For the second year in a row, the Engineers and the Hartwick Hawks clashed in a high scoring game that produced over 1000 yards of total offense. The Engineers came out on top, by a score of 39-38.
Saturday’s match was critical to both teams: The loss by Hartwick removes them from the post-season picture, while RPI stays on track for a season-ending clash with Hobart that may decide the UCAA title and an NCAA tournament berth.
Three plays stand out as key to the RPI victory Saturday. The first was an interception by RPI’s Brent Hanson—the only turnover of the game—that came with about six minutes left in the game with the Engineers trailing 32-31. The pick followed a late hit call that negated a big stop by the defense and shifted the momentum to the Engineers.
Hanson’s interception set up a scoring drive for Rensselaer, with quarterback Dan Cole finding tight end Ryan McGough in the corner of the end zone from four yards out to put the Engineers back in front 37-32. The second key play was the two-point conversion: RPI called the same play again, and this time Cole hit Danny Stephens, who just barely kept a foot inbounds for the score, giving the Engineers a seven-point margin.
The final play was another PAT attempt. Hartwick marched down the field in less than three minutes to close within a single point with 20 seconds remaining. Hartwick coach Mark Carr elected to kick the extra point to send the game to overtime, but the Engineer defense overran the Hawks’ line and would have easily blocked the kick.
The Hawks’ holder, quarterback Daniel Pincelli, read the situation and pulled the ball up. He had a man open, but just barely overthrew Eric Hipsman, leaving Hartwick one point short.
Most of the scoring occurred in the first half. The big playmaker for the Engineers was wide receiver Evan Cochran, who caught eight balls for 235 yards and a single-game record, four touchdowns. Cole also set a new record with 509 yards of total offense—440 of that was in the air.
“The offense just played a tremendous game,” said RPI head coach Joe King after the game. “To not turn the ball over once really says something.”
RPI’s next match is at home on Saturday against a surprising St. John Fisher squad that has amassed a 4-3 record and put up strong challenges to tough teams. Game time is 1 pm.
