Just over half a game of outstanding football was all RPI needed to defeat WPI 33-13 in front of a good-size home crowd on Saturday in the annual Transit Trophy game.
Quarterback Dan Cole accounted for most of Rensselaer’s points, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for one more. Kicker Matt Verenini was perfect on the day, adding a pair of field goals and three extra points, and the defense routinely made big plays against the visitor’s offense.
The home Engineers also accomplished one of their major team goals—establishing their running game. RPI rushed for 139 yards, led by Cole, who amassed 66 yards.
The Engineers from Troy got an early lead when Mike DiFilippi intercepted WPI’s Ryan Jennette on the second play of the game, setting up an RPI field goal.
Rensselaer used a couple of trademark big plays to move the ball downfield on the next drive. A triple option run by Flynn Cochran was good for 35 yards, and a wide receiver screen to brother Evan Cochran got RPI to the opponents’ one-yard line. Cole ran it in to put RPI 10-0 midway through the first quarter. An RPI sack and two pass deflections preserved that lead into the second quarter.
The home Engineers stalled in a big way during the second and most of the third quarters. On offense, a slew of penalties resulted in several big plays being called back, and on defense, the linemen were no longer getting the penetration that allowed them to effectively stop the WPI rushing attack. An interception returned to RPI’s 20-yard line was quickly converted to a touchdown by the visiting offense, making the halftime score 10-7.
The third quarter was uneventful until Cole fumbled near midfield while diving for a first down. WPI took over and moved the ball extremely well to about the 10-yard line, where the RPI defense finally made a stand, forcing WPI to bring out the kicking team. Sophomore Danny Stephens blocked the kick, preserving the RPI lead and energizing both his teammates and the crowd.
Rensselaer got a big first down on the next possession, a completion to Evan Cochran on third-and-long. The next play was another screen pass to Pat Hughes, who beat one tackler and then outran the WPI defense for 73 yards and a 17-7 lead.
The defense also came alive, containing the visitor’s rushing attack and providing its usual excellent pass coverage. Worcester only scored once more, and that came after a long kickoff return—saved only by kicker Ed Garcia—gave WPI excellent field position.
Meanwhile, RPI’s offense finally started firing on all cylinders—both the passing and rushing games were effective in the fourth quarter, and RPI added two more touchdowns and a field goal to run away with the Transit Trophy for the sixth consecutive year.
Rensselaer does not have another home game for nearly a month, and during that hiatus new bleachers will be installed at the ’86 Field. This week the Engineers travel to Rochester, who won their first game Saturday, 51-7 over St. Lawrence. Following that, RPI faces its first major challenge in Union, who lost to Hobart 14-6 in Schenectady on Saturday.
