The first half of Rensselaer’s first home game of the season found the Engineers 27 points in the hole without as much as a field goal on the board. Though they retaliated fiercely in the third quarter to recover from their overwhelming deficit, gaining 17 points, they ultimately lost 17–33 against Alfred University this past Saturday.
A field goal from Alfred’s Trevor Monk at 9:31 of play kicked off scoring for the afternoon. Then, with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter, the Saxons scored again, this time with a touchdown from Maleke Fuentes off of an RPI fumble at the Alfred 40 yard line. The score was 10–0.
The second half wasn’t any better for the Engineers, who fell 17 points deeper in the hole after Tyler Johnson scored 14 points with two back-to-back touchdowns and Monk sent the football flying through the goalpost again.
Early in the second half, RPI’s comeback took form as sophomore quarterback Eddie Trimpert found junior running back Johnny Ramsdell beside the end zone, throwing to him to score the Engineers’ first touchdown of the day. Trimpert threw to Ramsdell on the 11th play of the 68-yard drive. A field goal from junior kicker Christian Kapp brought RPI within ten points of catching up to Alfred, but their offense would not last.
One field goal from Alfred near the end of the third and one at 4:12 remaining of play secured the Saxons’ victory. Monk was responsible for both goals.
This Saturday will feature an away game against Massachusetts Institute of Technology at noon. The game can be viewed live online at https://poly.rpi.edu/s/1v4tl. The Engineers will return to East Campus Stadium on Saturday, September 24 to face St. Lawrence University at 1 pm.