Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) got three touchdown passes from Jimmy Robertson (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep) to Jon Branche (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) and 186 yards and two touchdowns from running back Jay Bernardo (East Greenbush, NY/LaSalle Institute) to defeat St. Lawrence University 35-13 in a constant downpour at ’86 Field. With the victory, Rensselaer improves to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the Liberty League. The Saints fall to 2-3 and 1-2.
St. Lawrence jumped out to a quick lead as it marched down the field on the game’s first possession. The drive, which covered eight plays and 85 yards, was culminated with a 21-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Matt Bezio (Morrisonville, NY/Peru) to sophomore wide receiver Mike O’Donnell (Haverhill, MA/Central Catholic) down the middle of the field at 12:52 of the opening quarter. Rensselaer answered six minutes later when Robertson, a freshman, found Branche, a junior tight end, from seven yards out. Robertson and Branche connected again with 39 seconds left in the quarter, this time on a fade into the right corner to complete an 11-play, 53-yard drive. The extra point was blocked and Rensselaer led 13-7 after the first quarter.
The Engineers got their first touchdown of the second quarter when Robertson found Branche from 22 yards out with 5:47 left in the stanza. A two-point conversion pass from Brendan McGowan (Mesa, AZ/Mountain View) to Adam Van Horn (Amherst, NH/Souhegan) made it 21-7 in favor of the home team. The score came just one play after RPI’s Tim Frame (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) recovered a St. Lawrence fumble. Bernardo, a junior, put RPI on the board for a second time in the quarter when he ran to the right, cut back to the left and scampered in from 25-yards out with 1:51 remaining. Andrew Taranto’s (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) second point-after-kick of the day made it 28-7 at the end of the half, which saw Rensselaer gain 327 yards of total offense, including 233 through the air. St. Lawrence had 116 yards, including 60 passing.
The Engineers increased its lead to 35-7 on a 1-yard run from Bernardo with 7:25 remaining, capping an 8-play, 66-yard drive. St. Lawrence found the end zone three minutes later when Bezio and O’Donnell hooked up from 24 yards out with 4:11 left in the third quarter. The extra point was missed, making the score 35-13. The Saints gained possession of the ball after recovering a fumble – one of seven in the game – on the Rensselaer 27-yard line.
In addition to his 186 yards rushing, Bernardo also had four receptions for 54 yards. Branche finished with ten catches for 98 yards while McGowan had seven for 58 yards. Robertson completed 25-of-43 passes for 268 yards and one interception. The Engineers outgained St. Lawrence 484 yards to 216. Defensively, senior Grant Cochran (Kent, WA/Kent-Meridian) had a team-best 11 tackles, including eight unassisted and one for a loss of ten yards. Sophomore Tom Rayhill (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) added seven tackles, including five solos and one for a loss (1 yard), and he forced a fumble.
The Saints were led defensively by senior Jason Antin (Pepperall, MA/Acton-Boxborough), who had a game-high 12 tackles, including nine unassisted, 3.5 for lost yards (9), a one-yard sack and a pass breakup. Three others had nine tackles apiece. Offensively, Bezio was 13-for-35 for 157 yards and one interception. O’Donnell led SLU’s receivers with nine receptions with 133 yards while senior fullback Carl Althins (Ellicottville, NY/Ellicottville) led the ball carriers with 25 yards on four carries.
Rensselaer is idle next weekend and will return to action on Saturday, October 22, against Kings Point in a Liberty League game at ’86 Field (2pm). St. Lawrence is also off next week and will also return on October 22 when it plays at league foe Hobart (1pm).
