Returning home after a tough matchup on the road versus Youngstown State, the Colonials will close out its non-conference schedule with two consecutive games at home. Starting this weekend when they play UVA-Lynchburg as part of RMU’s Homecoming weekend.
Playing an opponent like Youngstown State last week was always a challenge. RMU held their own in the first quarter and a half, having the lead at one point 14-13. The Penguins would score 28 straight points to a 48-28 win over the Colonials.
Homecoming weekend is always circled on the calendar for players and the school’s student body. This week’s opponent, UVA-Lynchburg will make their first trip to Joe Walton Stadium as they face RMU for the school’s first-ever meeting.
A player to look for in this matchup is wide receiver Noah Robinson, who once again went for 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Chiccit and Robinson connection will stay hot for a third straight week.
Not only one person can count for the majority of the team’s offense though so I was able to talk to Head Coach Bernard Clark, Jr. about how they can get the rest of the wide receiver room going.
“We are going to get it going. We’re going to get them going eventually. Right now, Noah [Robinson] just happens to be the guy getting open and when you are open you get the ball and that is what it boils down to.”
Making the most of his chance this year has been quarterback Anthony Chiccitt who last week, finished 19-for-31 passing for 171 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns. In his two starts this year Chiccitt has attempted 76 passes without tossing an interception, and Chiccitt has completed 71% of his passes this season as he looks to build on his strong start.
Carrying the offensive theme, the rushing game for RMU has yet to get going this season as they are still averaging 2.9 yards per attempt on rushing touches. Last week versus YSU that average was raised to 5.0 yards per attempt.
“Our O-Line just hast to figure out where the blocks are and how to pick them up,” Clark said. “We just have to continue to get better each day not just one guy, we need a 100-yard rusher and plus some other guys behind him.”
Against YSU the Colonials were very efficient in the red zone capitalizing on both of their opportunities to put points on the board when they are that close to the end zone. Robert Morris will need to keep that level of consistency in the red zone if they want to pull out more results going forward in the season. Coach Clark touched on what it takes to keep that level of consistency in the red zone.
“I just think that Coach Firm gets the guys ready to go throughout the week, the preparation is what gets us prepared for a game. He does a great job preparing in the red zone and I just think our guys execute when they get down there.”
On the opposite side of that opponents of RMU have been virtually scoring at will in the red zone as teams so far this season have gone 11-12 scoring on almost all of their drives in the early stages of the season. This will need to change as when the Colonials get into their conference schedule the defense will be relied upon to make those stops when the game is on the line.
Coach Clark mentioned his team’s red zone defense and what will have to change going forward as they look to improve in that category.
“I think what it boils down to is we just have to come together; we’re practicing on it we just have to make sure our guys are making the plays and making the tackles in that situation.”
Robert Morris will have their Homecoming game this Saturday when they take on UVA–Lynchburg with kickoff set for 3 p.m.
