toss. They elected to receive the kick and they've marched into the Colonials territory behind David Sinisi. Approaching the RMU 35 yard line.

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Jordan Howard narrowly misses sacking QB Brett Burke, but Burke gets away and down to the 9 yard line. 11:42 left in the first quarter.

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10:11 to go...Colonials came up and stuffed Monmouth at the 1 on third down but safety Jonathan Robinson put a late hit on QB Burke. First down Hawks.

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And on first down, Sinisi plunges in for the score. Extra point is good.

7-0 Monmouth, 9:48 left in the first quarter.

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Myles Russ gets the start at RB for RMU, but the Colonials go three and out. San Miguel with a nice punt return but it's called back because of a penalty.

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Colonials still having issues tackling. Sinisi breaks a handful of tackles as he breaks into RMU territory at the 34 yard line.

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Sinisi carrying the Hawks all the way to the 3 yard line. Colonials defense sounds ragged, not being helped by the fact that their offense went 3 and out.

Sinisi goes in almost untouched, 14-0.

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Colonials again with two short runs to start off the drive, and then Cwalinski drops back to pass and gets sacked.

Another three and out.

This is getting ugly.

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Colonials push Monmouth backwards, capped off by a Mark Syzmanski sack. Defense steps up, Hawks forced to punt as we near the end of the first quarter.

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End of the first quarter, Colonials will have a third and inches from their own 37 yard line.

Monmouth 14
Robert Morris 0

Start of the 2nd quarter coming up.

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Colonials get a four yard run from Karey Murray and get their first first down of the afternoon.

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Monmouth's weak point is their secondary, but RMU hasn't even attempted to throw it more than 7 yards.

For some reason, Colonials run it on third and long. Lose three yards. Nice punt by freshman Nick Schirtzinger to pin the Hawks at the 12 yard line.

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Colonials defense is stepping up. Third and long, Hawks backed up against their endzone, Burke avoids a host of rushers, whips a pass downfield to Sinisi who gets out to the RMU 42 yard line.

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Hawks forced to punt after Andy Walton drags down Burke after just a couple yard gain on third and long.

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Great punt by Jack Daniels (yes, Jack Daniels) to pin the Colonials at their own four yard line.

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Mario Hines with a tremendous catch against double coverage, coming back to haul in a pass with Cwalinski under pressure.

51 yards to the Monmouth 43.

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TOUCHDOWN!

Play action pass to Julian Ellison, deep ball from Cwalinski, perfectly thrown to Ellison. 43 yards.

See what happens when you throw it deep!

Michael Walser finally makes an extra point attempt, now 1 for 3 on the season, and it is 14-7 Monmouth.

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RMU defense holds again after a handful of plays.

Hines returns the punt to his own 30 yard line.

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Myles Russ explodes off the toss, 21 yards inside Monmouth territory.

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Hines with a diving catch ruled incomplete. Third down. 3:00 left in the half.

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4th and 3 at the Monmouth 42 yard line, Robert Morris calls a timeout.

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RMU punts, Michael Landers with a save at the one yard line, pinning the Hawks officially at the two yard line.

Now it has been ruled a touchback.

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58 seconds left. Monmouth with the football approaching the 50 yard line and a first down.

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4.5 seconds left, timeout Hawks. Ball on the thirty yard line, Hawks stay on offense. Pass falls incomplete in the endzone.

Score at the half:
Monmouth 14
Robert Morris 7

Colonials get the football to start the second half.

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Halftime stats of note:

Monmouth 15 first downs, Robert Morris 4.
Monmouth 235 yards, RMU 141.
No Turnovers.

Robert Morris with just five passing attempts in the first half after Cwalinski threw 39 times last week.

Leading rushers - David Sinisi (MU) 13 carries, 108 yards, 2 TDs. Myles Russ (RMU) 9 carries, 38 yards.

Leading receivers - Mario Hines (RMU) one catch for 51 yards. Adam San Miguel (MU) 5 catches for 26 yards.

Leading tacklers - Niklos, Robinson, and Lawrence with four apiece for RMU. Cerezeo and Sterner with four for Monmouth.

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Start of the second half. Colonials up to their own 40 yard line behind several runs by Myles Russ.

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Russ fumbles the football, it pops right back to QB Erik Cwalinski who goes 19 yards to the Monmouth 40.

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Raphael Johnson sprints his way to the MU 24 yard line. First down again, Colonials threatening to tie.

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Regis Flowers with the catch at the 5 yard line, first and goal for RMU.

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Colonials have to burn another timeout. Twice now that the Colonials have called a timeout with 11:09 in the 3rd quarter.

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Jeff Link, another freshman running back (there are a ton of them on this team), scores his first career touchdown from 3 yards out.

14-13 pending the extra point.

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Walser's kick is up and in, so he's 2 for 2 after missing every kick this week.

14 unanswered points for RMU since the first quarter. 14-14 tie game, 10:19 left in the 3rd quarter.

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Colonials defense steps up again, hauls down Burke on third and long.

Fourth and 14, Jack Daniels out to punt to Mario Hines.

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Jack Daniels shanks the punt, Colonials take over at the Hawks 36 yard line.

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Mario Hines with a third down catch to the Monmouth 23. First down.

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Third and long from the 27 yard line after Cwalinski gets sacked.

