Box Score
Box Score

UTICA, N.Y. - The Rensselaer defense forced five turnovers, including on each of Utica's final four possessions, and the Engineers defeated the Pioneers, 24-10, in a non-league game at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  RPI improves to 2-0 while Utica is now 0-3.

Trailing 10-9 early in the fourth quarter, Rensselaer junior defensive back Justin Foglia (Watervliet, NY/Catholic Central) forced a William Northey (Sherburne, NY/Sherburne-Earlville) fumble on the RPI 6-yard line and recovered it himself to give the Engineers possession.

Following a Rensselaer punt, sophomore Darryl Brown (Hollis, NY/Bayside) recovered another Utica fumble, this one on the home team's 39-yard line.  RPI marched the 39 yards on seven plays, culminated with a 9-yard touchdown pass from senior Jimmy Robertson (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep.) to classmate Eren Savasli (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Tech.).  A successful two-point conversion gave the Engineers a 17-10 lead.

Utica's next possession ended after two plays on a Foglia interception and RPI made it 24-10 thanks to a 33-yard run by sophomore Nick Costa (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep.) with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.  An interception by junior Joe Albano (Dalton, MA/Wahconah) with 1:23 left in the second half - RPI's third of the day - finished the day for the Pioneers offense. 

Utica opened the game's scoring with an 18-yard field goal on its second drive and led, 3-0, after the first quarter.  Junior Peter Nilson (Appleton, WI/Kimberly) tied the game with a 23-yard field goal with two minutes remaining in the second quarter and the game was tied, 3-3, at halftime.

RPI, which had two turnovers of its own, earned its first lead of the contest, 9-3, on an 11-yard rush by Robertson with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter.

In addition to forcing five turnovers, the Engineers held the Pioneers to 252 total yards, including only 120 passing.  Foglia finished with six tackles (3 solos) to go with his two forced turnovers.  Senior Alex Kelsen (Marcellus, NY/Skaneateles) led all RPI defenders with seven tackles (3 solos), followed by Albano, who had six (5 solos), and Tom Montano (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville), who also had six (4 solos).

Offensively, Robertson connected on 22 of 31 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown.  He was intercepted once.  Sophomore Patrick McCarthy (Strafford, NH/Spaulding) caught a game-high 10 passes for 86 yards and Costa rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Utica saw Northey, a freshman, run for 98 yards while freshman quarterback Christian Bochicchio (Warsaw, NY/Notre Dame) completed 14 of 24 yards for 120 yards.  Junior linebacker Eric Kahl (Lockwood, NY/Spencer-Van Etten) led all players with 17 tackles, including eight unassisted and a 5-yard sack.

Rensselaer returns to action next Saturday when it hosts long-time rival WPI in the Transit Trophy Game at '86 Field (1pm).  The Pioneers next take the field on October 4 at Empire 8 foe Springfield (2pm).