Robert Morris played their second game of the season this afternoon and defeated the Morgan State Bears by a score of 31-14 Last Saturday, the Colonials lost to Eastern Kentucky, and they are 1-1 after their victory today.
The Colonials opened the game up with a 75-yard touchdown run from Junior Ryan Thermil. The run was called back due to a personal foul, and Robert Morris was forced to punt away later that drive.
“Even though the play was called back, it was still a positive. It was blocked perfect, and he made the right cut,” said coach Jim Walton. “I think it was a big plus for the offensive line, as well.
After a three-and-out for Morgan State, the Colonials opened up the scoring on an 8-yard pass from Paul Jones to Tyler Digby.
After an Antwan Eddie interception thrown by Morgan State’s Robert Council, RMU gave the ball right back to the Bears, as backup quarterback Derik Abbott threw an interception. Abbott was in the game for Jones due to a helmet malfunction the play before.
For the third consecutive possession, the drive was ended in a turnover, as the Colonials regained possession off of a R.J. Cook fumble recovery.
Two plays later, the Colonials gave the ball right back to the Bears as Thermil fumbled the ball which was recovered by Nathan Ayers. Morgan State followed up by going three-and-out.
The Colonials drove down to the Morgan State 13-yard line, but were unable to put any points on the board, as kicker Connor Shennan missed a 30-yard field goal attempt wide right.
With less than a minute remaining in the first half, the Colonials jumped to a 14-0 lead thanks to a four-yard touchdown run from Deontae Howard.
The Colonials opened up the second half of play by extending the lead to 21-0. Jones found an open Chad Dawgiello for the 23-yard touchdown pass.
Morgan State worked its way down to the RMU three-yard line, but was unable to punch it in and a 30-yard field goal attempt was eventually missed. Marcelis Branch was able to bust through the line and get a hand on the ball, and the tipped kick fell short of the field goal post. The Colonials got the ball back, and missed a field goal attempt of their own, as Shennan’s 34-yard attempt came up wide left.
The Bears got on the board early in the fourth quarter on a six-yard touchdown pass from Moses Skillon to Andrew King.
Robert Morris answered with another touchdown scoring drive. Jones collected his third passing touchdown of the afternoon, this one coming on a 38-yard strike to the Junior Duane Mitchell. Jones finished the game with three touchdown passes.
“We went with the play action and intended on hitting our guys over the middle of the field, and it was a great throw and catch,” said Walton in regards to Mitchell’s touchdown catch.
Shennan knocked through a 27-yard field goal attempt with three minutes left in the game to make it a 31-7 game.
The Bears scored on a 44-yard touchdown pass as time expired, and the final score was 31-14.
Howard finished the game with 16 carries for 76 yards. Thermil collected 59 yards on eight carries.
Jones, who picked up his first win as a Colonial, threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns. The former Penn State Nittany Lion who transferred this past season said he chose Robert Morris because he liked the coaches, and knew a lot of the players through high school football.
“The defense really helped us, and gave us some momentum shifts,” said Jones. “We asked those guys for a three-and-out, and they gave it to us, so we went out there and scored. We keep our promises to each other.”
“I think Paul (Jones) did very well,” said Walton. “He made a couple of errors, but he’s definitely getting better week-by-week and I’m sure glad we have him.”
The Colonials are back in action next Saturday, as they host the Dayton Flyers.
