In a rematch from a year ago, the Robert Morris Colonials traveled to Liberty for their second game of the 2011 season. Unlike last year’s 30-23 upset, the Flames got the best of RMU pummeling them, 38-7, in front of 15,805 rabid fans.
Quarterback Mike Brown accounted for four Liberty scores as he went 13-22 for 209 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 43 yards on 11 carries and two more scores.
“We knew they were going to come out ready to go after last year,” defensive end Steve Mitchell said.
The Flames took advantage of an inexperienced Colonial secondary that features four new starters. Pat Kelly was Brown’s favorite target as he hauled in four catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. Liberty took a 14-0 lead into the half as the game was still up for grabs.
“At halftime we knew we were still in the game. They got some big plays but we were doing our jobs and not messing up,” Mitchell explained.
Jeff Sinclair and the offense struggled as they didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter when the score was 28-0. Much like last week, protection was a problem for the Colonials as Sinclair finished 12-26 for 105 yards to go along with three interceptions.
On the receiving end of two of Sinclair’s miss-fires was Liberty junior, Kevin Fogg, who also had an 88-yard kick return on the night to cap-off the Flames’ 199 victory in school history.
Justin Brooks carried the ball 22 times for 86 yards while RMU as a whole ran for 117. Liberty’s defense, led by Fogg, held the Colonials to 234 total yards as most of their starters were taken out in the fourth quarter.
The Colonials’ only score came at 10:13 in the fourth quarter when Sinclair found tight end Vince Mongelluzzo from nine yards out. Anthony Coleman led all RMU receivers on the night as he snagged six passes for 59 yards.
RMU held the advantage in first downs (16-15) and time of possession (36:45-23:15), but turnovers (3-1) and penalties (8-58, 6-50) stacked up against them.
After starting the season 0-2, RMU is now on a four-game losing streak. Saturday was their first of a three-game road trip that will take them to Baltimore, MD next week to take on
Morgan State at 1:00 p.m.
“Even though we’re 0-2, we didn’t start our conference schedule yet. Once NECs start it’s like a whole other season,” Mitchell optimistically stated.
After a bye-week, the Colonials open Northeast Conference (NEC) play Oct. 1 at Monmouth.
