The football team eked out a close game to open its season, beating Plymouth State by a score of 17-14. The game was tight for the entire sixty minutes, with neither team ever leading by more than a touchdown.
The teams traded possessions throughout the first half, with neither able to score until RPI broke through with 1:15 left. Flynn Cochran hit Wide Receiver Kevin Siska with a touchdown pass from 10 yards out to cap a 55-yard scoring drive. The extra point was missed due to a bad snap, so the Engineers went into halftime ahead 6-0.
Plymouth State moved the ball almost at will for most of the game, but they were unable to score until halfway through the third quarter, when Running Back Mike Bicchieri finally broke through the Rensselaer defense to put the Panthers up 7-6.
A late third-quarter turnover allowed RPI to score again to start off the fourth on a five-yard run by Joe Prymas. The following two-point conversion gave the Engineers a 14-7 lead, but the Panthers tied it up when their defense recovered a fumble in the Rensselaer end zone with 5:48 left in the game.
On the next possession, the Engineers used the clock well, spending almost four minutes to get within striking distance. Matt Verenini’s 30-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining put RPI on top for good.
The victory was keyed by the defense, which forced the Panthers to turn the ball over seven times. Marc Blevins, Tom Heusinger, and Duane Hilmar all pulled down interceptions for the Engineers.
Head Coach Joe King compared the performance to the 1999 team, which went 9-0 en route to RPI’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament, pointing out that Rensselaer has led the nation in turnover ratio for two of the last four years.
And yet, according to King, "we need to play better defensively." The Panthers amassed 23 first downs and 467 yards of total offense, converted 10 of 16 third downs, never had to punt the ball, and did not allow a quarterback sack. While King credits the Panthers with a very good offense, he feels that RPI will need to tighten things up and give up fewer yards to continue winning games.
On the other side of the ball, the Engineers presented a balanced attack that put the ball in the hands of several different players.
Cochran and Dan Cole split time at quarterback, with Cole getting most of the work. They combined to complete 19 of 33 passes, with one touchdown and one interception. King said that both players will continue to see action for the next few games at least.
On the ground, senior Joe Prymas and freshman Otis Williams averaged 4.5 yards per carry, and Cole and Cochran scrambled for 49 net yards.
Penalties were the major problem for Rensselaer—the team was flagged 14 times for 124 yards. Several big plays, including multiple touchdowns, were called back on penalties. Improvement here will be vital for a good season; the team will not be able to afford having touchdowns reversed against some of the tougher rivals on their schedule.
The Engineers’ home opener is the Shotglass Trophy game Saturday at 1 pm against Coast Guard. King says that he hopes to see a large turnout from the RPI community.
"I think it’s gonna be a heck of a football game."
