Many question marks surrounded the RPI football team this preseason, like whether they could still win after losing so much talent. The Engineers responded to those issues, and picked up right where they left off last season, blowing away Endicott College 42-7 this weekend with a lethal offensive attack and a strong defensive effort.
The offense, led by sophomore quarterback Frank Catellier, took the lead early in the second quarter and the defense, overshadowed again by a great offensive assault, never gave it back. “I think we played good football… last year defensively, but at the same time everyone talked about our offense,” RPI Head Coach Joe King stated. “This year, we gotta carry the load.”
The defense was stifling, allowing only 139 total yards, 59 through the air. They also forced four turnovers, echoing a fundamental that King wanted to emphasize more this year. Last year the team had a plus 28 turnover ratio, something King says “we take a lot of pride in.”
On the other side of the ball, Catellier was “playing very well” according to King, but was injured on the second drive of the second quarter. The drive before he hit senior wide receiver Dan Stephens in the end zone for his first collegiate touchdown pass. His injury kept him out for the remainder of the game, but King expects him to be “practicing this week, and ready to go this [weekend].”
Chad Wysocki, a freshman from Hoosick Falls, N.Y., came in to relieve Catellier and lit up the Endicott defense. “I thought Chad did great, first game, getting thrown in there like that,” King later commented. Wysocki, no stranger to high profile games, led Hoosick Falls to the New York State Championship Game last year played in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Wysocki threw for 338 of the Engineers’ 501 passing yards, including three touchdowns and, most importantly, no interceptions. He hooked up with veteran receivers and fellow rookies alike. Coach King seems very high on both of his two young quarterbacks. “They’re both capable. Are they gonna be the same quarterback as Danny Cole was? No… but we can win with either of these kids.”
Another bright spot for the young offense was freshman wide receiver Brendan McGowan. Hailing from Arizona, “he was attracted to the program with the success that we had last year, and the fact that we throw the ball,” King said. He was tied for the team lead with 11 receptions along with tight end Jon Branche, and quickly became one of Wysocki’s favorite targets.
Wysocki and McGowan were honored this week with the Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week and Rookie of the Week respectively in just their first weekend in a college jersey. When asked if in four years we could see another combo like Cole and Flynn Cochran, King simply stated (with a smile on his face) “It’d be nice.”
There were two points of concern Coach King had coming into the weekend. The offensive line had lost three starters from last year, and the special teams unit had some holes as well. The offensive line held together very well with just the two returning starters, allowing four sacks.
Collin Adalian, the punter for the Engineers, had a 40 yard average on five kicks, and was the Most Valuable Special Teams Player of the Week for RPI. “The special teams are the most overlooked thing in football, and yet they are the most critical,” King said. RPI missed their only field goal attempt Saturday.
Next weekend, the Engineers will travel to Utica College, where they struggled last year, escaping with a 17-6 victory. This year King says Utica “has arrived” and will be a tough challenge for our young team. Utica is currently 1-1 and is also coming off a big win.
