WORCESTER – Junior Julian Nyland (Melrose, MA) tossed three first-half touchdowns in WPI's 24-0 triumph over Catholic in NEWMAC football action Saturday afternoon inside Alumni Stadium.

It is the Engineers (4-2, 2-1) third shutout of the season and sixth in the last 17 games dating back to the beginning of the 2017 campaign.

Junior Sean McAllen (Prospect, CT) and Nyland teamed up for a 99-yard touchdown reception on the first WPI offensive play of the afternoon. Junior Nic Rossi (Howell, NJ) hauled in a 25-yard pass for the first TD of the second quarter with 11:25 on the scoreboard. With 6:12 left in the frame, junior Clark Ewen (Arlington, MA) capped a nine-play, 46-yard drive with an 8-yard scoring catch.

Senior Spencer Herrington (Clearfield, PA) converted all three PAT chances, and booteed a 26-yard field goal in the waning moments of the third quarter.

Catholic had a fourth-and-one at the six yard line toward the end of the first half; however, Junior Tim McQuade (Boylston, MA) and a swarm of Engineers made the stop for a five-yard loss, and the turnover on downs.

Nyland finished 22-37 with 232 yards while McAllen, who has 11 100-plus yard rushing games to his credit, hit triple digits for the first time in his career with exactly 100 receiving yards. Freshman Brandon Winn (Tewksbury, MA) led the rushers with 72 yards on 21 carries as Rossi followed McAllen with 71 yards on five catches.

Cardinal signal caller Brady Berger was 18-38 with 178 yards. Sophomore Chance LaGrand (Upper Marlboro, MD) paced the receivers with 67 yards and freshman Bryan Melara (Fredericksburg, VA) rolled up 72 yards on eight carries.

Senior Blayne Merchant (Sanderson, FL) and junior Nick Ostrowski (Charlton, MA) each made eight stops for the Crimson and Gray. Merchant's total included two-for loss as he, Junior Joe Kerkach (Ashland, MA), junior Carter McLellan (Huntersville, NC), and sophomore Tommy Feraco (Holden, MA) each logged a sack. Junior Sam Casey (Winchester, MA) forced a fumble and grabbed an interception while Ostrowski added a fumble recovery.

Freshman Rocco Longo (West Babylon, NY), freshman Tommy Antonucci (Manaaquan, NY), freshman Dieter Kerat (Springfield, VA) and senior Jake Marcelino (Pembroke, MA) all recorded six tackles for Catholic. Longo, Antonucci, sophomore Andrew Funaki (Fairfax, VA), sophomore Jake Ballard (Chester Springs, PA), freshman Erik Lightner (Jacksonville, FL), sophomore Zach Tucker (McLean, VA), junior Trevor Moore (Sparta, NJ) and sophomore Joe Lazzari (Laurel, MD) each posted a tackle-for loss. Freshman Dylan O'Brien (Fairfax Station, VA) chipped in with a forced fumble.

WPI had the 232-178 margin in passing yards and a 141-69 difference in rushing yards, and a 36:06-23:54 advantage in time of possession.

Charter Spectrum subscribers in Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire can watch the game again at 7pm on Channel 193. Subscribers in Northeast Connecticut can tune into channel 196, and Shrewsbury residents can see it on channel 15.

Both teams head into a bye week and return to action at 1pm on Saturday, October 20 as WPI travels to Merchant Marine and Catholic (0-6, 0-3) hosts Springfield.

The 1983 undefeated, untied team was honored during halftime (photo credit: Mark Seliger)