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The Pioneers travel to Moon Township, Pennsylvania this Saturday, September 24th for a 7:00 pm showdown with NCAA Division I FCS member Robert Morris University.

Media Information
Live Video: necfrontrow.com/schools.php?title=RMU
Live (home) Audio: ESPN 990 AM (Massillon) and online at:www.espn990.com/listen.php
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/rmu/football/
Twitter: @Malone_Football , @maloneathletics

Gameday Storylines
Malone Playing First-Ever Division I Opponent
The Pioneers face their first NCAA Division I football opponent in school history when they battle Robert Morris on Saturday. The Colonials compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, and have clinched a spot in the FCS playoffs as recently as 2010. Malone also makes its first trip into Pennsylvania since the 2007 season-ending victory over Geneva. The trip to Moon Township will be a homecoming of sorts for Pittsburgh-area natives Carl Grady and Kameron Richardson, the only two Pennsylvania players on the Pioneers roster.
 
Repeat Offender
Junior running back Matt Blasiole, a Uniontown, Ohio native, earned his second G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week honor on the season for his outstanding performance in week three against Notre Dame. Blasiole totaled 185 yards of offense, including 161 yards rushing and a 75-yard touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage. Through three games this season, his 397 rushing yards ranks 12th in NCAA Division II.
 
A Score and A Score and Seven Years Ago
Blasiole's backfield mate, quarterback John Iacucci, completed 20 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's contest. His 20 completions against Notre Dame were the highest for a Malone quarterback since Will Szpor completed 23 against Notre Dame in 2011. Iacucci also became the first Malone quarterback to throw for 300 yards since Steve Brohl threw for 403 yards against Olivet Nazarene in 2009. The redshirt sophomore signal caller has 623 yards passing and two touchdowns on the season including a 35-yard toss to Ashton Dulin Saturday against the Falcons.

Trio Makes History
Ashton Dulin finished last week with 171 yards receiving on eight catches and the aforementioned 35-yard diving grab in the endzone. He, along with Blasiole and Iacucci, made history on Saturday. It was the first time that Malone had a 300-yard passer, a 150-yard receiver, and a 150-yard rusher all in the same game. The Pioneers have threatened that stat in the past, most recently when Billy Bob Orsagh (380 yards passing), Derek Deardorff (162 yards receiving), and Bernard Payton (142 yards rushing) nearly achieved the feat against Taylor in 2007. Coincidentally, the three of them each set the single season school records that season.
 
Miller's Balanced Offense
Not coincidentally, the Orsagh, Deardorff, Payton trio set their respective records under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Dustin Miller. After his first stint with the Pioneers from 2006-09, Miller has returned to his previous post for the 2016 season under head coach Fred Thomas and is at least partially responsible for the emergence of the Malone offense. Through three games this season, Malone is averaging 202.7 yards on the ground and 207.7 yards through the air. The Pioneers have not posted those types of numbers over the entirety of the season since Miller last guided the offense in 2009.
 
Pioneers to Watch
Offense: Malone amassed 562 yards of offense in the loss to Notre Dame. Iacucci, Dulin, and Blasiole are the usual suspects as the trio have accounted for 80% of the Pioneers' total offensive output. But look for a trio of freshmen to increase their roles as the season progresses. Running back Damon Williams was flirting with a 100-yard outing against Notre Dame before finishing with 77 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries. Receivers Alex Stotts and Isaiah Wilson combined for eight receptions and 94 yards in the absence of Eian Elsass.
 
Defense: Senior safety JC Pawlyk was named G-MAC Defensive Player of the Week for his individual performance that included 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, a half sack and a forced fumble. Safety Daniel Tepe has recorded two interceptions in the last two weeks. Hybrid linebacker Cameron Pitts totaled eight tackles, including six solo stops against Notre Dame.
 
2016 Malone Pioneers: Roster | Schedule | Stats | Staff

The Report on Robert Morris
Robert Morris competes in the Northeast Conference (NEC) and is led by third-year head coach John Banaszak. Banaszak played professionally with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1975-81, winning Super Bowl rings in '75,'78, and '79. He was hired as an assistant at Robert Morris in 2003 and took over the head coaching job in 2014. In 2013, he was named the FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
The Colonials are 0-3 under Banaszak this season, most recently falling to Youngstown State 38-6 last Saturday. In week one, they were defeated by NCAA DII foe Alderson Broaddus after missing three field goals and allowing seven sacks. In week two, Robert Morris lost to Dayton 13-0 in a lightning-shorted affair
 
Colonials to Watch
Offense: Robert Morris has seen its share of offensive struggles in the early going, averaging just over 100 yards over the first three games. The Colonials first and only offensive touchdown came last week on a halfback pass. Look for running back Dante Satcher to see a steady dose of carries against a Malone defense that gave up 339 yards rushing last week. Wide receivers Reggie Green and Tim Vecchio are hoping for a big day against the Pioneer defense that has allowed 11 touchdown passes.
 
Defense: A stout Robert Morris defense features linebackers Adam Wollet, who leads the team with 29 tackles and Gee Stanley who is tied for 2nd in the FCS with 4.5 sacks through three weeks. Marcelis Branch, a 2015 All-NEC First Team defensive back leads the squad with four pass breakups and an interception. Fellow defensive back Ryan Richards Jr. totaled eight tackles and recorded a sack last week at Youngstown State.

Robert Morris Colonials: Roster | Schedule | Stats | Staff

By the Numbers
4 - Combined penalties committed by the Pioneers in their last two games. Malone was guilty of four or more penalties in all but one game last year.
4 - True freshmen who have made starts on the Robert Morris offensive line this season.
5 - Career touchdowns of 50 or more yards by Matt Blasiole. His 75-yarder against Notre Dame tied a career-high and tied for the fourth longest run in school history.
54 - Rushing yards needed by Blasiole, who now has 1626 career yards, to tie Marcus McFolling for 5th on Malone's all-time rushing list with 1680 yards.
1485 - Yards Blasiole would need to reach Dan DeGeorge's 1st-place all-time total of 3111 rushing yards

Looking Ahead
Malone will make its second straight trip to western Pennsylvania for its second straight meeting with an NCAA Division I FCS opponent next Saturday, October 1st in a battle with St. Francis University.