Adrian, Mich. – The Robert Morris Football team opened the 2012 season in heartbreaking fashion, losing 26-19 to Siena Heights University in double overtime on Saturday, August 25th. The Eagles are now 0-1 to start the season.
The Eagles drew first blood on a 27-yard Dontrel Chance touchdown run and Josh Techeira added the point after for a 7-0 lead with 5:51 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive took five plays in 1:56 and went 51 yards.
Siena Heights came right back on their next possession with an eight play 66-yard drive capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by Travis Damron to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:47 to play in the opening quarter. The Saints then put together an 11 play scoring drive late in the half with Damron scoring on another 5-yard run to make it 13-7 as the PAT was missed.
The third quarter was a defensive stalemate as both teams held their opponent’s offense scoreless for the entire 15 minutes as the game remained 13-7 in the Saints favor.
The Eagles defense held strong once again to open the fourth quarter, paving the way for a 11-play, 89-yard tying touchdown drive capped off by a 19-yard TD pass from Matt Westerkamp to TaDarrius Douglass. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Techeira had his extra point attempt blocked by the Saints and the game remained tied and went to overtime.
The Eagles began overtime with the ball and it was déjà vu time as Westerkamp connected with Douglass on a TD reception to put the Eagles up 19-13 but Techeira missed the PAT attempt again keeping the Eagles lead at six points. Siena Heights answered back in their overtime drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to even the game up at 19-19. However, the miscues on special teams continued as the Saints missed their extra point attempt to keep the Eagles hopes alive.
The Saints got the ball on the next possession due to overtime rules and made that possession count, scoring on a Damron 1-yard run and connecting on the extra point to take a 26-19 lead.
On the next RMU possession, the Eagles found themselves in a 4th and eight situation but Westerkamp’s pass attempt to DeShawn Weaver fell incomplete seemingly ending the game. However, Siena Heights was flagged for pass interference giving the Eagles new life with a first down and goal from the 2-yard line. Unfortunately RMU couldn’t punch the ball in as Westerkamp was sacked once and had three incomplete passes to end the game with an Eagles 26-19 loss.
In the loss TaDarrius Douglass led the Eagles with seven receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns, Lamont Wims rushed for 131 yards, and Matt Westerkamp threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Angelo Parker led the team with 12.5 tackles while Tom Hughes had eight tackles.
The Eagles home opener at Morris Field is on Saturday, September 1st at 1:00 P.M. against Olivet College (Mich.). If you cannot make the game, you can listen to it live on the Eagles Sports Network with “The Voice” Tom Wuestenfeld doing the play-by-play.