It all came down to one final chance for the Dutchmen. Down three points with 27.8 seconds remaining on the clock, the Union offense took possession on its own 20 and did what they had done all day long: They turned the ball over.
Junior Jim Sears’ first career interception was a fitting end to a day that saw the Engineers force seven turnovers and reclaim the Dutchman Shoes Trophy by defeating Union, 32-29.
The game could easily have been a blowout: Union led in nearly every offensive category, gaining an average of 5.7 yards per play. The Engineer defense missed several tackles, including at least three potential sacks, and allowed the Dutchmen to convert on third-and-long time and again. However, RPI came up with the big plays when it mattered, forcing three fumbles in the second half and picking off Union Quarterback Ben Gilbert four times.
The offense had a similar game—they were frequently unable to get things rolling and had to punt the ball away nine times, but they took advantage of nearly every opportunity they had. Four of the five RPI touchdowns came directly off of Union turnovers where the Engineers took possession in Dutchman territory. Most importantly, RPI held onto the ball, turning it over only once.
The game did not start well for the Dutchmen—on the opening kickoff, Sean Washington, the Union returner, downed the ball on the Union two-yard line, thinking he was in the end zone. They worked their way out to the 26, but on third-and-five the Engineers pressured Gilbert into making a bad pass that was tipped up by the defensive line and caught by senior Tim Westcott, who returned it to the four-yard line. Two plays later, Wide Receiver Evan Cochran leaped over a Union defender to pull in a pass from Dan Cole, putting the Engineers up, 6-0.
Union took the lead six plays later, capping a 70-yard drive with a 28-yard fullback screen, but RPI regained the lead late in the quarter when a Tom Heusinger interception put the Engineers on the Union 45-yard line. A few plays later, Cole found Wide Receiver Kevin Siska in traffic for a nine-yard touchdown. Head Coach Joe King decided to make up for the previously missed extra point by going for two, but Union’s defense read the play well and hit Flynn Cochran just before he reached the end zone.
The second quarter was quiet, with neither team able to put together a sustained drive. The only scoring came when Flynn Cochran was stripped of the ball at the RPI 38-yard line. Gilbert went deep on the next play, and Washington, a running back, made a diving grab in the end zone. Union picked up the two-point conversion to open up a field-goal lead at halftime, 15-12.
The Engineers went three-and-out to open the second half, but got the ball back right away when RPI Co-Captain Marc Blevins stripped the ball from Union runner George Beebe and recovered it on the Union 25. RPI took advantage of all of its offensive weapons, calling for a reverse option—Cole faked a handoff and then pitched the ball to Flynn Cochran, who was set up at wide receiver. He was then able to hit his brother Evan with a 15-yard pass, and Cole connected with Siska again on the next play for the touchdown. The extra point gave the Engineers a four-point margin.
The Dutchmen roared right back as Washington broke several tackles and returned the kickoff 92 yards, reestablishing Union’s three-point lead and giving his team a huge morale boost.
The RPI offense, however, appeared completely unfazed, putting together its biggest drive of the game when the Engineers most needed it. Another reverse option, this time with Cole as the receiver, got them to the Union 35 and loosened up the defense enough to allow them to rush successfully for another 15 yards. Cole hit Flynn Cochran for another RPI first down four yards from the goal line, and Union Head Coach John Audino called for a timeout.
Running Back Brian Neglia got the Engineers within inches on first down, but the Dutchmen stuffed two straight runs up the middle. Down by three points, King opted to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-inches. Cole attempted a sneak and was initially rebuffed by the Union defense, but a big second push by RPI’s offensive line got him in for the score, putting the Red Hawks ahead once again.
Union responded in kind, marching the ball down the field with little difficulty until Beebe fumbled at the RPI three-yard line. Jai Echols recovered for the Engineers and would have taken it all the way back for a touchdown if not for the quick thinking of Union Wide Receiver Hank Papale.
RPI eventually extended their lead with 8:41 left on a one-yard run by Flynn Cochran, set up by another Echols fumble recovery. A missed kick left the Engineers ahead 32-22.
Gilbert nearly gave the game away at this point, throwing a bullet straight to RPI’s Mike Pawloski on Union’s first play after the kickoff. The Engineers moved to the Union 24 before going out on downs.
The Dutchmen finally were able to put together another string of solid plays, taking less than three minutes to pick up another touchdown and close within three. The Engineers went three-and-out on their next drive, and Craig Kopka nearly broke through on the punt return for another touchdown—only a diving grab by Tony Spackmann saved the RPI lead. Union took possession at midfield with 2:54 showing on the clock, needing only a field goal to tie. This time it was the RPI defense that stepped up, letting Gilbert complete only one pass for three yards and forcing the Dutchmen into a fourth-and-long situation that they were unable to convert. The Engineers started to run the clock out but had a scare when Flynn Cochran fumbled on second down. RPI recovered, and later punted the ball, giving the Dutchmen one final possession, ended promptly by Sears’ interception. After the game, Assistant Athletic Director Mike Griffin presented the Dutchman Shoes Trophy to King and the Engineers. “After a great football game, the Shoes are back home,” Griffin said as he handed the trophy to King. King said that the team showed a lot of poise under pressure in the game. He praised the Engineers for a “total team effort.” “There are no stars there, but they play well as a group,” he said. With the victory over Union under their belts, the Engineers began focusing on next week’s game against the undefeated Hartwick Hawks. King said that the team often has a letdown after the annual Union game, and that they would need to avoid that. “The only tougher game than this Saturday will be next week,” he said. Cole also stressed the importance of the match at Hartwick, especially given the Engineers’ shortened schedule. “With only eight games, it kind of shortens our chances at the playoffs. We know we have to win every game.”
