Box Score

PITTSFORD, N.Y. - Sophomore wide receiver Brendan McGowan scored on a 47-yard pass from freshman quarterback Jimmy Robertson with just 1:48 left to give the Engineers a 26-22 come-from-behind victory over St. John Fisher in the ECAC Northwest Championship Bowl.  Rensselaer junior running back Jay Bernardo, who rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries, was named the game's Most Outstanding Player. 

With the win, RPI concludes the season with an 8-2 mark, giving the senior class a school record-tying 32 wins (32-10) in the past four seasons.  Also setting a new school standard was junior tight end Jon Branche, who had two touchdown receptions to become the school's all-time leader in career TD catches with 29.

Branche finished with ten receptions for 102 yards while Robertson completed 27-of-41 attempts for 243 yards and three scoring strikes.

Fisher jumped out to a 13-0 second quarter lead before Robertson and Branche connected form nine yards out with just 39 seconds left in the first half.  A nine-yard run by Bernardo tied the game at 5:23 of the third and Branche's record-breaking touchdown reception gave the Engineers their first lead at 12:58 of the fourth quarter.

St. John Fisher scored the next nine points, including a go ahead safety with 5:33 remaining in the fourth quarter but Robertson and McGowan hooked up for the game-winning touchdown.

Senior Grant Cochran (5 solos) and graduate student Jimmy Motzkin (4 solos) tied for the team lead with nine tackles apiece, followed by senior Honorio Borba, who had eight (4 solos).

Rensselaer is now 6-0 all-time in ECAC Championship Games.