TROY, N.Y. — The RPI football team remained unbeaten in Liberty League play with a 54-7 victory over St. Lawrence University this afternoon at East Campus Stadium. The Engineers scored 54 unanswered points after falling behind early and rolled up 599 yards of total offense to improve to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in conference action.
St. Lawrence opened the scoring following an RPI special teams turnover, but the Engineers answered on their ensuing possession. RPI marched 67 yards in nine plays, with
Kayden White finishing the drive on a one-yard touchdown run. The Engineers took the lead later in the opening quarter when
Micah Balzarini conaected with
Nate Ehui for a 55-yard touchdown to make it 13-7.
RPI extended its advantage with two more scoring drives in the second quarter. Balzarini capped an 88-yard possession with a six-yard touchdown pass to
Josh Young before finishing a 75-yard drive himself with a one-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the half, sending the Engineers into the break with a 26-7 advantage.
The Engineers continued to pull away with 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. Balzarini opened the half by completing a 12-play, 65-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run before White broke free for a 28-yard score to push the margin to 40-7.
Lance Hersh then intercepted a St. Lawrence pass, and RPI capitalized two plays later when Balzarini found
Grayson Hunter for a 42-yard touchdown.
Aidan Bekkenhuis recorded another interception early in the fourth quarter, setting up a 70-yard scoring drive that
Justin McCormack capped with a five-yard touchdown run to account for the final margin.
Joseph Rivera added RPI's third interception later in the quarter as the Engineers held St. Lawrence scoreless over the final three periods.
Balzarini led the RPI offense by completing 14 of 17 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns while adding two rushing scores. White rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while McCormack added 72 yards and a score on nine attempts. Ehui caught four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown, Hunter totaled 77 yards and a score on three receptions, and
Connor Cruz added a 52-yard reception. RPI finished with 340 passing yards and 259 rushing yards while converting nine of 11 third downs.
Defensively,
Joe Dechiaro led the Engineers with nine tackles, while
Owen Boland registered five stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
Gianluca Santarelli added five tackles, while Hersh, Bekkenhuis, and Rivera each recorded interceptions. RPI limited St. Lawrence to 148 total yards, including 78 through the air, and recorded three sacks while forcing three turnovers.
