SEPTEMBER

4: at Dayton, 1 p.m.; 11: at Sacred Heart, noon; 18: vs. Liberty, noon; 25: at Wagner, noon.

OCTOBER

2: at Saint Francis, Pa., 1 p.m.; 9: vs. Monmouth, noon; 16: vs. Albany, noon; 30: vs. Duquesne, noon.

NOVEMBER

6: vs. Central Connecticut State, noon; 13: at Bryant, noon.

KEY GAME

Nov. 6: vs. Central Connecticut State. ... If the Northeast Conference preseason coaches poll is to be believed, defending champion Central Connecticut is the team to beat for the title, but Albany and Monmouth can't be overlooked.

KEY RETURNEES

QB Jeff Sinclair, HB Myles Russ, LT Carlos Andrade, ILB Alex DiMichele, S Michael Landers, K Garrett Clawson.

ANALYSIS

After three consecutive losing seasons, the Colonials appear poised to take a run at the NEC title. They haven't won the conference since 2000. Robert Morris has 10 offensive starters returning (19 overall), including senior tailback Myles Russ, who could become the school's all-time leading rusher with another 1,000-yard season. He gained 1,059 yards in 2009. Sophomore Jeff Sinclair won the quarterback job part way through last season and threw for 828 yards and nine touchdowns in seven games. Linebacker Alex DiMichele is back for his senior year and is the 10th leading tackler in the school's history and had 109 stops last year.

-- Rich Emert

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