Cole also set a new record for completions in a game with 33. The Cochran brothers, Evan and Flynn, combined for 21 of these catches, including a set of key receptions down the stretch that killed the Cardinals’ hopes for a rally and left RPI on top 31-25.

The Engineers started off the game in fine fashion, driving 93 yards in just over three minutes. Pat Hughes caught a ball at the two-yard line and ran laterally around several defenders before turning the corner to put RPI up 7-0.

RPI’s second touchdown was set up by Mike Defilippi’s first of three interceptions he had on Saturday.

Two plays later, Evan Cochran outran his defender and Cole delivered a perfect pass to increase the Engineers’ lead. Matt Verenini missed the extra point—only his second miss in 24 chances—leaving the score at 13-0.

Midway through the second quarter, Cole hit Flynn Cochran from 19 yards out, and then repeated the feat on the two-point conversion to widen the gap to 21 points.

Fisher’s hurry-up offense finally started clicking on the next drive, and the Cardinals ground out 76 yards in 15 plays. The Engineer defense came up with a big stop on third-and-goal at the four-yard line, and the Cardinals opted to kick a field goal and get on the board.

RPI stormed right back with two long passes to Flynn Cochran, followed shortly by a four-yard scoring strike to Danny Stephens—his first career touchdown catch.

The Cardinals, in turn, showed that they can also score quickly. Only kicker Ed Garcia’s tackle at the RPI 48 stopped Fisher’s Mike Nackley from taking the kickoff all the way back, and less than a minute later, Nick Weatherbee made a leaping catch in the end zone for Fisher’s first touchdown of the day—with three seconds left in the half.

Long drives marked the second half—each team had only four possessions. The Engineers put together two long drives, but only ended up with three points to show for it—on the other, Flynn Cochran caught an apparent 38-yard touchdown, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty and the Engineers could not convert on the ensuing 3rd-and-13 play.

Fisher, however, was quite productive, putting together solid drives on its first three possessions. Defilippi came up big on the first one, picking off a pass in the end zone. The Cardinals scored on the next two, though, closing to within six points with ten minutes remaining in the game.

Fisher got the ball back with roughly six minutes remaining, but quickly faced a 3rd-and-six situation. A blitzing J.R. Williams put a big hit on Fisher’s Greg Roland, forcing the Cardinals to punt the ball away.

RPI’s final drive was entirely Cole and the Cochrans. Cole completed a 3rd-and-ten pass to Flynn, a 3rd-and-four to Evan, and finally a 4th-and-five to Evan to run out the clock for the win.

RPI’s final home game of the season is Saturday against a hapless St. Lawrence team that has lost 20 consecutive matches and 42 of their last 43 dating back to October of 1998.