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TROY, N.Y. – Senior Joe Albano blocked field goal attempts on two straight Utica College possessions late in the fourth quarter and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team held off the Pioneers, 17-14, in a non-league game before a crowd of 2,212 at the East Campus Stadium.

With the homestanding Engineers holding a three-point advantage – thanks to a 33-yard fourth quarter touchdown run by freshman quarterback Mike Hermann (Hardeeville, SC/Avon Old Farms) – Utica attempted to tie the score on its final two possessions. The first field goal attempt came from 28 yards with 4:37 remaining but it was blocked by Albano (Dalton, MA/Wahconah Regional), who stands 6-4.

Following an RPI punt, the Pioneers moved the ball to the 13 yard line with under 30 seconds remaining. Once again Rensselaer's line-push allowed Albano the space to jump and block the kick to preserve the victory.

To improve to 2-0, RPI was forced to come back from a 14-3 halftime deficit. The Engineers pulled to within four points on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Hermann to junior Pat McCarthy (Strafford, NH/Spaulding) at 6:35 of the third quarter. Rensselaer was provided a short field thanks to a Utica fumble – one of three lost fumbles for the Pioneers.

RPI took the lead on Hermann's run to the left side, which culminated with him stretching over the goal line while being brought down by a Utica defender.

Utica (2-1) jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its first possession of the game with a 6-play, 78-yard drive that was finished by a 1-yard run by sophomore running back Zachary Jones (Blossvale, NY/Camden). Freshman Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) set up the Pioneers at the goal line with a 37-yard run on a quarterback keeper after an outstanding fake to the running back at the line of scrimmage.

RPI answered with a 29-yard field goal by senior Peter Nilson (Appleton, WI/Kimberly) with 1:00 left in the first quarter. Utica needed just 55 seconds to get its second touchdown, this one on a 68-yard completion from Benkwitt to Cody Elliott (Sloan, NY/John F. Kennedy) down the middle of the field.

Hermann finished with a team-high 88 yards rushing on 13 carries and 167 passing yards. He completed 15 of 30 attempts and was not intercepted. McCarthy caught six passes for 84 yards to pace the receivers. Defensively, senior linebacker Colin King (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) had a game-high 12 tackles, including five unassisted and a 3-yard loss, with a pass breakup. Albano, a defensive back, added five tackles (3 solos) and a fumble recovery.

For Utica, junior linebacker Travis Ladd (Mexico, NY/Mexico Academy) had 11 tackles, including six unassisted and one for a loss (3 yards). Offensively, Benkwitt was 16 of 27 for 247 yards and no interceptions. Elliott had seven receptions for 164 yards and Jones led the ground game with 76 yards.

RPI travels to WPI for its Liberty League opener next Saturday at 2pm. Utica hosts Ithaca College in the Empire 8 opener for both teams next Saturday at 1pm.