Robert Morris at Central Connecticut State Game Thread

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Just 15 minutes away from kickoff in New Britain, Connecticut. Robert Morris has lost two straight. The Blue Devils have won three of their last four, with the only loss to FBS Western Michigan.

Last year's game was one of the best in FCS. CCSU came to RMU with Justise Hairston in their backfield, one of the best backs ever in the NEC - and who was drafted by the Patriots - and put up almost 300 yards rushing. But, the Robert Morris defense bent but did not give. They forced turnovers, they forced missed field goals, and eventually, forced overtime when CCSU could not get the ball snapped in time to kick the game winning field goal.

Overtime featured Robert Morris getting stuffed on 4th and inches at the goalline when an immobile quarterback tried to become a mobile one. It featured CCSU missing another field goal to give Robert Morris hope, but the defense had to stay on the field in overtime number two. DB Jacky Candy picked off the Blue Devils in the endzone, and finally, WR Mario Hines hauled in a pass in the endzone on third down, and RMU won 23-17.

We'll see if this game is just as exciting!

Robert Morris starts QB Camdin Crouse for the first time ever, after Erik Cwalinski was benched. They also start a new fullback (Jeff Link) and a new tight end (Chris Molnar).

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To listen live (RMU Radio):
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/teams/rri

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CCSU set to kick it off to Mario Hines/Alvin Hill. Hines returns it from about the five yard line just shy of the 30 yard line.

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http://www.ccsubluedevils.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17600#

Live stats.

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Early third down for Robert Morris, two straight runs, 3rd and 7.

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Timeout Robert Morris to avoid the play clock ticking down, that's their first.

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Crouse takes from a collapsing pocket, picked up about five yards, short of the first down...Colonials pick up a personal foul after words, RG Vince Volpe with a late block.

Colonials kick it away.

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CCSU blocks the punt, but they were offsides on the punt. Schirtzinger back in to try again...

Fair catch called at the CCSU 30 yard line.

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CCSU running well so far, up to the RMU 45.

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Penalty pushes the Blue Devils backwards, but the CCSU offense is just opening holes left and right. 2nd and 12 from the RMU 47.

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Colonials sneak through and get into the backfield. 3rd and 12.

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Blitz forces Aubrey Norris out of the pocket, pass downfield is incomplete. Receiver juggled the catch before going out of bounds.

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Mario Hines with a great punt return, almost 60 yards, out to the CCSU 31. Barely caught from behind.

Crouse picks up about 7 on the run.

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3rd and 4, Crouse picks up about two and a half yards on his own.

Colonials going for the first down.

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And instead they take a timeout. 4th and 2 on the CCSU 23 yard line.

They should just kick the field goal.

7:12 left in the quarter.

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4th and 2. TOUCHDOWN! Crouse hits tight end Chris Molnar for a 22 yard completion. Rumbling, stumbling into the end zone.

7-0 Robert Morris.

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CCSU offense restarts at the 31 yard line. Norris picks up 17 yards on the run.

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Colonials blitzing. Safety Jonathan Robinson and LB Jordan Howard sack Norris for a 7 yard loss. 3rd and 8.

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Norris can't make it to the marker. 4th and 2. Now they're going to go for it.

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Norris picks up the first down on the option.

Down to the RMU 40 yard line.

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More Freeman and Norris down to the 20 yard line. First and 10 from the 20.

[csuBUC06]

hmm, i just moved to new britain and i live about 2 minutes from the ccsu campus...maybe i should check out a game or two. any recommendations on which home games to see?

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First down at the 7 yard line. First and goal for CCSU. Less than 2 minutes left in the 1st quarter.

[rmutv]

hmm, i just moved to new britain and i live about 2 minutes from the ccsu campus...maybe i should check out a game or two. any recommendations on which home games to see?

Go over now! Check this one out.

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Adrian Hall plunges in from 2 yards out for the touchdown.

Kick is good, we're tied at 7.

Seven minute drive. 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

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Chris Kozak returns the kick out to the 31 yard line and that's where they take over.

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Myles Russ picks up minimal yardage. End of the 1st quarter.

RMU 7
CCSU 7

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Camdin Crouse throws an interception. CCSU with the football on the 49 yard line.

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Mario Hines out for the game with a separated shoulder.

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4th and 4 for CCSU, 13:05...and the Blue Devils are going to go for it. From the 44.

Caught for a first down.

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CCSU picking up yardage left and right.

Norris picks up a first down at the 20 yard line.

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CCSU will bring out the field goal team as RMU stuffs the Blue Devils away from the endzone.

