By Dylan Butler
Based on some of the pregame comments by members of the St. John’s coaching staff, Derek Jones had a feeling he would be busy Saturday at DaSilva Memorial Field.
“Three different coaches told me to make sure I drink a lot of water, stay hydrated,” Jones said. “I expected it.”
Jones didn’t disappoint either, as the Red Storm sophomore tailback rushed the ball 31 times for 182 yards. His teammates, however, were unable to pick up the slack, as St. John’s dropped its third straight Northeast Conference game, falling to Robert Morris, 28-0, in front of 614.
“We always try and look to the bright spots,” said Jones, who was 16 carries shy of the St. John’s all-time record for rushes in one game. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we just have to stay positive as a unit.”
The biggest positive coming out of the Red Storm’s blanking was the play of Jones, who was an absolute workhorse. After gaining 156 yards on 22 carries in a 30-14 loss at Sacred Heart last week, the 5-foot-8 200-pounder from Pittsfield, Mass. was again called to carry the load for a young and injured St. John’s team. And he more than answered the call.
But it was when the Red Storm (1-4) entered the red zone that the offensive line, itself depleted by injury, faltered. St. John’s was whistled for six penalties for a total of 82 yards, including three costly offensive holding penalties.
“It’s like the red zone was kryptonite,” Jones said. “We have a lot of young guys out there, only two returning juniors who start, and they need some confidence. Guys get a little jittery when we get into the red zone.”
Jones also wasn’t helped out by an ineffective passing game, featuring third-string quarterback Matt Millheiser, who made his second consecutive start because of injuries to starter Kyle Lauver (right foot fracture) and backup Marc Saracino (right shoulder separation and right knee tear).
Millheiser did manage to connect with Matt May, who made four impressive catches in traffic for 58 yards, but the sophomore would only make one more completion, finishing 5-for-22 for 62 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns. The punting game was also atrocious for St. John’s, as freshman Jamie Longo — the fourth punter in five games this season — struggled mightily, averaging 20.4 yards in five punts.
“We knew we had to run the ball to take some time off the clock and I think we did a good job of that,” said St. John’s head coach Bob Ricca. “But we were killed with penalties. And if you can’t throw the ball, you can’t make up for penalties. You have to be able to hurt people with passing plays.”
Robert Morris (2-3, 2-1) certainly did. Complimenting a strong running game led by junior Sam Dorsett (15 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns) was the play of senior quarterback Tim Levcik, who was 15-for-23 for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“The kids are getting better,” said Robert Morris head coach Joe Walton, who made his return to Queens after coaching the New York Jets from 1983-89. “We play a lot of young players on defense and we had some problems at wide receiver early, but they’re getting better.”
The Colonials quickly jumped ahead 14-0 in the first quarter on Levcik’s three-yard pass to Brent Hockenberry and Dorsett’s 34-yard scamper, breaking several Red Storm tackles along the way.
Dorsett’s second touchdown — a nine-yard run — put Robert Morris ahead 21-0 with 4:17 left in the second quarter. Levcik capped the scoring with 7:42 left in the third quarter, orchestrating an eight-play, 57-yard drive, connecting with Ricky Daldo for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
For a Red Storm team beaten and battered mentally and physically, there may be some good news on the horizon. After opening the season losing to Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, Albany and Wagner — the top four-ranked teams in the NEC preseason polls — by a combined score of 123-27, St. John’s can look ahead to the friendlier portion of its schedule, starting with the team’s homecoming game against former Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe St. Peter’s Saturday at 1 p.m.
Also providing some reason for optimism is the expected return of three starters from injury, including Lauver, for Saturday’s game.
“We are beat up physically and emotionally,” Ricca said. “We have to get something to feel good about and the only way to do that is to go out and get a win.”
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130
