Robert Morris Starts Freshman QB in Loss to Merrimack

There are many different things that can be looked and blamed for the rough start to the season which continued on Saturday when Merrimack (3-3) pulled away from Robert Morris (1-4) in the 24-7 non-conference finale loss.

Some of the problems that stick out are inconsistencies on defense, production from both sides of the trenches, the rushing attack and many of the coaching decisions.

All of these things will always equal out to losing football but the main thing that has held the Colonials back is the quality of play from the quarterbacks, including starter Zach Tanner when healthy.

That trend continued on Saturday when Robert Morris head coach Bernard Clark Jr. decided to give true freshman Cooper Panteck the start in-place of the injured Tanner.

Despite throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chaz Middleton on the first offensive drive of the afternoon, Panteck’s final numbers were pedestrian, at best, as he finished 11-for-21 on pass attempts with 120 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Panteck is the fourth of five total rostered quarterbacks to receive meaningful snaps through the first five games. Tanner started the first four games while Harvard transfer Ameer Dudley and sophomore Jake Wolfe have played sparingly.

In total, the Robert Morris quarterbacks have thrown for an average of just 5.4 yards per pass, 117.4 yards per game, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

After making Merrimack punt on the opening drive after its drive stalled out just before midfield, the Colonials got the ball and went straight down the field in one play on a 74-yard run by wide receiver/running back Owen McGraw.

McGraw’s explosive run set the Colonials up at the Warriors’ 13-yard line. Panteck hit Middleton on a corner fade two plays later for his first career touchdown pass.

We're on the board! @ChazAlexander89 from @PanteckCooper! #BobbyMo pic.twitter.com/aAsnkrARGU

— RMU Football (@RMU_Football) October 4, 2025

The Warriors cut into the Colonials’ lead later in the first quarter with a 34-yard Carlton Tai field goal.

The Colonials’ defense held the Warriors’ offense at bay for a majority of the first half as they carried the 7-3 lead deep into the second quarter before finally giving up the go-ahead touchdown with just under two minutes left.

On the play, the Warriors’ backup quarterback Aveon Smith tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Austin Palmer.

Despite trailing by just three at the half, the Colonials went on to be outscored 21-0 in the second half as the offense struggled to move the ball down the field, whether through the air or on the ground.

After punting on their first two drives of the second half, the Colonials’ defense showed up again and gave the offense great starting field position after cornerback Robert Dickerson intercepted Merrimack quarterback Ayden Pereira’s pass at the Warriors’ 44-yard line.

Following the interception, Dudley replaced Panteck for the first two plays of the drive but rushed twice for a total of zero yards.

Panteck came back in on the third-and lone and threw a drive-ending incompletion. The Colonials then punted from the Warriors’ side of the field.

The Warriors capitalized on the Colonials’ missed opportunity as they went on to score again on a 12-play drive that ended in a 5-yard touchdown run by Pereira.

The Warriors added another touchdown in garbage time on a one-yard rush from DeMarcus McElroy which made the score 24-7.

While the sky seems to be falling for the Robert Morris football program, there is still time to recover as conference plays kicks off next week but it comes with a difficult challenge as the Colonials will welcome the defending NEC champs Central Connecticut State into Joe Walton Stadium.

For a team that was picked third in the conference’s preseason poll, and even received a first-place vote, not much has gone right to this point in the season for Robert Morris but a win over the Blue Devils next weekend could change the whole outlook on the rest of the season.