NO GOOD! Pushed it right

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Colonials out to the 27 yard line, but the Colonials will have to punt.

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CCSU returns the kick out to the 40 yard line.

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Blue Devils just rolling right now. 2nd 7 at the 36 yard line. Tagged with a delay of game penalty. 2nd and 12.

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Norris gets the penalty yardage back. 3rd and 7.

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Norris burns his final timeout. CCSU having major play clock issues.

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4th down after an incomplete pass.

CCSU going for it at the RMU 36.

Norris gets hauled down by Adam Lawrence. Turnover on downs.

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Erik Cwalinski is back at quarterback for Robert Morris.

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Myles Russ picks up a big run. RMU out to the 49 yard line.

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More Myles Russ. Another 7 yard gain. 2nd and 3 for RMU.

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After an incomplete pass, Raphael Johnson picks up the first down on the ground.

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Julian Ellison picks up the first down off a swing pass from Cwalinski. CCSU 27 yard line.

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3rd and about 7 from the 24 yard line for Robert Morris.

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Incomplete pass. Cwalinski popped as he threw.

4th down. Michael Walser on to kick a 41 yard field goal.

It's GOOD!

10-7. Flag on the play.

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Flag is on CCSU for running into the holder. Result of the play would have still been 4th down.

Kick stands.

10-7 RMU.

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CCSU starts at the 35 yard line following the kickoff.

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3rd and 4, caught by the CCSU receiver. First down Blue Devils, 1:50 on the clock, out to the CCSU 48.

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Mark Syzmanski forces the fumble on Aubrey Norris, ROBERT MORRIS recovers. Toheeb Akinola and Adam Lawrence both pounce on it.

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Cwalinski returns to form...

CCSU intercepts it. Rose just stepped right in and took it away. 1:01 left. CCSU brings it back to their own 35 yard line.

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Holmes leading CCSU into Colonials territory.

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About 29 seconds left, close to a first down.

Officials measuring.

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It is a first down, pass incomplete. 2nd down, 43 yard line.

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Ball spiked with 4 seconds left after CCSU gets down to the RMU 19.

Field goal is off the leg of Dennis Bien and it is good.

No time left.

10-10 at halftime.

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CCSU receives the ball first. Mallory gets destroyed by Ian Milanak on the return at the 24.

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Blue Devils all the way out to the RMU 40.

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Holmes fumbles the football. ROBERT MORRIS RECOVERS.

Mike Niklos picks it up out to the RMU 30 yard line.

Erik Cwalinski still in at QB for RMU.

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Myles Russ picks up and tears off a huge chunk of yardage. Out to the RMU 49. 17 yard gain.

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Curious play calling for Robert Morris. All runs, no passes. They punt it away.

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Great kick and coverage by Robert Morris. Schirtzinger's kick is downed at the one yard line.

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CCSU gets some breathing room. 3rd and 3 from the 7.

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Norris lunges forward for a 1st down on the option. 1st and ten from the 11.

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CCSU rolling now with some running room. Out to the 30. 2nd and 5.

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More first down yardage out to the CCSU 46 yard line.

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Chug, chug, chugging...CCSU inside the RMU 40.

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3rd down pass falls incomplete. 4th and 6 from the 38 yard line. They'll be punting for once.

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Punt downed at the 11 yard line. RMU takes over from there.

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3rd and 3 already for RMU.

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Incomplete. Cwalinski can't hit Chris Molnar.

4th and 3. Punting again.

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Return brings CCSU back all the way to the RMU 40 yard line.

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CCSU gets a 3rd down pass completion to the 21 yard line.

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End of the 3rd quarter.
10-10.

CCSU on the RMU 21 yard line.

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3rd and 1 at the 12 yard line.

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4th and 1. CCSU goes for it.

Blue Devils hand it off to Adrian Hull for a 12 yard touchdown. Extra point is NO GOOD.

16-10 CCSU. 12:59 left.

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Touchback on the kick. RMU starts at their own 20 yard line.

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Alvin Hill with a catch and run to the 29 yard line.

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Rion Listhrop bulldozes out to the 37. First down.

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16 yard completion to Julian Ellison, out to the 47. 14 yard completion to Regis Flowers to the 33 yard line.

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Complete to Chris Molnar for 7 yards, penalty on the play. Tack on 5 yards for a facemask against CCSU. Ball at the 21.

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Myles Russ picks his way to the 17.

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Cwalinski holds on to the football for an eternity and gets sacked for a 6 yard loss.

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Cwalinski throws it at Julian Ellison's feet. Incomplete.

