WORCESTER --
Dylan Gallo (Maynard, MA) threw three touchdown passes and WPI scored in all three phases as the Engineers rolled past Norwich, 45-19, Saturday afternoon at H.Carr Field. The Crimson and Gray improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the NEWMAC, while the Cadets slipped to 1-3 and 0-2.
WPI wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as
Jeff Quigley (Peabody, MA) returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown just 12 seconds into the contest. Norwich answered with a pair of field goals from Zack Zegarra, but the Engineers regained control before halftime as Gallo connected with
Dante Atwood (Newton, MA) for an 85-yard touchdown and later found
Ethan Frisch (Clinton, MA) for a five-yard score.
Nathan Napier (Natick, MA) added a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, sending WPI into the locker room with a 24-6 advantage.
Gallo completed 14-of-19 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns, with Atwood leading the receiving corps with three catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Dylan Dipietro (Oxford, MA) added two receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown, while Frisch finished with two catches for 10 yards and a score. WPI finished with 448 yards of total offense, including 302 through the air and 146 on the ground.
The Engineers continued to add to their lead early in the second half when
Kellen LaChapelle (Uxbridge, MA) returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown. Gallo then connected with Dipietro on a 39-yard touchdown later in the quarter to push the advantage to 38-6. Norwich answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass from
Landon Beecher (Holliston, MA) to Declan Lay, but the Cadets entered the fourth quarter trailing 38-13.
Norwich cut further into the deficit when
Will Patenaude (Goffstown, NH) scored on a 14-yard touchdown run with 10:09 remaining, but WPI answered with a seven-yard touchdown run by
Josh Macomber (Bethel, CT) with 2:36 left to cap the scoring. Macomber finished with 17 carries for 66 yards and the touchdown, while Quigley added 29 rushing yards on six attempts to go along with his 118 kickoff-return yards.
Defensively,
Pat Andrews (Marlboro, MA) and
Jake Robertson (Grafton, MA) each recorded five tackles, while
Michael Doherty (Westboro, MA) added four tackles and a tackle for loss.
Grant Engelhardt (Chelmsford, MA) recorded three tackles, and
Johnny Cacace (Watertown, MA) added two tackles and a pass breakup. WPI held Norwich to 296 yards of total offense, including 64 rushing yards, while the Cadets completed 17-of-43 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown.
For Norwich, Beecher completed 17-of-43 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, with
Fionn Parker-Cummings (Bangor, ME) leading the Cadets with five receptions. Patenaude rushed for a touchdown, while
Corey Stone (Piscataway, NJ) paced the defense with six tackles.
Jack Daley (Weymouth, MA) added five tackles, while
Tank Jemison (Ardmore, PA) recorded four tackles and a forced fumble.
The Engineers also enjoyed another strong afternoon in the kicking game. Napier connected on his 42-yard field goal and was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points, while LaChapelle's punt return touchdown and Quigley's kickoff return score gave WPI two special-teams touchdowns. WPI's six touchdowns came from six different players.
WPI is off next weekend before traveling to Springfield for a noon showdown on Saturday, October 17, in a battle of NEWMAC unbeatens with the Pride. The Cadets step out of conference to host Maine Maritime at 2pm as part of Norwich's Homecoming.
