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ALFRED, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) defense forced seven turnovers, including six interceptions, and the Engineers doubled up No. 25 Alfred University, 30-15, in a non-league football game at Yunevich Stadium. The win was the second straight for RPI, which improves to 5-2. The Saxons fall for the second straight week, dropping to 5-2.

Six different student-athletes had interceptions for the Engineers, who registered their most picks in a game since 1995 when they had six at St. John Fisher College. The school record is seven interceptions in a game, which happened three times. The most recent was 2003 at Hartwick College.

Rensselaer's run defense was also strong as it held the Saxons to 77 net yards on 20 carries, an average of 3.9 per attempt. 

Junior defensive back Rory McCarthy led the Engineers with nine tackles (4 solo) with an interception. Senior Sam Barrett added an interception with a 50-yard return for a touchdown, DJ Stefonsky had a pick with an 85-yard return, while Oliver Kaija, Jack Hoggard and Sean Egan also had interceptions. Hoggard, a linebacker, also had a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and two tackles. Fellow linebacker Brandt Beck added eight stops (3 solo).

Offensively, the Engineers rushed for 139 yards with 11 different players carrying the ball. Senior Ethan Wells had a team-high 34 yards on nine carries. Under center, freshman George Marinopoulos completed 10 of 14 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. He was not intercepted. Junior Keaton Ackermann had four receptions for 55 yards and a 25-yard touchdown.

Hoggard got things started for RPI's defense when he intercepted a pass on Alfred's first drive at midfield. The Saxons did take the lead on their next possession, 7-0, as Nasir Smith scored on a 7-yard run midway through the first quarter.

RPI answered with a season-long 44-yard field goal from Christian Kapp on its ensuing possession. Kapp, a senior, finished 3 for 3 on field goals and 3 for 3 on point-after-touchdowns. He also kicked off seven times for 443 yards with five touchbacks.

Kapp's field goal was the start of 30 straight points for Rensselaer, who notched three points in the second quarter, 14 in the second and 10 in the third for a 30-7 lead. 

A 30-yard field goal from Kapp made it 7-6 before Marinopoulos found Ackermann immediately after Kaija's interception, which came on the first play of the second half. Hoggard ended Alfred's next possession with a fumble recovery and Barrett made it a 14-6 lead with his interception return for a score. 

Stefonsky's interception came in the end zone on the next drive for the Saxons and Nick Cella finished the 15-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run. Following an Egan pick on Alfred's next possession, Kapp added a 26-yard field goal for a 30-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter. 

The Saxons added a 9-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Morrison to Kenny Speed with 1:09 left and a successful 2-point conversion ended the scoring.

Morrison finished 26 for 44 for 308 yards with a touchdown and six interceptions. Maleke Fuentes rushed for a team-high 61 yards on eight carries and Jayden Gavidia had 11 receptions for 192 yards. A.J. LiCata had a game-high 18 tackles, including seven unassisted and three for lost yards (6).