Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
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Time of Poss.
WORCESTER, Mass. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) defense held Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to -12 yards rushing and out of the end zone, while the visiting Engineers' offense totaled 343 yards to retain the Transit Trophy, 25-0. RPI, which has now won the trophy for three straight season, improves to 3-0 with WPI falling to 2-1.
Thirteen defenders had multiple tackles in the victory, including junior Nate Sicard, who had three unassisted - with one being a six-yard sack - along with a forced fumble, which he recovered and returned 32 yards for a touchdown. Fellow defensive lineman Ethan Johnson led Rensselaer with eight tackles, including five solos and a four-yard sack. Defensive back Diego Fernandez added six stops (3 solo) for the Engineers, who allowed only 174 yards of total offense.
RPI first got on the board when graduate student Jared Elstein converted a 36-yard field goal late in the first quarter. The key play of the game's initial scoring drive was a long pass down the left seam from Jake Kazanowsky to Jimmy McGoey.
RPI took a 10-0 lead on WPI's ensuing possession when Sicard pulled the ball from running back Hunter Carey arms and ran 32 yards untouched down the right sideline and into the end zone.
A bad snap on a punt attempt for the home team led to a first-and-goal for RPI, which got into the end zone two plays later when Kazanowsky scored from five yards out on a keeper.
The score remained 17-0 until the fourth quarter when junior Christian Buckley ran in from two yards to cap a 12-play, 66-yard drive with 5:20 left in regulation. Anthony Meissner took the snap on the point-after-attempt and darted into the end zone to make it a four-score game.
Kazanowsky completed 18 of 28 passes for 209 yards to go with 32 rushing yards. His favorite targets were Hayden Faraday, who had five receptions for 30 yards, and McGoey, who had 74 receiving yards on two catches. Kayden White had 56 rushing yards on 10 carries.
John Chau rushed for 30 yards on 12 carries for WPI, which lost substantial yardage on the ground due to five sacks against and the bad snap on a punt attempt. Stephen MacDonald completed 20 of 29 passes for 186 yards with a long of 24 yards. Defensively, Owen Lehane had a game-high 10 tackles.