TROY, N.Y. — The RPI football team suffered its first setback of the 2026 season this afternoon, falling 38-14 to Utica University, which is receiving votes in the latest AFCA national coaches poll. The Engineers battled to within six points at halftime before the Pioneers pulled away with 18 unanswered points after the break.
Utica opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal on its first possession, but RPI answered with an 11-play, 70-yard touchdown drive.
Micah Balzarini connected with
Josh Young for 22 yards to move the Engineers into Utica territory before
Kayden White carried three times for 26 yards over the final four plays, including a five-yard touchdown run that put RPI ahead 7-3.
The Pioneers responded with a 69-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Szalkowski to Tyshawn Taylor to regain the lead, then extended the margin to 17-7 early in the second quarter on a four-yard scoring pass from Szalkowski to Gabriel Zawolo.
RPI answered immediately with one of its most productive drives of the afternoon. Balzarini opened the possession with a 37-yard completion to
Connor Cruz before finding White for 16 yards on fourth down to move the Engineers into the red zone. Two plays later, Balzarini connected with
Nate Ehui for a 16-yard touchdown to pull RPI within 17-14.
The Engineers' defense came up with a key stop on Utica's next possession when
Matt Krauza sacked Szalkowski for a 14-yard loss on third down to force a punt. The Pioneers later capitalized on an RPI turnover deep in its own territory, but the defense held Utica to a 23-yard field goal to keep the Engineers within 20-14 entering halftime.
RPI opened the second half with an 11-play drive that crossed midfield before eventually punting. The Engineers remained within one score until late in the third quarter, when Utica took advantage of an interception and drove 40 yards for a one-yard Eze Frazier touchdown. A successful two-point conversion extended the Pioneers' advantage to 28-14.
Utica added a 27-yard field goal following a lengthy fourth-quarter possession before another interception gave the Pioneers the ball in RPI territory. Frazier scored his second touchdown of the afternoon two plays later on a six-yard run to account for the final margin.
White led the RPI offense with 76 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while adding four receptions for 34 yards.
Adrien Gurung added 36 yards on six carries and caught five passes, while Cruz finished with a team-high 68 receiving yards on four receptions. Balzarini completed 17 of 25 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively,
P.J. Poknis led all Engineers with 16 tackles, while
Luke Lavello finished with eight stops.
Aidan Bekkenhuis and
Owen Boland each recorded seven tackles, with Boland adding a tackle for loss. Krauza registered five tackles and a sack, while
Gianluca Santarelli totaled four stops, two tackles for loss, and a sack. RPI held Utica to just 34 rushing yards on 28 attempts and recorded six tackles for loss and two sacks.
