TROY, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football battled through four quarters and used an overtime touchdown from
Kayden White to secure a 30–24 victory over SUNY Brockport on Saturday afternoon at East Campus Stadium.
The Golden Eagles, who were receiving votes in the most recent AFCA national coaches poll, struck first with a 16-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter and extended their lead to 10–0 midway through the second with a field goal.
RPI responded quickly after a turnover, as
Thomas Mulvaney intercepted a pass and returned it 27 yards to set up the Eningeers at the Brockport 14-yard line. Just three plays later,
Anthony DeMatteo connected with White for an eight-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 10–7. The Engineers tied the game in the seconds before halftime when Aleks Maric drilled a career-long 41-yard field goal.
Momentum swung in the third quarter when DeMatteo found tight end
Josh Young for a 77-yard touchdown strike, giving RPI its first lead at 17–10. Brockport tied the game early in the fourth, but the Engineers answered with a three-yard scoring run from White to regain the advantage. The Golden Eagles pulled even again on a short touchdown pass with just over five minutes left in regulation, and a late RPI interception by
Luke Lavello at the 1-yard line helped preserve the deadlock and force overtime.
In the extra session, the Engineers' defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs after Brockport stalled on its overtime opportunity. RPI then needed only two plays to finish the contest, as DeMatteo hit Young for a 10-yard gain before White broke through the line for a 15-yard touchdown run.
White finished with 52 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns, including two on the ground and one through the air. DeMatteo completed 13 of 24 passes for 236 yards and two scores, spreading completions to four different receivers. Young led all pass-catchers with four receptions for 106 yards, while
Paisley Nickelson added three catches for 83 yards. Defensively,
Miles Lafferty and
Owen Boland each tallied 11 tackles, while Mulvaney and Lavello recorded interceptions that set up RPI scores.
RPI will be back home next Saturday to host Liberty League rival Rochester at 1:00 pm.
