Preview: Merrimack and Robert Morris kick off on three-game winning streaks
Merrimack football travels to Robert Morris on Saturday for a noon kickoff.
The Warriors are riding a three-game winning streak with wins over Stonehill, Morgan State, and Colgate.
The Colonials are also on a three-game winning streak with victories over Delaware State, Long Island, and Saint Francis. RMU was receiving votes in this week’s FCS coaches poll.
Merrimack vs. Robert Morris
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN+
Venue: Walton Stadium (3,000)
Location: Moon Township, Pa.
Scouting the Colonials
A familiar face for the Warriors leads Robert Morris. Former Merrimack running back Tyvon Edmonds Jr. leads the Colonials with 587 yards rushing on 110 carries (5.0 YPC) despite missing a game earlier this season.
RMU’s bread and butter has been its passing attack. The Colonials average 238 yards per game through the air and have passed for 14 touchdowns (5 interceptions). Starter Anthony Chiccitt has thrown for 1,751 yards this season on 149 of 223 passing (66.8 percent) and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions.
Noah Robinson has been the primary target at receiver. Lined up as the X receiver mostly, the 6-foot-3 Robinson has four touchdown receptions and 631 yards on 41 catches. The next-closest player on the roster is Carl Smith Jr., who has 258 yards on 14 catches.
The Colonials started the year with back-to-back losses against Utah State and Edinboro (a D-II program). Since that loss, they’re 5-1 with their only loss on the road at Eastern Kentucky.
Three Things for the Warriors
1. Wadley back in the lineup?
Donovan Wadley was back on Merrimack’s two-deep this week and he was listed as a projected starter for the Warriors. Now, admittedly, I’m not sure if that two-deep is updated weekly or if it’s projected starters from the start of the season. If Wadley does return to the lineup, it will be a huge boost to an offense that is already finding its legs without him in the lineup.
2. Can the Warriors keep up timely takeaways?
The Warriors have been able to generate timely turnovers on defense and special teams. Two blocked punts last week against Colgate turned into points, and Donte Williams had a key interception deep in Merrimack territory to keep Colgate off the board late in the first half.
3. Chip away on offense
The Warriors haven’t been a big-play offense, despite some chunk plays they had last week that went for scores. They’ve chipped away on offense most of the year, moving the chains and taking care of the football.
That should be fine against the Colonials. RMU has allowed scores in 17 out of 20 trips to the red zone, and 14 out of 20 have been touchdowns. Moving the chains and getting the ball into the red zone should be enough for the Warriors to put up points.