WORCESTER -- Behind a dominant ground game and a pair of takeaways that led directly to touchdowns, visiting Springfield defeated WPI 24-10 on Friday night at Alumni Stadium. The Engineers fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in NEWMAC play, while the Pride improved to 4-2 and stayed unbeaten in conference action at 3-0.
 
Springfield broke open a 10-3 halftime lead with two quick strikes in the third quarter. After Nick Gonzalez (Parsippany, NJ) intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards to the WPI 17, Stanford Davis (Montague, NJ) capped the short drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Minutes later, another interception by Ty Paladino (Cross River, NY) set the Pride up at the four-yard line, and quarterback TJ Welch (Shrewsbury, MA) powered in from a yard out to make it 24-3 with 6:02 left in the quarter.
 
WPI got on the board again late, when Tom McGraw (Portsmouth, RI) plunged in from a yard out to finish off a two-play, two-yard drive following a Springfield fumble that was recovered by Patrick Andrews (Marlboro, MA). Nathan Napier (Natick, MA) added the extra point for the final margin.
 
The Pride opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a 35-yard field goal from Ian Wernik (Plymouth, MA) and doubled the lead early in the second when Welch capped an 84-yard drive with a 4-yard rushing score. The Engineers answered just before halftime with a 23-yard Napier field goal to trail 10-3 at the break.
 
For WPI, Jack Schuck (Bangor, ME) went 18-of-35 for 100 yards, with Josh Castro (Pittsburgh, PA) and Ty Csencsits (Hellertown, MA) tallying five and four receptions respectively. McGraw added the Engineers' lone touchdown. Defensively, Carter Learned (Reading, MA) paced WPI with eight tackles, followed by Nate Ambrad (Wakefield, RI) with seven and Andrews, Cole Dillon (Billerica, MA), and Michael Doherty (Woburn, MA) with six apiece.

Springfield controlled possession for more than 38 minutes, racking up 255 rushing yards. Davis led the way with 119 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, while Welch added 81 yards and two scores on 23 attempts. Luke Zoller (Burnt Hills, NY) broke off a 41-yard run to set up the first-half touchdown. On defense, Gonzalez and Paladino each had interceptions, while Justin Smith (Cambria Heights, NY), Aaziah Scott (Savannah, GA), and Tyler Sordillo (Hull, MA) each recorded sacks.
 
Up next, WPI will host NY Maritime next Saturday at noon, while Springfield returns home to face Merchant Marine at the same time.