Koch’s homecoming spoils Robert Morris’ home debut
The festive home debut of the Robert Morris University football program on a muggy Saturday afternoon was spoiled by Kevin Koch’s homecoming party.
Koch, an Immaculate Conception graduate and senior quarterback for Minnesota State University Moorhead, threw 2 of his 4 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead a 28-17 comeback victory at Morris Field in Arlington Heights.
“We’re right there but we just have to bring it home,” said linebacker and Warren product Gary Eppinger, one of numerous players in Robert Morris’ inaugural season undergoing a freshman college football orientation. “We have to do the little things right.”
Robert Morris (0-2) did some really big things as it led in the fourth quarter for the second straight week. Montini grad Matt Westerkamp (16-for-31, 236 yards) hit Deshawn Weaver for a 66-yard touchdown on the game’s second play.
A leaping interception on the second play of the second-half by Dominiqu Sashington led to Michael Graf’s go-ahead 31-yard field goal. And Lamont Wims electrified the home crowd when he took a Westerkamp screen pass and raced 87 tackle-eluding yards to give the Eagles a 17-14 lead on the final play of the third quarter.
“That screen had me going,” said Robert Morris coach Jared Williamson.
Then Koch (22-for-31, 279 yards) and MSUM’s offense took off in its season opener. Koch hit all 7 of his passes on four-play touchdown drives of 67 and 64 yards.
The 6-foot-3 left-hander found Kendall Hendon (8 catches, 122 yards) from 10 yards and Alex Pearson from 27 yards for a 28-17 lead with 11:43 to play.
“In the first half we didn’t really start off the way we wanted to,” said Koch, who estimated he had nearly 60 friends and family members watching and posing for postgame pictures. “We knew we could beat this team but we had to play like it and we took off from there.
“We were trying to run the ball on them a lot but after that big scoring play (by Wims), we said all right, we’ll try to throw the ball and score quick. That was huge for us.”
Koch, who started for MSUM last year after two years at College of DuPage, also threw touchdowns of 15 yards to Shawn Marlowe and 9 yards to Hendon. Robert Morris gave up 458 total yards but the defense led by hard-hitting linebacker Jordan Tuia forced a pair of three-and-outs and shots to get back in the game.
“I thought we improved this week and our defense played good enough to win,” Williamson said. “We couldn’t get any consistency in the second half offensively.
“Physically we wore down and I don’t think it was the weather. They were a bigger, stronger football team and we got physically worn down.”
But the Eagles showed they’re taking more than baby steps heading into their next shot at their first victory. They host Siena Heights (Mich.) at 1 p.m. next Saturday.
“It was a great atmosphere,” Eppinger said. “The fans definitely came out to support us and we appreciated everything they did for us.”