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Alvin Hill with a 17 yard catch, first and goal at the ten yard line.

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3rd and goal after an incomplete pass and stuffed run.

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4th and goal from 6 yard line, Michael Walser out to try the field goal.

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18 yard chip shot field goal is up and good.

17-14 RMU.

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Colonials stuff the Hawks for a three and out. James Kazil and Nathan Argenta team up to level David Sinisi on a run.

1:30 left in the third quarter, punt puts the Colonials at their own 16 yard line.

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Robert Morris picks up a first down, Julian Ellison with an 8 yard catch.

22 seconds left in the third quarter.

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Myles Russ stops Monmouth in their tracks, gets 11 yards. He's been taking a lot of shots, too, but the 5'8/180 pounder keeps coming back for more.

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End of the 3rd quarter. 17-14 Robert Morris.

It will be 3rd and 9 at the Robert Morris 39 at the start of the 4th quarter.

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Raphael Johnson with a 14 yard run. First down RMU.

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Cwalinski intercepted by Derek Bischoff. Returned to the Monmouth 38 yard line.

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27 yard pass, Burke to Yudin. First down Monmouth at RMU 40.

Eight yard pass to Adam San Miguel, now at the 32 yard line.

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3rd and 7 now at the RMU 25 yard line after a short pass to San Miguel.

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Incomplete pass, Weingart on to try a 42 yard field goal.

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Weingart hits the 42 yard kick.

17-17, 10:11 left.

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Mario Hines with a tremendous kick return out to the 47 yard line.

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3rd and 3 from the MU 46 for Robert Morris.

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The Hawks sack Cwalinski for a five yard loss, three and out for RMU.

Schirtzinger on to try and pin the Hawks deep.

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Monmouth will start at the 15 yard line with 7:56 to go.

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3rd and 3 at the 22 yard line for the Hawks.

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4 yard run to the 26 yard line by Burke, first down Monmouth.

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Burke fumbles the football, picks it back up, and gets decked by Mark Syzmanski. 2nd and 22 now from the 14

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Incomplete pass, 3rd and long.

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Nickelback Nathan Argenta comes flying in and levels Brett Burke at the four yard line.

Fourth down and 32.

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Mario Hines returns the punt 17 yards to the MU 33 yard line. 3:52 left in the ballgame.

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Myles Russ just shy of the first down. 3rd and inches.

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FIRST DOWN.

Karey Murray with a plunge. Under 2:00 left on the clock.

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1:48 left after a one yard run by Raphael Johnson. Ball on the MU 22 yard line. Timeout Monmouth.

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Myles Russ darts forward for 3 yards. 1:36 left, 3rd and 6 at the 19 yard line.

Monmouth takes their final timeout.

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4th and five. Michael Walser on to kick the field goal. They'll let the clock run down to the 53 second mark.

Final timeout for RMU as well. Neither team can stop the clock.

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The 36 yard field goal, from straight away is up...

IT'S GOOD!

20-17 Robert Morris!

Hawks have 47 seconds to do anything.

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Walser booms one deep, no return.

Monmouth starts at their own 20 yard line.

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Sinisi out of bounds on a 9 yard catch. 41 seconds.

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Steve Dowens with an 8 yard catch, 1st down, 37 yard line. 34 seconds left.

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Sinisi catches a 5 yard pass. 42 yard line. Out of bounds.

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Pass is incomplete, Mike Burkett and Adam Lawrence nearly pick it off.

3rd and 4, 25 seconds left.

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Another incomplete pass intended for Kiley.

Fourth down.

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Burke is SACKED, the ball is loose, and Monmouth recovers.

Turnover on downs, 13 seconds left, and Robert Morris gets the football!

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Robert Morris wins at Monmouth, 20-17 to improve to 1-1 on the season, 1-0 in the Northeast Conference.

Hawks fall to 0-2 (0-1).

First win against Monmouth for Robert Morris since 2002.

[DetroitFlyer]

Remember when I said Robert Morris was a good team? Not surprised even a little!

Dayton rolled over Urbana today 45-7 with the fourth string playing most of the second half! Maybe the Flyers are back....

By the way, congrats to Robert Morris!!

[rmutv]

Some final stats:

TOTAL YARDS:
MU - 314
RMU - 307

FIRST DOWNS:
MU - 19
RMU - 14

3RD DOWNS:
MU 3/12
RMU 7/15

SACKS:
MU 3/15
RMU 4/22

LEADING RUSHERS:
RMU - Myles Russ 24/86, Raphael Johnson 8/51
MU - David Sinisi 18/120 2TDs

LEADING PASSERS;
RMU - Erik Cwalinski 8/15 154 yards, 1TD, 1 INT
MU - Brett Burke 16/30 158 yards

LEADING RECEIVERS:
RMU - Mario Hines 2/58, Julian Ellison 2/51 1 TD
MU - Adam San Miguel 7/38, David Sinisi 6/72

LEADING DEFENDERS:
RMU - Mike Niklos, Adam Lawrence, and Kelvern Grant 5 tackles
MU - CJ Cerazo 9 tackles, Matt Sterner 8 tackles.

[Seahawks Fan]

Congtas to RMU. That is an impressive win at Monmouth.

Condolences to the Walton family on the passing of Joe Walton's wife.

[andy7171]

Way to go RMU! Huge win on the road!