Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) gained 493 yards of offense while holding William Paterson University to 95 yards, including only seven through the air, in defeating the Pioneers, 45-0, in the season opener for both teams.
Junior quarterback Ed Trimpert completed 11 of 14 passes for 161 yards with touchdowns and 14 players rushed the ball for 332 yards and four scores. Ethan Wells had touchdown runs of three and nine yards among his nine carries and 62 yards, Nick Cella rushed for 95 yards (13 attempts) and Mike Tivinis ran for 92 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown to open the scoring, on 10 carries. The Engineers averaged 6.9 yards per play.
William Paterson managed just 2.0 yards per play against RPI's defense, which saw 24 different players register a tackle. Fifteen had multiple stops, led by seniors Bryan Hayes (3 solo) and Brandt Beck (2), who had seven each. Hayes added a one-yard tackle for a loss and Beck had 1.5 for three yards. Defensive lineman Malik Joseph, another senior, had six tackles with two behind the line of scrimmage (5 yards).
Charles Faulkner led the visitors in tackles with 11, including six unassisted and 1.5 for lost yards (2). Corey Anthony had seven (5 solo) tackles and a forced fumble. Kelvin White Jr. had 49 rushing yards on seven carries. The Pioneers quarterbacks completed just 1 of 8 passes.
Rensselaer jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its first possession when Tivinis scored at 11:50 of the first quarter. Following a William Paterson turnover, an interception by Rory McCarthy, Trimpert hit Rob Law from four yards out just over two minutes later for a 14-0 edge. Wells scored his first touchdown with 3:14 to play in the first quarter and Christian Kapp kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
RPI added 14 points in the third quarter, including a 45-yard touchdown pass from Trimpert to Pat Etter, and one in the fourth for the final margin.
The Engineers are back on the field on Saturday when they travel to WPI for the Transit Trophy Game. William Paterson plays at Salisbury next Saturday.