Both teams deployed strong defenses early in the game, trading possessions without scoring for most of the first quarter. RPI was finally able to put some points on the board when Quarterback Dan Cole found senior Evan Cochran near the end zone, giving the Engineers a 7-0 lead with 2:02 left in the first quarter.

Yellowjacket Cornerback Marcel Pomerleau recovered an RPI fumble later in the quarter, returning the ball 43 yards for a score and tying the game at seven.

The Engineers didn’t wait to reclaim the lead, though, scoring on their first play from scrimmage after the kickoff. Cole hit senior Wide Receiver Kevin Siska with a short pass that Siska turned into a 72-yard touchdown that put the score at 14-7.

The Yellowjackets battled their way back across the field with a series of short plays. After 14 plays that stripped 3:58 off the clock, Yellowjacket Quarterback Jeff Piscitelli put the ball into the hands of Brian Ferris with 1:03 left in the half. The teams left the field tied at 14, in what appeared to be a very evenly matched game.

However, RPI’s defense shut down Rochester’s scoring in the second half, keeping the visitors on their side of the field for the entire 30 minutes and allowing the Engineer offense to dominate the scoring and secure their 17-point lead.

The Engineer offense again quickly broke the tie. Cole and Cochran combined for a 47-yard pass play and a touchdown with 10:00 left in the third quarter. An interception by senior Chris Speck provided the offense with another opportunity, and the fourth quarter began with a six-yard pass to Siska that gave RPI a comfortable 28-14 lead.

Senior Jai Echols provided another interception and a 19-yard return to put RPI in range for a 34-yard field goal attempt. The ball was put through the uprights by sophomore Matt Verenini, ending the scoring with RPI ahead, 31-14.

While RPI’s ground game provided momentum when it was required, its real strength was in the air. Cole, who was named as the UCAA Offensive Player of the Week last week, tied the school’s record for touchdown passes in a game with four. He and Cochran connected seven times for 213 yards and two touchdowns, while Siska picked up six passes for a total of 129 yards, finding the end zone on two of them.

RPI’s defense also showed strength, particularly in the second half. The Engineers forced three fumbles and intercepted two passes. Senior Linebacker Marc Blevins topped the defense with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Piscitelli performed well at quarterback for Rochester, completing 21 of 43 passes, but two interceptions and a tough opposing defense were too much for the Yellowjacket offense to overcome. Nevertheless, 215 passing yards for the game earned Piscitelli a place in the Rochester record book for the most career passing yards with 5,228. He replaces Jeff Wittig, whose previous record was 5,200.