TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team prevailed in the Dutchman Shoes Trophy Game at Union College in dramatic fashion on Saturday, thus earning the Liberty League championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA Playoffs. Two student-athletes who played a major role in the 19-17 victory have been chosen by the conference for weekly awards. Junior defensive back Jimmy Leblo captured Defensive Performer of the Week and senior kicker Trevor Bisson has been named the Special Teams Performer of the Week.

Leblo (Brick, NJ / Brick Township) led the Engineers in solo tackles with six and total stops with eight while also recovering an onside kick with less than 30 seconds to play to give Rensselaer one more possession. RPI subsequently scored with no time remaining for the victory. Leblo, who also forced a fumble that was recovered by the Engineers, but was negated due to a penalty, and the defense held the Dutchmen to only 59 yards passing and 178 yards of total offense.

In nine games this season, the mechanical engineering major has 33 tackles, including 20 unassisted. Leblo also has an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.

A computer science major, Brisson (Baton Rouge, LA / Episcopal) was 2 for 2 on field goals, including a 36-yarder with no time remaining, while playing his first collegiate football game following an All-American soccer career. He was also successful on a 26-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter that pulled the Engineers to within one score (17-10) on a drive immediately following a Dutchmen touchdown. Bisson was also 1 for 1 on point-after-touchdown attempts and he kicked off twice, averaging 59.5 yards per attempt with one touchback.

The 2021 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year in soccer, Bisson played 71 career games on the pitch, scoring 17 goals with one assist. Eight of his goals were game-winners, including two of his six during the 2019 season when he was named a National All-American defender by the United Soccer Coaches.

Rensselaer's football team, which is coached by Ralph Isernia, travels to Endicott College for the first round of the NCAA Playoffs on Saturday at noon. It is the seventh straight season (2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) the Engineers are in the post-season with three of those being in the national tournament (2017, 2018, 2021).