TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete George Marinopoulos has been selected as the Offensive Performer of the Week in football by the Liberty League, it has been revealed. Also announced is the inclusion of the Engineers in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Coaches' Top 25 Poll, entering at No. 25. It is the first time this season the team has been listed.

A graduate student, Marinopolous (Slingerlands, NY / Guilderland) led RPI to its fifth win to start the season by connecting on 25 of 37 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-22 victory over the University of Rochester in the first conference game for both teams. He completed passes to nine different receivers and had scoring strikes to three teammates. He found senior D.J. Palmer (Hart, CA / Hart) for a 12-yard touchdown on the Engineers' first series of the game and the two hooked up again in the third quarter, this time from 13 yards out, for a 24-14 lead. Marinopolous also had a 15-yard touchdown throw to classmate Vinnie McDonald (Elmont, NY / Elmont Memorial) in the second quarter (17-14) and a 19-yarder to junior Deen Ninche (Pinebrook, NJ / Montville Township) in the third quarter for a 31-14 lead.

Marinopolous was also named the Offensive Performer of the Week last week after he was successful on 21 of 25 passes for 252 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Engineers to a 41-7 victory over St. John Fisher College. He found 10 different receivers and had first half TD passes of 8, 10, 24, 9 and 1 yards to help RPI to a 34-0 halftime advantage.

He has now completed 108 of 168 pass attempts (64.29%) for 1,261 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has been intercepted three times and boasts a rating of 155.19.

Rensselaer, which is coached by Ralph Isernia, is off to a 5-0 start for the second time in three seasons (2018). It began the year with home wins against Montclair State University (21-20) and Stevenson University (14-10) before claiming the Transit Trophy at WPI (24-10).

Offensively, the Engineers average 27.6 points and 366.8 yards, including 256.0 through the air. The opposition, meanwhile, has managed 13.8 points and 245.4 yards per contest with 138.8 coming on passing plays.

RPI, which received 50 points from the coaches in this week's poll, concludes a three-game home stretch on Saturday when it hosts Buffalo State College in a conference matchup at East Campus Stadium at noon.