WPI 52, Becker 0
Box
Score
Leicester, MA --- Sophomore running back Ernie
Mello (Wilmington, MA) had three touchdowns, while
quarterbacks Mike Swanton (Foxboro, MA) and
Pat McAuley (Hingham, MA) combined for 174 yards
rushing and three scores, to spark visiting WPI to a 52-0 victory
in non-conference college football action.
The victory was the Engineers' second straight shutout and improves
their record to 3-0. Becker dips to 0-3 on the young season.
The visitors scored their only touchdown of the first quarter, when
Mello rumbled in from one yard out with 2:57 remaining. WPI struck
quickly to build its lead in the second quarter with Swanton
scoring two rushing TDs in a three minute span to put the Engineers
up 21-0. Aaron Champagne's (Fairfield, ME)
17-yard gallop five minutes late gave the Crimson and Gray a 28-0
halftime advantage.
The Engineers tacked on a three third quarter touchdowns with Mello
and McAuley each amassing a rushing score before the two combined
on a nifty 52-yard touchdown strike. Cody Beckel
(Jupiter, FL) added a 30-yard field goal for the only score of the
fourth quarter.
Brendan Gove (Rutland, MA),
Tom Thackeray (Braintree, MA) and Michael
Oliveri (Milford, MA) all registered eight tackles, with
Gove collecting a pair of sacks, three tackles for a loss and a
forced fumble. Seniors Craig Kennedy (Seekonk, MA)
and Todd LeClerc (Middleton, MA) both notched
interceptions, while classmate Justin Deveau
(Lowell, MA) was credited with two tackles for loss, including a
sack.
WPI enjoyed a 556-175 advantage in total
yards and gained an impressive 391 yards on the ground on 44
carries, for an average of 8.9 yards per carry.
Combined with last week's 25-0
blanking of Worcester State, the Engineers have now registered
consecutive shutouts for the first time in this decade.
Jimmy Chery (Malden, MA)
and Johnattan Rivera (Dracut, MA) combined for 113
rushing yards for the Hawks.
WPI returns to action next Saturday when
they host RPI in the 103rd Annual Transit Trophy Game at 2pm.
Becker returns to action on Saturday for a 4pm tilt with Hartwick
College.
Story Courtesy Becker College Sports
Information
