Rookie Marcelis Branch was as important as anyone to Robert Morris’ win over Patriot League member Lafayette, which carried a perfect 3-0 record into Joe Walton Stadium on Saturday night. The freshman cornerback produced a number of impactful plays, one of which resulted in the game’s first touchdown. Making his third collegiate start, the 5-foot-11 defender forced a first-quarter fumble and picked off a pass one quarter later. Branch made 15 total tackles over the course of the 31-28 victory. Two of his tackles came on kickoff coverage, while eight of his 13 defensive hits stopped the opponent short of the first-down marker. Branch delivered his biggest blow with Lafayette operating from its own 10-yard line midway through the first quarter. On a 1st-and-10 pass completion, the first-year Colonial jarred the ball loose from Lafayette receiver Mark Ross and RMU’s Mike Neilsen ran it in for a touchdown. Branch made his presence felt again after the Colonials increased their lead to 21-7 on a second-quarter score. He made the tackle on the Colonials’ ensuing kickoff and proceeded to stunt Lafayette’s drive by intercepting a pass on 3rd-and-5. The play gave RMU the ball at its own 40 and the Colonials scored their fourth touchdown three snaps later. With the contest tied at 28-28 late in the fourth quarter and Lafayette facing a 3rd-and-20, Branch stopped receiver Rodney Gould 10 yards shy of a first down and forced the Leopards to punt it away. Robert Morris marched downfield on its ensuing possession to set up Greg Langer’s winning field goal.