Archived Video Broadcast

The Malone University football team gave NCAA Division I FCS opponent Robert Morris (PA) all it could handle Saturday night in a hard-fought 21-19 contest in which the Pioneers came within inches of a game-tying two-point conversion that would have forced overtime. Malone outgained RMU on offense and outscored the Colonials in the second half, but ran out of time in its pursuit of a historic upset.
 
The Pioneers survived an early scare when the Colonials' Dante Satcher took the first-play from scrimmage and ran 68 yards to the endzone, but a costly holding penalty erased a potential touchdown. Robert Morris eventually settled for a field goal attempt on its first possession that would fall short of the uprights.
 
Following a Malone punt, RMU would cash in on its second possession when halfback Malik Wells took a pitch from six yards out to make it 7-0. The touchdown was the first rushing touchdown all season for the Colonials.
 
After trading punts, Malone set up shop at its own 29-yard line. On first-and-10, Malone quarterback John Iacucci hooked up with Ashton Dulin for 52 yards on a perfectly thrown deep ball down the left sidelines. The Pioneers' drive was halted at the RMU 7-yard line but Marcus Moeller's field goal try split the uprights and made it a 7-3 with 10:19 remaining in the second quarter.
 
The Colonials answered with a methodical 13-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by an 8-yard touchdown reception by Warren Robinson.
 
Two possessions later, Malone took over at its own 25-yard line with 1:06 left before half. Not content to go the lockerroom trailing 14-3, the Pioneers went to the hurry up. Consecutive 16 yard screen passes to Matt Blasiole and another 25-yard grab by Ashton Dulin set up Malone in their opponents' redzone. Moeller's 29-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in the quarter cut the lead to 14-6.
 
Malone received the second half kickoff and promptly went three-and-out. On Moeller's fourth down punt, the Pioneers committed a disastrous special team's miscue. Warren Robinson received the kick at his own 19, shed several tacklers, and outran Moeller for the 81-yard score. The punt return touchdown was the second allowed by Malone in the last two weeks.
 
Trailing 21-6, Malone again went three-and-out and was forced to punt. Three plays later, however, defensive tackle Tyler Bowman forced a Colonials' fumble that was scooped up by Lamon Mathison at the RMU 25. Two plays later, Iacucci hit Blasiole on another screen pass. The shifty junior halfback avoided the tacklers and raced to the endzone for the 25-yard score. The PAT made it 21-13 with 8:38 left to go in the third.
 
From that point on. the game became a defensive struggle as both teams struggled to generate offense. Seven punts later, Malone began a fourth-quarter drive on its own 43-yard line. A third down strike down the right sideline to freshman receiver Isaiah Wilson set up Malone in plus territory with new life.  Two plays later, Iacucci went down the right sideline again but was intercepted inside of the redzone with six minutes to go.
 
The Malone defense, which held Robert Morris to just one first down in the second half, was stout once again, forcing yet another punt with four minutes to go. A short kick by the Colonials gave Malone excellent field position with plenty of time to go down the field.
 
Starting from the RMU 47-yard line and in no apparent hurry, Malone marched down to 6-yard line to set up first-and-goal. An incomplete pass, a 4-yard rush, and rush for no gain made it fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. After a timeout, Iacucci drilled a back-shoulder pass to Ashton Dulin for the score with 31 seconds remaining.
 
Still trailing 21-19, Malone used another timeout to draw up a play. On the two-point conversion try, Iacucci once again hit Dulin, who made a diving grab in the back of the endzone. The collective breath was taken away from the Malone sidelines, however, when the official signaled that Dulin failed to land a foot down and fell just out of bounds.
 
The ensuing onside kick attempt went out of bounds. Out of time and out of timeouts, Malone could only watch as an RMU kneel down cemented the 21-19 defeat.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone outgained Robert Morris 314-232 in total offense
-The Pioneers held RMU to just 92 yards passing and limited the Colonials to just 2-of-12 on third down conversions
-Coming into the game averaging over 200 yards rushing, Malone ran for just 58 yards on 1.7 yards per carry
-The passing game, however, accounted for 256 yards and 13.5 yards per completion
-The two teams combined for six total penalties for 55 yards
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-John Iacucci finished 19-of-32 for the 256 yards and two scores while also running for 22 yards
-Ashton Dulin caught seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown
-Matt Blasiole recorded five receptions out of the backfield for 63 yards and added 32 yards rushing
-Ryan Weber led the Pioneers' tremendous defensive effort with eight tackles and a sack
-Austin Cary wreaked havoc in the backfield with seven total tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks
 
Robert Morris Individual Highlights
-Dante Satcher finished with a game-high 88 yards rushing
-Tim Vecchio caught eight balls for 64 yards
-Joseph Uhatafe led the Colonials with nine tackles and a forced fumble
-Gee Stanley added seven tackles and a sack
 
Up Next
Malone will take on Division I FCS opponent Saint Francis (PA) next Saturday October 1st at 1:00 pm.