MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The West Virginia State University football team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night, falling 29-9 to NCAA Division I FCS opponent Robert Morris University. WVSU moves to 1-1 heading into its bye week, while the Colonials improve to 2-0.
Joe Dailey was 6-of-15 passing for 62 yards and an 8-yard touchdown pass to
Amare Ary, while adding a team-high 81 rushing yards.
Bryan Johnson threw for 86 yards on four completions.
Devin Cox rushed for 57 yards on nine carries, averaging a team-best 6.3 yards per carry.
Both teams failed to score on their opening possessions, with the WVSU defense forcing a three-and-out on the Colonials' first drive. Robert Morris opened the scoring with 6:45 left in the first quarter and converted a 2-point attempt to take an 8-0 lead.
Following a pair of punts, the Yellow Jackets pieced together three consecutive big plays. Johnson connected with Cox for a 20-yard completion before finding
Malik Baker for 23 yards. Cox then broke off a 14-yard run, leading to a
Joseph Shrader field goal to get the Yellow Jackets on the board at 8-3.
Robert Morris answered with a touchdown, but WVSU responded with a 16-play drive. Dailey capped the possession on fourth-and-goal by finding Ary for an 8-yard touchdown pass—a play upheld after video review—to trim the deficit to 15-9 with 3:08 remaining in the second quarter. Both teams punted on their final possessions before halftime.
Receiving the second-half kickoff, the Colonials constructed a nine-play scoring drive to extend their lead to 22-9. Robert Morris added another touchdown later in the third quarter to take a 29-9 advantage into the final quarter.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter as the Yellow Jackets defense forced a punt and a missed field goal to close out the game.
Following a bye week, WVSU returns to action Sept. 19, hosting West Virginia Wesleyan College in its Mountain East Conference opener. Kickoff at Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
