Box Score
NEW LONDON, CT - Jay Bernardo carried 29 times for 146 yards and he also recovered a fumble for a touchdown leading RPI to a 17-3 Liberty League win over Coast Guard as the Engineers retained the Shotglass Trophy in the 70th and possible final meeting between the two teams.
RPI scored the only points of the first half on the opening possession of the game as Jimmy Robertson (15 of 31 for 194 yards, TD, INT) threw a 16-yard touchdown to Jon Branche (5 catches, 90 yards) capping a seven play, 65 yard drive. Bernardo had 35 yards on the drive as RPI led 7-0 with 11:27 left in the first quarter.
On its first possession, Coast Guard drove to the RPI 17 before Lance Lynch fumbled at the 14-yard line on a 2nd and five.
Coast Guard had a chance to get on the board early in the second quarter, but a 34-yard field goal attempt by David Lieberman was blocked by Graham Boyd with 13:48 left in the second quarter.
Following a pair of punts by each team, RPI took over at their own 38-yard line with 4:07 left and drove down to the Coast Guard 11. Bernardo fumbled on fourth-and-one, but Branche recovered at the five for a first down. However, the Bears’ Justin Andrews intercepted Robertson in the endzone with nine seconds left on the next play to keep the score at 7-0 at halftime.
Coast Guard used a 10 play, 49 yard drive capped by a Lieberman 29-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half to cut the lead to 7-3 with 12:21 left in the third quarter.
On its first possession of the second half, RPI answered with a 12 play, 71 yard drive which ended with Robertson fumbling near the goal line, but Bernardo fell on the fumble in the endzone for a 14-3 lead with 8:23 left in the third quarter.
Coast Guard (2-2, 0-2) drove to the RPI 34, but turned it over after a 4th and 19 pass was imcomplete with 11:17 left in the game. The Bears were hurt by a personal foul call which turned what should have been a 2nd and four at the RPI 19 into a 2nd and 19 from the 34-yard line.
RPI took over and drove 51 yards capped by a 33-yard field goal by Drew Taranto to increase its lead to 17-3 with 5:33 left.
Coast Guard had one last chance as it drove to the RPI 18, but back-to-back imcomplete passes ended the Bears hopes with 2:21 left.
RPI (3-1, 1-1), which got six receptions from Brendan McGowan, outgained Coast Guard 365 to 275.
Lynch led Coast Guard’s ground attack with 18 carries for 101 yards. Coast Guard junior quarterback David Garden, making his first career start, was 21 of 40 for 182 yards with two interceptions.
Christian George led Coast Guard with a career-high eight catches for 64 yards.
