Kings Point, NY --- WPI football led early but host Merchant Marine used a dominant rushing effort to earn a 34-14 NEWMAC victory Saturday afternoon at Tomb Field. The Engineers fell to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in conference play, while the Mariners improved to 6-2 and 4-2.
WPI struck first late in the opening quarter when
Jack Schuck (Bangor, ME) connected with
Garrett Ranieri (Templeton, MA) for a 26-yard touchdown to finish a three-play, 36-yard drive.
Nathan Napier (Natick, MA) converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead that stood after one quarter of play.
Merchant Marine responded early in the second as
Bubba Mustain (Oro Valley, AZ) hit
Sonny Endicott (Colorado Springs, CO) on a 41-yard scoring strike to even the score. The Engineers regained the lead just three minutes later when
Tom McGraw (Portsmouth, RI) powered in from 12 yards out to complete an 83-yard march.
The Mariners tied the game again on a 46-yard touchdown run from
Seamus Bonte (Westerville, OH) before taking their first lead with 54 seconds left in the half on a
Mustain-to-Caleb Callahan (Poulsbo, WA) 23-yard connection, sending USMMA into the break ahead 21-14.
Merchant Marine controlled possession after halftime. The hosts extended their lead with a 21-play, 83-yard drive capped by a two-yard keeper from Mustain midway through the third quarter, then sealed the outcome early in the fourth when the junior quarterback ran in from three yards out to complete a 92-yard drive.
Schuck finished 11-of-21 passing for 131 yards and a touchdown for WPI.
Josh Castro (Pittsburgh, PA) made three catches for 50 yards, while McGraw added 22 rushing yards and one score.
Carter Learned (Reading, MA) anchored the WPI defense with a game-high 19 tackles and an interception.
Nate Ambrad (Wakefield, RI) added 12 tackles, and
Jake Robertson (Grafton, MA) chipped in nine stops.
Mustain accounted for 280 total yards and four touchdowns for the Mariners, throwing for 94 yards and two scores while adding 186 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Bonte contributed 92 rushing yards and one touchdown as Merchant Marine totaled 394 yards on 64 carries and held the ball for more than 40 minutes.
Aidan Graham (Allen, TX) led the Mariners' defense with six tackles, while
Chase Laux (Oro Valley, AZ) and
Trent Sterner (North Kingstown, RI) each added four stops.
WPI concludes its season next Saturday, November 15, with a noon home matchup against Salve Regina. Merchant Marine faces Coast Guard that same day in the 45th Annual Secretaries' Cup at Fenway Park in Boston.
