Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Throggs Neck, NY --- Nathan Napier (Natick, MA) connected on four field goals, including makes from 53 and 55 yards, while WPI scored touchdowns on each of its first two possessions en route to a 36-12 NEWMAC victory over NY Maritime on Saturday afternoon at Reinhart Field. The Engineers improved to 5-2 overall (3-1 NEWMAC), while Maritime slipped to 2-6 (0-5 NEWMAC).
 
Napier highlighted the afternoon for the Crimson and Gray, going a perfect 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts with makes from 20, 53, 55 and 44 yards. He twice broke his career and WPI long, first connecting from 53 yards as time expired in the first half before bettering that mark with a 55-yarder in the fourth quarter. Both surpassed his previous  best of 50 yards, set on a game-winning kick as time expired against the University of New England earlier this season.
 
Also for WPI, Dylan Gallo (Maynard, MA) completed 12-of-18 passes for 194 yards without an interception and also led WPI on the ground with 59 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Andrew Kanakor (Lowell, MA) added 36 yards and a score on eight attempts, while Jeff Quigley (Peabody, MA) rushed for 28 yards and Josh Macomber (Bethel, CT) totaled 27 yards and a touchdown.
 
Elliot Caswell (Northfield, VT) provided WPI's biggest play through the air with a 63-yard reception, while Garrett Ranieri (Templeton, MA) caught two passes for 46 yards. Quigley hauled in a team-high four receptions for 35 yards, with Justin Mather (Middleboro, MA) adding a 25-yard catch and Ethan Frisch (Clinton, MA) contributing a 17-yard reception.
 
Johnny Cacace (Watertown, MA) paced the WPI defense with nine tackles, while Pat Andrews (Marlboro, MA) totaled eight stops, including two tackles for loss. Owen Matthews (Milford, MA) added seven tackles and Jake Robertson (Grafton, MA) finished with six. Kellen LaChapelle (Uxbridge, MA) recorded an interception, Andrew Zipko (Rocky Mount, NC) recovered a fumble and Grant Engelhardt (Chelmsford, MA) broke up two passes in addition to returning a failed conversion attempt for two points.
 
For NY Maritime, Liam Fernandez (Bradenton, FL) completed 12-of-17 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Jaden Rotella (Mt. Sinai, NY) went 3-for-11 for 12 yards. Enrique Hernandez (Northport, NY) led the Privateers with seven receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Gianni Spinelli (Holtsville, NY) rushed for 40 yards and caught five passes for 27 yards and a score. Dennis Matich (Floral Park, NY) led the hosts defensively with eight tackles, followed by Luca Siebert (Warwick, NY) with seven and Danny Latimer (Montgomery, NY) with six.
 
WPI wasted little time taking control. On the first play from scrimmage, Gallo connected with Caswell for 63 yards to the Maritime two-yard line. Gallo took it in himself on the next play, giving the Engineers a 7-0 advantage just 1:19 into the contest.
 
After forcing a three-and-out, the Crimson and Gray marched 70 yards in six plays on their next possession. Gallo found Ranieri for a 40-yard gain to the Maritime 10 before Macomber finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 14-0.
 
The Privateers answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive as Fernandez connected with Hernandez for a 29-yard touchdown. WPI picked up two more points on the ensuing conversion attempt when Engelhardt recovered a fumble and returned it the other way, giving the Engineers a 16-6 advantage after one quarter.
 
Napier drilled a 20-yard field goal early in the second quarter to stretch the WPI lead to 19-6. Maritime responded later in the period when Fernandez found Spinelli for a 17-yard touchdown, cutting the margin to 19-12 with 2:44 remaining.
 
WPI closed the half with a quick scoring drive in the final 18 seconds. Gallo completed passes to Quigley for gains of six and 15 yards, setting up Napier for a 53-yard field goal as time expired and sending the Engineers into the locker room with a 22-12 advantage.
 
The WPI defense kept Maritime off the scoreboard throughout the second half and added two points of its own early in the third quarter. Cole Dillon (Billerica, MA) dropped Spinelli for a three-yard loss at the Maritime seven before Fernandez was tackled in the end zone on the following play for a safety, extending the advantage to 24-12.
 
Zipko recovered a Fernandez fumble at the Maritime 11 later in the quarter, and the Engineers needed just two plays to capitalize. Kanakor carried for four yards before breaking off a seven-yard touchdown run to make it 30-12 with 8:30 remaining in the third.
 
Napier provided the only scoring of the fourth quarter, drilling a 55-yard field goal with 7:09 remaining before adding a 44-yarder with 2:01 to play to account for the final margin.
 
WPI returns home next Saturday on Halloween to host Merchant Marine in NEWMAC action at noon at H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium. Maritime will travel to MIT for a noon conference matchup the same day.