WORCESTER -- Lockdown defense and a pair of second quarter scores from Mike Ingraffia (Kings Park, NY) led the WPI football team to a 14-0 win over visiting Norwich on Saturday afternoon's NEWMAC opener at Alumni Field. The win lifts the Engineers to 3-1 (1-0 NEWMAC) on the season, while the Cadets dip to 0-4 (0-1 NEWMAC).
 
The WPI defense held Norwich to just 82 yards on the ground and 86 in the air, picking up three interceptions.  It was the first shutout for the Crimson and Gray since Week 4 of the 2022 season when the Boynton Hillers blanked Montclair State 10-0.  The Engineers' offense averaged 4.47 yards per play but only found the endzone twice. However, the two scores and a late goal-line stop handed WPI its third win of the season and first against a conference opponent.
 
Ingraffia finished 10-of-16 through the air for 104 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 53 yards and a touchdown. Jay Mezzo (Naugatuck, CT) was the top target, making three catches for 60 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown reception. John Chau (Suffern, NY) led the ground game, rushing 15 times for 83 yards with a long of 24 yards.
 
Defensively for WPI, Gavin Chieff (Bernardsville, NJ) recorded eight total tackles, including one for loss, while grabbing an interception. Frankie Polito (Shrewsbury, MA) contributed seven tackles and a sack, while Ryan Hannigan (Needham, MA) and Nate Russell (South Windsor, CT) each had interceptions.
 
The Bob Pritchard Homecoming Offensive MVP was Ingraffia while Chieff took home the Pritchard Homecoming Offensive MVP award.

For Norwich, Aidan Sullivan (Eliot, ME) completed 16 of 26 passes for 82 yards with three interceptions. Will Thornton (Cape Elizabeth, ME) was his top target, catching seven passes for 49 yards. Jehric Hackney (Jericho, VT) was the leading rusher for Norwich, carrying the ball 15 times for 77 yards.
 
Defensively for Norwich, Corey Stone (Piscataway, NJ) and Shayne Leddy (Spring Lake, NJ) each recorded 10 total tackles, with Leddy also contributing one tackle for loss. Simon Taraska (Willowick, OH) added seven tackles, including one for a loss of 10 yards. AJ Aldrich (White River Junction, VT) recorded a sack while Stone had a pass break-up.
 
In a defensive first half, WPI and Norwich traded stops and turnovers before the Engineers gained momentum late. WPI opened with a promising drive, but a false start and incomplete pass forced a punt. The Cadets responded with their own drive, but Polito recorded a sack to stall Norwich's offense.

WPI finally broke through on the first play of the second quarter when Ingraffia hit Mezzo for a 46-yard touchdown on a fourth-down pass. The play capped a short four-play, 54-yard drive, giving the Engineers a 7-0 lead. WPI extended their lead just before halftime when Ingraffia capped a 61-yard drive with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Engineers up 14-0.
 
The third quarter was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find momentum. Norwich's Sullivan completed a few short passes but was held in check by WPI's defense. WPI's offense also stalled, with Ingraffia's 4th-down pass falling incomplete and a later drive ending in a sack by Norwich's Aldrich.
 
In the fourth quarter, Norwich drove all the way down to WPI's one-yard line, but the Engineers' defense stood firm, denying the Cadets on four consecutive plays to preserve their lead. WPI then ran down the clock to seal the victory.
 
Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Saturday, October 5. WPI heads to Springfield for a noon start and Norwich hosts Maritime College at 1pm.