RPI did nothing with their first possession, and Union quickly got the ball back. A 29-yard pass play from Union quarterback Tony Marotti to Ryan Twitchell set up the Dutchmen for another possible score, but Brent Hanson came up with a huge interception in the end zone to halt the Union momentum.

Not much happened until over halfway through the second quarter, and King believes that had they capitalized on special teams during this stretch, they might have won the game.

“We had opportunities to block three punts early in the game. We were real close, and didn’t do it.” He then added, “You need to make a big play on special teams in a game like that, and we didn’t.”

RPI punter Collin Adalian pinned Union deep in their own zone in the second, but they still managed to drive down the field again, relying on Marotti’s arm, which racked up 418 yards through the air. However, on a third down play, receiver Steve Angiletta dropped a pass in the end zone. Union was forced to kick a field goal and missed.

This might have been the Engineers’ chance to capitalize and score some points, but six plays later Frank Catellier fumbled the ball on what looked to be a controversial play. Finally, the ball was awarded to the Dutchmen.

The third quarter was the Jimmy Motzkin show. When Union faced a fourth and five on the eleven yard line, Motzkin broke up a screen intended for a receiver that would have definitely picked up the first, if not a touchdown. Later in the third, on a blitz, Motzkin tipped a pass straight up and then caught it for the interception. He then had the presence of mind to tuck in the ball and gain ten yards before he was brought down.

“This is the first full year he was on the defensive side of the ball,” King said. Motzkin came to RPI as a quarterback and just last year switched to strong safety. Injuries plagued him last year and even during the beginning of this year. “Jimmy, over the last half of the season, started playing the type of football he was capable of. The kid’s a heck of an athlete.”

Motzkin was named the Liberty League’s co-Defender of the Week. He had 13 tackles, and broke up six passes. On the season, he was second on the team with 80 tackles including a team best 44 solo.

Catellier and the Engineer offense took advantage of the great field position, and right at the start of the fourth quarter, the Engineers got on the board and in the lead. Catellier hit Dan Stephens for a two-yard touchdown pass on a rollout, and Brent Kebea nailed the extra point.

After trading touchdowns and failed two point conversions on the next drive for both teams, RPI remained in the lead 13-12. The defense made some big stops, including a nice breakup by Matt Hackett in the end zone to prevent Union from scoring and a fumble recovery by Bob Perreault that gave the Engineers the ball back with only three minutes remaining.

After consecutive stops on first and second down, RPI went with a pass on third down and paid for it. Catellier’s pass was picked off by Brian Griffin, and it took only three quick strikes by Marotti to put the Dutchmen back in control.

Marotti relied on the long ball a lot in this contest, opening up the field with some deep passes. King acknowledged the problems the defense faced. “When we played zone we didn’t get enough pressure on the quarterback, and then we played a lot more man then I necessarily wanted to play, and we got burned a few times.” He then added, “It’s going to happen.”

RPI had one more chance to get into the end zone and keep the trophy at home, but a costly ineligible man downfield penalty sealed the deal for Union.

King explained the play. “It’s a formation we’ve used a lot; we just weren’t lined up right. We had two guys on the line of scrimmage, and the second guy, because of his coverage, was ineligible and he went downfield.”

The Engineers finish the season at 5-4 and will have a lot of work ahead of them this off-season.

“I’ve had a very simple goal, and that’s to beat Union on a regular basis,” King said. He’ll have some unfinished business with the Dutchmen next year. “No matter what we do, as far as postseason or any of that business, if you can’t beat your rival on a regular basis, then you’re not that successful of a football program.”