TROY, N.Y. — The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team opened its 2026 season with a 35-7 victory over WPI in the Transit Trophy Game this afternoon at East Campus Stadium. The Engineers scored 21 unanswered points after halftime to pull away and secure the rivalry trophy.
RPI struck first on its opening possession, marching 73 yards in seven plays before
Micah Balzarini connected with
Nate Ehui for a 40-yard touchdown to give the Engineers a 7-0 advantage. The RPI defense kept WPI off the board throughout the opening quarter before
Aidan Bekkenhuis intercepted a pass at the RPI four-yard line to halt a 17-play WPI drive midway through the second quarter.
The Engineers answered with a 96-yard scoring drive, capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Balzarini to
Josh Young to extend the lead to 14-0. WPI responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Gallo to Dante Atwood with seven seconds remaining before halftime to cut the RPI advantage to 14-7.
RPI's defense took control after the break, as
Matt Krauza sacked Gallo and recovered the ensuing fumble early in the third quarter before
Jonathan Walker delivered the game's biggest defensive play later in the period, intercepting Gallo and returning it 66 yards for a touchdown to push RPI ahead 21-7. The Engineers added another score late in the quarter when
Kayden White finished a five-play, 70-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. The possession was highlighted by a 32-yard completion from Balzarini to
Robbie Peterson and a 30-yard connection with Young.
RPI put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter. Balzarini found Ehui for a 52-yard gain to the WPI one-yard line before White powered into the end zone on the following series for his second touchdown of the afternoon, extending the margin to 35-7.
Balzarini completed eight of 17 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, averaging 13 yards per attempt.
Ehui led the receiving corps with four catches for 127 yards and a touchdown, including receptions of 40 and 52 yards. Young added two catches for 48 yards and a score, while Peterson hauled in a 32-yard reception. White paced the ground game with 79 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries as the Engineers totaled 315 yards of offense while averaging 7.9 yards per play.
Defensively,
Joe Dechiaro led RPI with 14 tackles, while
P.J. Poknis registered 11 stops and three tackles for loss.
Jack Chappa recorded two sacks, and
Gianluca Santarelli contributed three tackles for loss and a half-sack. Krauza finished with five tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, while Bekkenhuis and Walker each recorded interceptions. The Engineers totaled 15 tackles for loss and five sacks while forcing three WPI turnovers and limiting the visitors to just 26 rushing yards on 34 attempts.
