WORCESTER, Mass. — Behind a balanced offensive effort and a disruptive defensive performance, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team claimed its fifth consecutive Transit Trophy with a 26–9 victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) tonight at H. Carr Field.
RPI struck early when
Kayden White capped the opening drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Later in the first quarter, Aleks Maric connected on a 30-yard field goal to extend the Engineers' lead to 10–0. In the second quarter, RPI delivered one of the game's biggest plays as quarterback
Anthony DeMatteo found White down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown strike. White added his third score of the evening in the third quarter, plunging in from two yards out after RPI's defense set up the short field with an interception. Maric sealed the scoring with a 38-yard field goal midway through the fourth, giving the Engineers a 26–3 advantage before WPI managed a late touchdown on the final play of the game.
White finished with 158 total yards, rushing for 89 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries while adding the long scoring reception. DeMatteo completed 13 of 22 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball to six different receivers, with
Gage Swanger leading the wideouts with 43 yards on two catches. The defense played a central role in the win, limiting WPI to just 42 rushing yards on 21 attempts while recording five sacks.
Luke Connolly delivered one of the game's key moments with a third-quarter interception returned 29 yards to set up White's second rushing score, and
Matt Krauza paced the Engineers with seven tackles. T.J. Smith added six stops, including a sack, while Chadwick and
Owen Boland also notched 1.5 sacks each.
Special teams contributed as well, with Maric hitting both of his field goal attempts and
Cassius Johnson posting 72 yards on a pair of kick returns. Overall, RPI controlled the contest on both sides of the ball, compiling 315 yards of offense while holding WPI to just 227 and forcing two turnovers to secure the rivalry trophy once again.
The Engineers will next challenge Utica College in a 6:00 pm road contest next Saturday night.
