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TROY, N.Y. – Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) scored 17 second half points while holding Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to just three points after halftime and the visiting Engineers captured the Transit Trophy for the first time in 14 years with a 24-10 win at East Campus Stadium. WPI improves to 3-1 and RPI falls to 1-2. The game was the Liberty League opener for both teams.

WPI snapped its 13-game losing streak to RPI and captured its first Transit Trophy since 1996 behind 129 yards rushing and a touchdown by junior running back Ernie Mello (Wilmington, MA/Wilmington). As a team the Engineers ran for 243 yards and held a 335-211 advantage in total offense.

The visitors opened the scoring on the first drive of the game when Mello plunged in from a yard out to cap an 8-play, 68-yard series that took four minutes. The highlight was a 32-yard run by Mello that brought WPI to the RPI 12-yard line.

Rensselaer had an excellent opportunity to tie the game on WPI's next drive when a sack by Justin Hasselkus (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) led to a fumble, which was picked up by an RPI teammate. However, WPI forced a fumble on the same play and recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchback.

Rensselaer did tie the game in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Mike Hermann (Hardeesville, SC/Avon Old Fams) connected with senior Pat McCarthy (Strafford, NH/Spaulding) in the back corner of the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown on a third down play. A 22-yard pass from Hermann to Steven Burpoe (Saranac Lake, NY/Saranac Lake) set up RPI inside the 5-yard line.

WPI regained the lead with a 25-yard field goal by Cody Beckel (Jupiter, FL/Vandermeulen) and extended its advantage with a 10-yard touchdown pass from junior Pat McAuley (Hingham, MA/Hingham) to classmate Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA/Middleboro) with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

RPI's Peter Nilson (Appleton, WI/Kimberly) made a 33-yard field goal to pull the home team to within seven points, 17-10, at 10:41 of the fourth quarter but WPI sealed the win with an 8-yard run by Aaron Champagne (Fairfield, ME/Fairfield) with just over five minutes remaining.

Mello carried 19 times to lead WPI, while Champagne added 64 rushing yards on 15 carries. McAuley completed 9 of 17 passes for 92 yards with no interceptions. He also ran for 21 yards. Defensively for the Engineers, senior Graham Leto (Grafton, MA/Grafton) had a team-best nine tackles, including eight unassisted, with a fumble recovery.

RPI senior Colin King (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) led all tacklers with 13 stops, including 13 solos. Fellow linebacker Jeff McCormick (Schodack, NY/Columbia) had 11 tackles (6 solos). Hermann completed 17 of 32 attempts for 142 yards with no interceptions. He also gained a team-best 29 yards. McCarthy had six catches for 61 yards.

Rensselaer is on the road next Saturday, traveling to league foe Rochester for a noon start. WPI hosts Union in a Liberty League contest next Saturday at 1pm.