Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) defense held Utica College to 131 yards and no points as the Engineers defeated the Pioneers, 24-0, in a Divison III non-league game at ’86 Field. RPI improves to 2-0 while Utica falls to 1-2.

The Engineers defense held the Pioneers to 31 yards rushing and 100 yards passing, led by senior linebacker Tom Rayhill (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island). He finished with a team-best eight tackles, including four tackles, two for lost yards (3) and a fumble recovery.

Offensively RPI was led by junior quarterback Jimmy Robertson (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep), who completed 21 passes on 36 attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Robertson became the third Engineer to pass the 5,000-yard mark in his career, joining Dan Cole and Matt Robbens.

The Engineers jumped in front 14-0 with touchdown passes on its first two possessions. On the first, Robertson found sophomore Mike Fil (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) in the front, right corner of the end zone from 30 yards out. Robertson then hooked up with senior Brendan McGowan (Mesa, AZ/Mountain View) on a 44-yard pass play with 38 seconds left in the opening quarter.

RPI held a 247-59 advantage through the first half, including 201-30 in passing. Robertson was 13 for 16 with 201 yards and his two scoring passes through the first two quarters.

There was no scoring in the third quarter but in the fourth quarter, freshman kicker Nick Lalumia (Maywood, NJ/St. Peters Prep) connected on a 32-yard field goal to give RPI a 17-0 lead. Later in the quarter freshman Bob Munier (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) scored his first career touchdown with a 15-yard scamper to end the scoring.

Munier finished with 35 yards rushing on six carries while Isaac Williams (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) rushed for 84 yards on 24 attempts. McGowan finished with eight catches for 122 yards while junior Eren Savasli (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Tech) had five catches for 96 yards.

For Utica, quarterback Greg Pinelli (Bristol, PA/Bristol) was 18 for 30 with 100 yards and one interception.

Rensselaer returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Hobart College for a game at 1pm at Boswell Field. The game, which will be shown on Time Warner Cable on a tape delay basis (3:30pm), will be the Liberty League opener for both. Utica is idle next weekend.