Michael Walser, from 40 yards...way off. Flags on the play.

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With the penalty against RMU, Colonials decide not to go for the field goal and will go for a first down instead on 4th down.

4th and 17...

Complete to Alvin Hill short of the first down. CCSU takes over at their own 18.

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Blue Devils make some yardage, but Colonials have stepped up and made it 3rd and 11.

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Diving catch on the sideline. RMU players and broadcasters say he caught the pass out of bounds but refs rule it 1st down.

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After a series of stops, runs, and penalties, it is 3rd and 13 from the CCSU 39.

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Holmes overshoots everyone on the pass. CCSU out to punt this one away.

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Punt goes out of bounds at the 23 yard line, that's where Robert Morris will start.

6:25 left.

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1st down rush, one yard for Listhrop. 2nd down pass, well behind Alvin Hill.

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Alvin Hill with the catch over the middle on 3rd down for a Robert Morris first down. 16 yard gain.

Myles Russ 3 yard gain on 1st down.

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Incomplete pass to Molnar.

3rd and 7.

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Cwalinski is sacked at the RMU 30. Schirtzinger kicks this one away...

Rolls inside the 30.

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Freeman breaks into RMU territory. CCSU at the 48.

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Colonials forced to take two timeouts so far, it is now 3rd and 7 with 2:28 on the clock.

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4th and 3, RMU takes their final timeout. Ball on the RMU 42 yard line.

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CCSU looked like they were going to go for it, tried to draw RMU offsides, but now they take a timeout, so it looks like they'll kick it away.

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Ball goes into the endzone, Robert Morris gets the ball with no timeouts at their own 20.

2:01 left.

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And there goes the game.

Erik Cwalinski gets rushed, throws it into the arms of a defensive lineman. Blue Devils ballgame at the RMU 17.

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Time rolls off. Central Connecticut State wins 16-10. Another poor performance offensively by the Colonials, starting at the quarterback position. Crouse starts, goes 2 for 4 with a touchdown and an interception, also picks up 15 yards rushing...

But gets benched.

Erik Cwalinski, former starter, finishes 7 of 17 with two interceptions. He was also the only quarterback sacked for Robert Morris.

RMU falls to 3-4 (2-2) while CCSU improves to 4-2 (2-0).

[danefan]

How about Wagner?? Is monmouth down that much or is Wagner decent?? Wagner lost to Iona though. Iona!

[Seahawks Fan]

How about Wagner?? Is monmouth down that much or is Wagner decent?? Wagner lost to Iona though. Iona!

Wagner ran for over 300 yards at Monmouth and has a strong defense that shut down their running game. Our OT loss at Iona is the only blemish on our record. Next week at home vs. CCSU. Will be a good game.

[Ruler 79]

CCSU is one dimensional and I think you guys have a great shot at taking them down.

[danefan]

Our OT loss at Iona is the only blemish on our record.

But that's a pretty BIG blemish. Iona got KILLED by UNH on Saturday.

That's the only reason I question Wagner so far. To be fair though I haven't seen them play. I do have a friend that played for Marist a few years ago, who saw the Wagner/Marist game this year and his impression was that Marist is really bad. I took that to mean that a 24-14 win over Marist wasn't too impressive.

The only thing I have to compare Wagner to is the teams you have played. But again I say this...I haven't seen Wagner play so I guess my opinion so far is worthless.xreadx xcoffeex

[aceinthehole]

hmm, i just moved to new britain and i live about 2 minutes from the ccsu campus...maybe i should check out a game or two. any recommendations on which home games to see?

In 2 weeks vs Monmouth (will also be on TV) should be a good one.

But if you only can make 1 game, make it out to the season finale - CCSU vs. Albany. Arguably the top 2 programs in the NEC and this game will likely be for the NEC title.

[csuBUC06]

In 2 weeks vs Monmouth (will also be on TV) should be a good one.

But if you only can make 1 game, make it out to the season finale - CCSU vs. Albany. Arguably the top 2 programs in the NEC and this game will likely be for the NEC title.

cool. how much are tickets? and are the fans so rabid that i should get them in advance?

gotta check out some yankee ball, lol

[aceinthehole]

cool. how much are tickets? and are the fans so rabid that i should get them in advance?

gotta check out some yankee ball, lol

Tickets are less than $10. Not a big stadium at all - only 3,200 or so. A big expansion is in the works.

That game could sell out (SRO) if its for the NEC title, but you can still get tickets day of game. I'd just get there early to assure you a seat (its general admission for most seats).

That game will be a war on the ground. Also its likely to be very cold, so dress for it!