RPI started out slow offensively, and had some trouble shutting down the run on the other side of the ball. Head Coach Joe King admitted that it wasn’t his squad’s best game.

“Any time a team hangs in there, doesn’t play their best game, and wins is a plus,” King said of his team’s performance.

Tied late in the fourth quarter at 14, sophomore Jay Bernardo broke free for a 43-yard touchdown dash to send the Yellowjackets buzzing away.

“It was a basic zone run, and the offensive line gave him a crack.” King then added, “He broke a few tackles and took it the distance.”

Bernardo finished the day with 116 yards on the ground on 25 carries with the lone touchdown.

Rochester had the first scoring opportunity in the game, but was foiled when junior Graham Boyd blocked a field goal attempt. The Yellowjackets still got on the board late in the opening quarter when quarterback Aaron Molisani threw a 25-yard scoring pass, making it 7-0.

“[Boyd’s blocked field goals] have been huge in every game,” King admitted. “It’s usually early on, and we’re not giving up any points.”

The defense bent but didn’t break again until the fourth quarter. The offense, however, couldn’t muster up any points either, stalling on numerous drives in the first three quarters. Even when graduate student Jimmy Motzkin knocked the ball out of Molisani’s hands off a sack and returned it 29 yards, giving the Engineers great field position at the Rochester 41, the offense went three-and-out.

Motzkin was named co-Defensive Performer of the Week by the Liberty League for his efforts. He had a game high 15 tackles, a sack, forced fumble, and fumble recovery.

Rookie quarterback Jimmy Robertson had an off day. Ending with 145 yards through the air and an interception, Robertson did end up throwing two touchdowns late in the game, but didn’t do much during the first three quarters.

“They threw everything under the sun at us,” King acknowledged. “It was the first time all year he played a little bit like a freshman.”

The game went back and forth, and neither team scored again until the last quarter. On the quarter’s first play, Robertson hit junior tight end Jon Branche in the back of the end zone to cap an 82-yard drive, which carried over from the third. The touchdown should have been the equalizer, but after a failed extra point, RPI remained a point down, 7-6.

On their next possession, they finally grabbed the lead. Beginning the drive from their own 18 for the second time in a row, Bernardo led the way down the field, and Robertson connected with sophomore wideout Brendan McGowan from 22 yards out. Robertson hit Branche on the two point conversion, and RPI was in control 14-7.

It didn’t take long for the Yellowjackets to tie it up. On the ensuing kickoff, Michael Dermody ran it back for 48 yards, and after a quick 26 yard strike from Molisani to put Rochester in position, Pat O’Brien punched in for a 1-yard touchdown run.

After an RPI illegal block penalty on their return, they were backed up on their own 16. Robertson connected with Branche for a big gain, and RPI was back in business.

That’s when Bernardo worked his magic and carried the Engineers to victory.

In addition to Motzkin two others were honored by the Liberty League. Freshman Mark Sangiorgi had seven tackles and broke up two passes to snatch a share of the Rookie of the Week. Greg Goehle was named co-Special Teams Performer of the Week after averaging over 40 yards per punt, including a career-long 65 yarder. He pinned the Yellowjackets inside the 20 twice.

The game was moved up to Harkness Field due to the condition of the torn up ’86 Field. Although not keen on the idea of playing away from the friendly confines of ’86 Field, King was very impressed with the facilities. Jerry Davis, Jack Holstein, Bob Keyes, and the rest of the grounds crew did a great job getting the field ready including painting lines on the field, and moving the goalposts.

“In the long run it was good for us because we play on it next week.” King pointed out that Union has a turf field.

Next weekend, the Engineers travel to Schenectady to take on the undefeated Dutchmen. Not only is it a trophy game, but the winner takes the Liberty League crown and gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

“They have so many weapons, so many people they can get the ball to,” admitted King. Union defeated Hobart, the only team to take out the Engineers, 28-18 last weekend.