WORCESTER --
Nathan Napier (Natick, MA) drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired to cap a wild final sequence and lift the WPI football team to a 22-21 victory over the University of New England on Saturday afternoon.
The Engineers improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Nor'easters fall to 0-2.
WPI trailed 21-17 late in the fourth quarter and drove 64 yards on 17 plays over nearly 10 minutes before UNE stopped the Engineers on fourth-and-goal from the eight-yard line with 1:52 remaining. With WPI holding one timeout, the Nor'easters ran the clock down before calling timeout with 16 seconds remaining. On fourth down, UNE elected to take an intentional safety, with
Cam Durkin (Lowell, MA) retreating into the end zone and running additional time off the clock before being tackled with seven seconds left, cutting the margin to 21-19.
UNE then attempted a squib kick that was downed at its own 33-yard line, with just one second coming off the clock and leaving WPI six seconds to work with. After an incomplete pass, Napier came on and connected from 50 yards as time expired to give the Engineers the dramatic 22-21 victory.
Dylan Gallo (Maynard, MA) completed 17-of-34 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Dylan Dipietro (Oxford, MA) provided WPI's biggest offensive play of the afternoon, catching a 69-yard touchdown pass and finishing with two receptions for 84 yards.
Dante Atwood (Newton, MA) added four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown, while
Garrett Ranieri (Templeton, MA) hauled in a team-high six passes for 42 yards.
Andrew Kanakor (Lowell, MA) led the Engineers on the ground with 55 yards on 20 carries, while
Jeff Quigley (Peabody, MA) added 28 yards on eight attempts.
Pat Andrews (Marlboro, MA) paced the WPI defense with a game-high nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, and forced a fourth-quarter fumble.
Jake Robertson (Grafton, MA) recorded eight tackles and recovered Andrews' forced fumble, while
Carter Learned (Reading, MA) added eight stops, two tackles for loss and a sack.
Cole Dillon (Billerica, MA) also registered a sack and forced a fumble that Andrews recovered late in the first half.
UNE opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when
Damien Jones (Fitchburg, MA) capped a 48-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run.
WPI took control in the second quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points. Napier started the surge with a 27-yard field goal before Gallo connected with Dipietro for a 69-yard touchdown strike to give the Engineers their first lead. Gallo added a 12-yard touchdown pass to Atwood with 4:33 remaining in the half, sending WPI into the break with a 17-7 advantage.
The Nor'easters cut the deficit to 17-14 in the third quarter when
Chris Lang (Freehold, NJ) found
Quinn Carlson (Pepperell, MA) for a 16-yard touchdown.
Early in the fourth quarter, Andrews forced Jones to fumble, and Robertson recovered at the UNE 30-yard line. WPI was unable to capitalize on the short field, turning the ball over on downs four plays later.
UNE responded by moving back in front as Lang connected with
Max Viglione (Monroe, CT) for a 53-yard touchdown, giving the visitors a 21-17 edge with 11:52 remaining.
WPI answered with a methodical 17-play, 64-yard drive that consumed nearly 10 minutes. Gallo converted a fourth-and-10 with a 15-yard completion to Dipietro and later connected with Ranieri for 11 yards to reach the UNE 10. The Nor'easters ultimately held on fourth-and-goal from the eight with 1:52 remaining, setting the stage for the game's frantic finish.
Lang finished 11-of-23 for 157 yards and two touchdowns for UNE, while Jones rushed for a game-high 83 yards and a score on 20 carries. Carlson caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, with Viglione adding his 53-yard scoring reception.
Both teams return home on Saturday at noon. WPI hosts Husson, while the Nor'Easters welcome Hampden-Sydney.
Updated photo and video coming soon
