Inept Offense Holds Robert Morris Back in Loss to Long Island

Saturday afternoon presented an opportunity for two struggling teams to get their season back on track.

Robert Morris (1-6, 0-2 NEC) traveled to Long Island (2-5, 1-2 NEC) for a bout between two one-win teams but only one would walk away victorious.

Despite the fact that the Colonials got starting quarterback Zach Tanner back from injury, the team’s offense, or lack thereof, held Robert Morris back once again as they suffered a 17-7 loss to Long Island.

Final from Long Island. pic.twitter.com/KaaC4DgH0w

— RMU Football (@RMU_Football) October 18, 2025

Offensive efficiency has haunted the Colonials all season, even in the games that Tanner was healthy for, and it was the nail in the coffin again in the loss to the Sharks.

While the defense is still gullible to give up chunk plays over the course of a game, that unit can only do so much when they are on the field for over 38 minutes due to the offenses inability to sustain drives.

The Colonials had possession of the ball for just under 22 minutes in the loss on Saturday.

Aside from running back Ethan Shine’s 66-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Colonials totaled just 158 total yards throughout the rest of the game.

In comparison, even on a day where the Sharks’ offense scored just 17 points, Long Island managed to rack up 300 yards of total offense.

Long Island started the game with possession of the football and looked as if they were going to start the afternoon with a opening-drive scoring drive as they made it all of the way down to the Robert Morris 28-yard line before facing a third-and-eight.

After the Colonials’ defense forced a loss of three on the third-down play, the Sharks offense stayed on the field for a fourth-and-11 as they found themselves in no-mans land.

The Sharks picked up seven yards on the fourth-down attempt as safety Noel Roach made sure to stop the receiver before he gained the necessary yardage which resulted in a turnover-on-downs.

The Colonials would then go three-and-out on each of their two first quarter possessions.

Following the string of punts, the Sharks’ offense woke up for their third drive of the game. After a defensive pass interference penalty against cornerback Robert Dickerson set the Sharks up on the Colonials side of the field, they managed to run their way to down to the red zone.

Just when it looked like the Colonials’ defense would force a field goal attempt after defensive lineman Camdon Wilborn took down quarterback Luca Stanzani for a second-down sack, running back O’Shawn Ross took the third-down carry six yards into the end zone.

The Colonials tried to match the Sharks with points on the ensuing possession as they engineered their best drive of the first half.

After Tanner found tight end/wide receiver Chaz Middleton for a 20-yard gain on a third-and-three, the Colonials were set up on the Sharks’ 30. Middleton also hauled in another third down reception on the next set of downs which placed the Colonials on the plus-18 with a fresh set of downs.

Unfortunately, running back Owen McGraw managed to follow the first down up wit one yard on two carries which set up a third-and-nine. On the play, Tanner found tight end Richard Ransom for a modest gain but he was brought down well short of the sticks.

Then, the Colonials opted to turn to kicker Jayson Jenkins for a 30-yard field goal attempt that failed to go through the uprights.

The miss helped preserve the Sharks’ touchdown lead which only grew before halftime due to a costly interception on the Colonials’ next offensive drive.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Colonials got the ball back at their own 19-yard line. On the third play of the drive, Tanner attempted to stretch the field but was intercepted by defensive back Trey Watkins at the 40 before he returned it all the way back down to the Colonials’ 15-yard line.

The defense, on short notice, managed to get the Sharks’ into a third-and-eight situation but Ross, as he did all day, made a play and got the Sharks a first down at the Colonials’ five. The defense went on to surrender a touchdown on the very next play when Stanzani hit tight end Jaiden Dozier in the right side of the end zone.

The Robert Morris deficit remained the same throughout the entire third quarter due to the Colonials’ bend-not-break defensive effort.

On the Sharks’ first drive of the second half, the Colonials’ defense forced another turnover-on-downs deep inside of their own territory on a sack by defensive lineman Okey Egbuziem.

Then, on the Sharks’ next offensive drive, cornerback Robert Dickerson redeemed his pass interference call from the first half as he picked off Stanzani’s pass at the Colonials’ 33.

Neither turnover resulted in much of anything for Robert Morris as it still trailed Long Island by two touchdown after the first three quarters of play.

After the defense forced a punt from their own side of the field, the Colonials’ finally managed to get on the board on an explosive, three-play drive ended in Shine’s 66-yard touchdown catch.

We're on the board! @ZachTanner863 finds @EthanShine6 for 66 yards! Point after is good! #BobbyMo #NECFB pic.twitter.com/ZpxKn0JEDS

— RMU Football (@RMU_Football) October 18, 2025

The defense again came up big as they forced another punt in a one-score game. Unfortunately, the Sharks managed to down the punt at the Colonials’ one-yard line.

Nonetheless, the defense gave the offense the chance to go down and tie the game with just under six minutes to go in the game.

After Shine got them off of the goal line with a four-yard rush, Tanner saw his next two passes fall incomplete which forced a Jenkins’ punt.

The Sharks got the ball back on the Colonials’ 40-yard line and managed to kick the game-sealing 42-yard field goal with 57 seconds left in the game.

Following the loss, Robert Morris will stay on the road to it visit in-state rival St. Francis for another NEC showdown next Saturday.

The Red Flash present another chance for the Colonials to get the season heading back in the right direction as they are currently winless on the season.