MORGANTOWN, WV — A strong, defensive showing from RMU Football in the first half was wiped out following a dominant display from West Virginia in the teams’ 2025 season opener. Jayson Jenkins would kick the lone points of the game for RMU as the team fell to the Mountaineers by a score of 45-3.
Although the box score says otherwise, it was a valiant effort from the Colonials, especially in the first half, as the teams would enter halftime separated by only a touchdown. Like last season, RMU’s defense showed great signs in their first outing, forcing three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a sack.
The Colonials would get play underway, receiving the ball first, but the speedy Mountaineer defense would quickly put pressure on the offense and starting quarterback Zach Tanner, forcing a quick three and out.
WVU would capitalize and score on their first drive of the game, going 83 yards in 10 plays, with QB Nicco Marchiol running it in for the score.
The Colonials wouldn’t back down, and proceeded to put together a promising drive of their own, moving the chains twice before conceding and punting back to WVU. The defense again would show their promise, forcing WVU to punt it back.
Unfortunately, Tanner and the Colonial O-line received no relief. The interior pressure from the Mountaineer defense limited not only limited Tanner’s time in the pocket but also RMU’s ability to run.
The Colonials would only have 53 yards on the ground today compared to WVU’s 393. The team also averaged just 1.4 yards per carry on the day.
Speed of play was ultimately the killer on the day for the Colonials, with the Mountaineer’s no-huddle offense consistently pushing the ball and defense downfield, and making it difficult for subs to enter.
“That’s what they do.” Clark said. “That’s what Coach Rich Rod did when he was at Jacksonville State, it wasn’t a secret what they were gonna do, it’s just different when it’s in a game, you get under those lights, and that heat starts coming down on you, and you’re just going play after play, after the third play you’re breathing harder. And in that first drive, they throw right down the field with no problem, then we caught our breath a little bit. Came back out and our guys started playing a bit better.”
The momentum would shift back toward Robert Morris in the final minutes of the first half. The Colonials’ hard-nosed brand of defense forced two consecutive fumbles against WVU, and the Colonials would capitalize, kicking a field goal and cutting the score to 10-3 at halftime.
“I was pleased with our first half,” Coach Clark said. “[Happy] to force three turnovers in the first half, but didn’t capitalize on them. Guys played hard.”
The close score wouldn’t last long enough for RMU fans, as West Virginia would come out of the gates hot in the second half, putting together a nine play, 64 yard drive topped off by a Jaheim White rush to score. White would quickly get his second, after the WVU defense forced a fumble on Tanner, allowing the Mountaineers to stretch the lead to 24-3.
“i thought the young man from last year, White, was an outstanding running back.” Clark said about the junior RB from York, Pa. “He kinda proved it to me today more than anything else.”
The onslaught would continue early in the fourth quarter, with the following WVU drive resulting in a 46 yard touchdown pass from Marchiol to Cam Vaughn, stretching the score to 31-3.
Clark acknowledged this drop off in form in the second half.
“I think upfront, their D-line versus our O-line, really did it.” Clark said. “I think in the second half they just wore us down. But it goes back to not so much them wearing us down, but us making tackles when we’re supposed to make tackles, getting open when we’re supposed to get open. Making catches when we’re supposed to be making catches. Those are the things that frustrate you because those are physical things, those aren’t coachable things. Those are things they’re capable of doing, as opposed to things we’re asking them to do.”
The game would end 45-3 in favor of the Mountaineers, following rushing touchdowns from Cyncir Bowers and Scotty Fox Jr. The Colonials are now forced to return home and regroup, before traveling to rival Youngstown State next weekend, with definite areas of improvement.
“Well [we’re] gonna go back and watch film, and you see is it because of a hit, or just because you just didn’t make the tackle.” Clark said, adding “So if it’s tackling, then you gotta work on tackling. Which is tough because there’s so many rules and so many guys going down, especially when you’re not [a school] with 85 scholarships, you gotta make sure you’re smart, but at the same time we have to work on tackling.”
RMU will look to even their season up when they travel to face Youngstown St. next Saturday, September 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
