Robert Morris Drops Season Finale to Duquesne

Prior to RMU football senior day festivities Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium, wide receiver Kai Holloway had an exchange with AD Chris King where a challenge was issued.

King expected a punt return on Holloway’s senior day and the Rockville, Maryland native immediately offered a response.

“I got you Mr. King,” he promised.

True to form, in the early stages of the fourth quarter, Duquesne punter Michael Berarducci went back to punt and Holloway would do the rest, dashing 63 yards into the end zone to give Robert Morris the lead.

King would be seen in the President’s Box smiling and offering high fives, beaming at a promise fulfilled.

It was one of the final highpoints to the campaign as RMU fell 20-17 in the closing seconds after Matt Clark buried a 42-yard field goal as time expired.

RMU (3-9/2-5 NEC) dropped its final three contests to conclude the season.

It did appear that the Colonials would strike first when on the opening play from scrimmage, Cooper Panteck found Thomas Lee for a 63-yard connection.

As the crowd reacted, RMU quickly found the red zone, more specifically Duquesne’s 12-yard line. Instead, the drive stalled and Jayson Jenkins missed from 29 yards out as his attempt was blocked by Duquesne’s A.J. Ackerman.

The Dukes response came when a potential three-and-out was negated by a pass interference call. On the very next play, quarterback Tyler Riddell found Joey Isabella, the pair combining on a 71-yard touchdown.

This would be all of the scoring until around the halfway portion of the second quarter, when RMU went 55 yards over six plays.

RMU junior running back Ethan Shine had 29 of his 71 yards on this drive, one which culminated in Panteck connecting with Chaz Middleton for a 19-yard equalizing touchdown.

The Colonials would strike once more as Jenkins converted a 23-yard field goal giving the hosts a 10-7 lead at halftime.

Duquesne would earn the only points of the third quarter, coming on Riddell completing a four-yard pass to Garrett Harrold, good for the latter’s first ever touchdown.

Following Holloway’s punt return, Duquesne offered a 10-play, 77-yard drive culminating in a Clark 34-yard field goal, his career high to that point.

After both defenses made stands, RMU was unable to capitalize on an offsides penalty punting the ball away.

Duquesne moved down the field but had a breakthrough when Riddell connected with freshman wide receiver Ryan Petras, the 38-yard pass took the Dukes to the Colonials 17.

From there several timeouts were called including one to try and make Clark think about his kick, but instead the effort fell through the uprights. True to his jersey number, Clark did a 67 gesture with his hands after the make.

Unfortunately, due to covering both teams and a marching band performance which began around half an hour after the game there are no RMU interviews, however, below are Duquesne coach Jerry Schmitt’s thoughts.