Worcester Polytechnic Institute

New London, CT --- Josh Macomber (Bethel, CT) rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries as WPI football built an early lead and held off Coast Guard, 24-17, in the NEWMAC opener for both squads Friday evening at Cadet Memorial Field. The game was moved up a day because of the impending Nor'easter.
 
WPI improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in NEWMAC play, while Coast Guard slips to 2-2 and 0-1. The Engineers have now won three straight games, their longest winning streak since a four-game run that spanned the end of the 2019 season and WPI's 2021 season opener.
 
Macomber, who entered the night with just 29 career carries for 41 yards, established himself early and often. He capped WPI's opening 78-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run at 10:01 of the first quarter, then broke loose for a 14-yard scoring run with 1:37 remaining in the quarter to give the Engineers a 14-3 advantage. His 27 carries were the most by a WPI back since Hunter Carey had 28 totes in 2022, while his 204 rushing yards made him the first WPI back to surpass 200 yards in a game since Zachary Levy rushed for 219 yards in the 38-6 home victory over Coast Guard in 2021.
 
Coast Guard answered with a 27-yard field goal from Caleb McClure before Harrison Hensley scored on a one-yard run with 13:00 remaining in the second quarter to make it 14-10. Dylan Gallo (Maynard, MA) then connected with Dylan Dipietro (Oxford, MA) on a three-yard touchdown pass with 7:49 left in the half, but Hensley added his second touchdown on a nine-yard run with 5:44 remaining to pull the Bears within 21-17 at halftime. The third quarter was scoreless before Nathan Napier (Natick, MA) extended the WPI lead with a 43-yard field goal into the wind at 7:41 of the fourth quarter.
 
After WPI's defense forced a Coast Guard punt with 6:30 remaining, the Engineers moved into Coast Guard territory but missed a 41-yard field goal with 3:37 to play. The Bears then drove 49 yards on nine plays, reaching the WPI 7 following a 29-yard fourth-down completion from Sean Burns (Absecon, NJ) to Dylan Truxon (King George, VA). Harrison Hensley (Riverview, FL) moved the ball to the WPI 4, but Coast Guard was pushed back by penalties before Sam Bennett's four-yard run brought the Bears to the WPI 18. On fourth-and-18 with 49 seconds remaining, Burns' pass intended for Toby Wroe (Clearwater, FL) fell incomplete as Johnny Cacace (Watertown, MA) broke up the attempt, turning the ball over to WPI. The Engineers then ran out the clock to secure the 24-17 victory.
 
Gallo completed 10-of-19 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, with Dipietro catching four passes for 28 yards and the score. Dante Atwood (Newton, MA) added two receptions for 35 yards, while Justin Mather (Middleboro, MA) caught two passes for 20 yards. Macomber accounted for 204 of WPI's 232 rushing yards, with Andrew Kanakor (Lowell, MA) adding 20 yards on four carries and Jeff Quigley (Peabody, MA) contributing 14 yards on five attempts.
 
Cacace paced the Engineers with 11 tackles and delivered the decisive pass breakup on Coast Guard's final offensive play. Carter Learned (Reading, MA) added 10 tackles, Jake Robertson (Grafton, MA) recorded eight, Grant Engelhardt (Chelmsford, MA) finished with seven tackles and two pass breakups, and Pat Andrews (Marlboro, MA) registered six tackles. Michael Hughes (Marshville, NC) and Andrew Zipko (Rocky Mount, NC) each added five tackles, with Zipko also sharing a sack with Hughes.
 
WPI finished with 337 yards of total offense, including 232 on the ground, while Coast Guard amassed 346 yards. The Engineers held the ball for 34:16 and converted 5-of-12 third downs, while Coast Guard was 4-of-13 on third down. WPI also converted its only fourth-down attempt, while the Bears finished 2-of-6 on fourth down.
 
Hensley, a 2025 All-America who was making his season debut, led Coast Guard with 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries, while Burns completed 14-of-29 passes for 193 yards and Truxon caught five passes for 108 yards.
 
Both teams return home next Saturday, October 3. WPI entertains Norwich at 1pm, while Coast Guard welcomes SUNY Maritime to New London for a 1:30pm kickoff.