Box Score

CANTON, N.Y. - St. Lawrence scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to overcome a big deficit and the Saints held off Rensselaer, 42-38, in a Liberty League contest.  SLU, which fought off an RPI 1st-and-goal after taking the lead, improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the league.  RPI, which got 200 yards rushing from senior running back Jay Bernardo, falls to 3-2 and 0-2. 

Trailing 42-38 with 3:31 left in the game, the Engineers orchestrated a nine-play, 57-yard drive that gave them a first and goal from the Saints nine yard line and a chance to win the game. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Robertson rushed for four yards on first down but the Engineers were whistled for a false start on second down, moving them back to the ten yard line. On the following play, Saints defenders Jordan Burger and Gerard Bryant brought RPI running back Jay Bernardo down in the backfield for a four yard loss. An incomplete third down pass set up the game-deciding fourth down play, a pass that went incomplete in the end zone. 

The Saints scored 21 unanswered points to rally from a 28-7 halftime deficit. On their second drive of the third quarter, they struck quickly, scoring on a four-play 42-yard drive that took only 1:59. RPI however, responded on their ensuing possession with a 36-yard field goal by Drew Taranto, putting them up 31-14 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

On the next drive, Saints quarterback Matt Bezio hit tight end Brett Young, who led the Saints with 7 catches for 111 yards, for an eight yard touchdown pass. With 14:19 left in the game, the Saints trailed 31-21.

The Engineers continued the scoring trend when Robertson completed a four yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brendan McGowan, putting RPI up 38-21 with 12:09 left in the game.

That is when the Saints rattled off 21 straight points. The Saints marched 63 yards in 11 plays, including nine passes, on their next drive. Bezio capped the drive off with an 11 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Lassial, tightening the score to 38-28 with 9:30 left.

The Saints defense came up with perhaps the biggest play of the game just two plays later. Linebacker Ryan McConville intercepted Robertson at the RPI 24 yard line and returned it for a touchdown, putting the Saints within one score.

Trailing 38-35, the Saints defense held the Engineers on the next series, setting up the offense for a game-winning opportunity as Bezio lofted a pass to Mike O’Donnell in the corner of the end zone.