Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) scored touchdowns on each of its first five possessions – all in the first quarter – and the Engineers went on to defeat Becker College, 56-6, in a non-league Division III football game at ’86 Field. With the victory, Rensselaer improves to 3-1, while Becker falls to 0-5.

Senior running back Jay Bernardo (East Greenbush, NY/LaSalle Institute) scored on runs of 39 and 13 yards to open the scoring before sophomore quarterback Jimmy Robertson (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep) found junior Brendan McGowan (Mesa, AZ/Mountainview) from 32 yards out for a 21-0 lead with 9:00 remaining in the opening frame.

Robertson then hit senior tight end Jon Branche (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) from four yards before McGowan scored on a 13-yard end around with 34 seconds left in the first. Senior Drew Taranto (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) added the extra point on each score for a 35-0 lead.

Becker got on the board when sophomore wide receiver Acie Johnson (Lynn, MA/Lynn English) made a diving catch in the end zone on a 13-yard pass from freshman quarterback Shane Swift (Worcester, MA/South). The Hawks scoring drive, which came in the second quarter, covered 80 yards on ten plays and 3:37 on the clock. The Engineers got the points back when sophomore running back Isaac Williams (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) scored from five yards out with 1:11 left in the first half. Brett Kebea’s (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) extra point put RPI ahead, 42-6, at halftime.

Freshman running back Jason Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota) gave the Engineers a 56-6 lead when he scampered in from six yards and then from 18 yards in the third quarter.

The Engineers finished with 295 yards rushing, including 104 and two touchdowns from Sgarlata and 87 yards and two scores from Bernardo. The RPI defense held Becker to –11 yards rushing to set a school record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a game. The previous record was –6 yards rushing allowed to Haverford in 1967.

Becker sophomore David Lebrun (Somerville, NY/Somverville) led all tacklers with 13 stops, including nine unassisted.

Rensselaer returns to the field next Saturday when it travels to Liberty League foe St. Lawrence for a 1pm kickoff. Becker hosts Galluadet next Saturday at 1pm.