Robert Morris Preview (Game Two)

[catdaddyp]

Robert Morris enters Saturday’s matchup 2-0 with wins over Wagner (1-1) and West Virginia State (DII, 1-1). The Colonials are averaging 28.5 PPG and holding opponents to 8 PPG. The offense is producing 228.5 yards through the air and 127.5 on the ground, while allowing opponents 111.5 in the air and 92 on the ground.

 

QB:

Carson Haggard started his collegiate career at Tulane in 2022. He did not see any action during his two years with the Green Wave and subsequently transferred to Abilene Christian. At Abilene, Haggard played in three games in 2024, but did not play in 2025. This should be his final season of college football. 

Through two games, Haggard has thrown for 430 yards, 6 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and completed 56% of his passes. When kept clean Haggard completes 61% of his passes, compared to only 39% when pressured. The Colonials are willing to role Haggard out and call some designed runs for him as he has some mobility and can be effective as a runner.

 

RB:

Junior Keino Fitzpatrick is the starter after being shifted from wide receiver to running back this offseason. Fitzpatrick is small in stature, but has some shiftiness about him. He currently has 95 yards on 17 attempts, along with 3 receptions for 21 yards.

 

WR:

Cincinnati, Ohio native Galen Combs leads the team in receiving yards with 188 on 6 receptions and also has 4 touchdowns. However, the receiver that has been targeted the most is redshirt sophomore Jaqai Carter. Carter has 8 receptions for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both players have some length to them as Combs is 6’2” and Carter is 6’0”.

 

TE:

Arkansas Pine-Bluff transfer Tyreke Jinks is the starter at tight end. He is mostly utilized as a blocker, but the Colonials will take advantage of his receiving ability. Jinks has 2 receptions for 10 yards and has been targeted 4 times.

 

OL:

The offensive line has yet to give up a sack this season:

LT - Jarvis Williams (6’5 300lbs) (So.)

LG - Marc Koumoundouros (6’3 285) (Sr.)

C - Pete Jarvis (6’2 295) (R. So.)

RG - Vincent Boila (6’4 300) (So.)

RT - Grant Murin (6’4 285) (Sr.)

 

DL:

Robert Morris deploys a 3-3-5 and will usually bring down an OLB as an overhang into a 4-2-5. Utah State transfer John Gayer and sophomore Asher Wilson start at the defensive end spots with junior David Johnson in the middle. Redshirt senior Khalil Hunter is the linebacker who will usually walk down as the overhang. The defense as a whole has collected 8 sacks on the season. 

 

LB:

Chattanooga transfer Amanuel Dickson and Columbus, Ohio native Jake Lopinto are the other starting linebackers. They’ve collected 15 and 12 total tackles, respectively.

 

DB:

Columbus, Ohio native Mekhi Kilburn and senior Ronnie Woods are the starting cornerbacks.  Senior Tahseen Howard is the nickleback and punt returner. Former Ball State transfer Elijah Davis and former Akron transfer Noel Roach are the starters at safety. Kilburn, Woods, and Howard have been targeted fairly evenly by opposing offenses.

 

ST:

Kicker Lucca Alcarez-Valens is 7 for 7 on extra point attempts, but has missed his only field goal attempt. He has also put 5 of his 10 kickoffs into the endzone. Punter Bryson Costa averages nearly 46 yards per punt with four of 50+ yards and three downed inside the 20. 

 

 

 

Keys on Offense:

Get push in the run game early and give the backs room to work. Gant doesn’t need much room to operate anyway and if Akron can get Gant and Patrick going, it’ll open up all kinds of opportunities for the Zips talented receiver corps.

 

Keys on Defense:

Pass rush and depth development. Durham did not play against Wake and he should add at least a little more edge pressure when he does return. The defensive line as a whole must get more push than what we saw against the Deacons. This will be a good opportunity to find which players step up in game situations and have the potential to contribute in conference action.

 

Final Thoughts:

The Colonials coaching staff has done a great job getting the most out of the talent they have. However, Akron is more talented across the board and will easily be the most physical opponent Robert Morris has faced in 2026. Zips should win this game handily. 

Edited Sunday at 06:35 PM by catdaddyp

[ZippyRulz]

 

Zips favored by 27.5

 

Edited 4 hours ago by ZippyRulz

[LZIp]

 

[kreed5120]

Excitement is building...

[exit322]

9 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

Excitement is building...

 

For all the good that Goodrich has created with the OC contest and such, Moorhead is still the coach.  So yeah, not a lot of excitement from 13-36.

[ZippyRulz]

74 degrees and rainy is the current forecast.

[exit322]

31 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

74 degrees and rainy is the current forecast.

 

Well that's not gonna help attendance.

[MangoZip]

When was the last time the Zips were a 27 point favorite?? 

[csims0917]

Craziness. Meanwhile Kent is only 7.5-point favorites last time I checked

[Zips1991]

43 minutes ago, MangoZip said:

When was the last time the Zips were a 27 point favorite?? 

Last year against Duquesne had to be close, no?

EDIT: Nevermind, Google AI tells me it was only 10.5 lol

Edited 1 hour ago by Zips1991