“We were in good positions, and we made a lot more plays than in some games early in the season,” King said this week.

Despite a strong defensive stop on the first drive of the game, and an interception on the next drive, when Rochester had great field position due to a botched punt, the Yellowjackets still jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

After that, it was a different story.

The Engineers dominated the remaining three quarters, scoring 28 unanswered points, and holding Rochester scoreless.

“We’ve been down to Rochester almost every year that we’ve played them,” King stated. He believed the team had “responded positively” after going down early. “As long as we can hang in the game, we usually find a way to win it at the end.”

On the first drive of the second quarter, Jay Bernardo carried the Engineers into the end zone, after a setup pass from Frank Catellier to Brendan McGowan put them at the two yard line. Bernardo led the rushing attack for RPI with 72 yards.

The rest of the second quarter was a defensive struggle, with neither offense getting much started. Brad Williams snatched another pick for the Engineers, and collectively the defense stopped Rochester on a fourth down conversion late in the half.

The defense was very effective in stopping what coach King was worried about most from the Yellowjacket offense: the running game of Rochester quarterback Aaron Molisani.

“We did get real good pressure on the quarterback,” King acknowledged. This led to more passes and quicker releases by Molisani. King went on to explain how they adapted. “I thought our secondary played very well, and disguised things. At times I think there was some confusion throwing the ball.”

To get something going, RPI had to try something different in the third quarter, and they started right away. On the fourth play of the half, wide receiver Brendan McGowan hit Catellier for a 21 yard completion. That helped set up the first of two touchdown passes to Jon Branche, who was named to the d3football.com National Team of the Week for his performance last weekend against WPI.

Branche had another huge week, with seven catches for 127 yards. Rochester virtually took Dan Stephens out of the game, but other targets like Branche, McGowan, and DeSean Moore were able to take advantage of that extra attention Stephens was receiving.

King admits that Branche has been a good target coming off the line for the quarterbacks this season. “Jon, the last half of the season last year and the playoffs, became a go-to guy, and I think it’s continued this year.” However, RPI relies on spreading the ball out to many receivers, and King points to them as well as reasons why the team is on a roll.

Rochester had a chance to regain the lead, as they moved down the field into field goal territory during their most successful drive in the second half. However, linebacker Jimmy Motzkin made a momentum changing play. On a third and four, Motzkin got into the backfield and sacked Yellowjacket quarterback Aaron Molisani for a 10 yard loss. On the ensuing play, Rochester went for a fourth down conversion and failed.

Motzkin was named co-Defensive performer of the week for the Liberty League.

“Jimmy had an outstanding game. He just made a lot of big plays.” King also added that stats don’t tell the whole story. “He had two tipped balls when he was coming on stunts, one led to an interception.” Motzkin finished the day with 13 tackles, 10 of them solo, 5.5 of them for loss of yards, and one of them the sack.

The Engineers finally grabbed the lead in the fourth quarter on a 27-yard hookup from Catellier to Branche. It occurred on the first play following the third RPI interception by Sean Doran.

Otis Williams tacked on some insurance with a one yard touchdown run on the very next drive.

This week is the Dutchmen Shoes Trophy game against Union College. King believes that his team is ready for the challenge this game will bring, and many of the young players are set for their first taste of this rivalry.

“I think they have some idea what the game is like, but until you play in it, I don’t think you really know,” King commented on his younger players. King knows that this game can provide some much needed momentum into the off-season. “There’s a lot riding here.”

The final game of the season could also put the seniors in the RPI record books. Currently their record over the past four seasons is 32-8. No senior class has ever left with 33 wins during their time here in Troy, and King says that this one is for them.