Troy, NY --- Sophomore
Dylan Gallo (Maynard, MA) threw for 268 yards in his first career start
Dante Atwood (Newton, MA) hauled in nine receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown, but RPI used three second-half scores to pull away from WPI for a 35-7 victory Saturday in the annual Transit Trophy game. RPI improves to 1-0 on the season, while WPI drops to 0-1.
RPI has now captured six straight Transit Trophy matchups. The Engineers of Troy improved to 65-48-5 all-time against WPI and 32-13-1 since the Transit Trophy was established in 1980.
Gallo completed 34-of-55 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions for the Worcester Engineers. Atwood led WPI with nine catches for 89 yards, while
Michael Krevosky (Kingston, MA) added six receptions for 49 yards.
Ethan Frisch (Clinton, MA) chipped in four catches for 41 yards, including a team-best 28-yard reception.
Jeff Quigley (Peabody, MA) paced the WPI rushing attack with 32 yards on 14 carries while also catching six passes for 25 yards.
RPI quarterback
Micah Balzarini (Edgewood, WA) finished 8-of-17 for 221 yards and two touchdowns.
Nate Ehui (Milton, MA) caught four passes for 127 yards and a score, while
Kayden White (Pottstown, PA) rushed 17 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Grant Engelhardt (Chelmsford, MA) led WPI defensively with five tackles, while
Michael Doherty (Woburn, MA) and
Pat Andrews (Marlboro, MA) each recorded four stops.
Logan Kundred (Highlands Ranch, CO) forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter, while Doherty and Andrews each registered a pass breakup.
RPI struck first on its opening possession, marching 73 yards in seven plays before Balzarini connected with Ehui for a 40-yard touchdown with 11:22 remaining in the first quarter.
WPI put together a pair of extended drives in the first half but came away empty on both. The Worcester Engineers drove as deep as the RPI 29 on their second possession before turning the ball over on downs, then mounted a 17-play drive that reached the RPI 20 before Gallo was intercepted with 4:14 remaining in the second quarter.
RPI took advantage of the turnover, going 96 yards in six plays to double its advantage. Balzarini found
Josh Young (Willow Grove, PA) for an 18-yard touchdown with 1:48 remaining before halftime to make it 14-0.
WPI answered immediately. Starting at its own 35-yard line, the Worcester Engineers covered 65 yards in 10 plays and just 1:41. Gallo connected with Krevosky for 24 yards to move WPI into the red zone before finding Atwood for a 20-yard touchdown with seven seconds remaining.
Nathan Napier (Natick, MA) converted the extra point to send WPI into halftime trailing 14-7.
The Worcester Engineers' defense kept the deficit at seven early in the third quarter. After RPI recovered a WPI fumble and took over at the WPI 28, Kundred forced a Balzarini fumble at the 14-yard line and recovered it, returning it one yard to the WPI 15.
WPI moved the ball out to its own 46 on the ensuing possession, highlighted by Frisch's 28-yard reception on third down, but
Jonathan Walker (Gainesville, VA) intercepted Gallo and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown to extend RPI's lead to 21-7 with 6:18 left in the third quarter.
RPI added another touchdown late in the third. Balzarini completed a 32-yard pass to
Robbie Peterson (Carver, MA) and a 30-yard strike to Young during a five-play, 70-yard drive before White scored from four yards out with 42 seconds remaining to push the margin to 28-7.
White struck again early in the fourth quarter. A 52-yard completion from Balzarini to Ehui moved RPI to the WPI one-yard line, and White scored two plays later on a one-yard run to account for the final margin.
WPI finished with 294 yards of total offense and 19 first downs while controlling possession for 43:41. RPI totaled 315 yards on just 40 offensive plays, averaging 7.9 yards per play. The Worcester Engineers converted 10-of-24 third downs but were limited to 26 rushing yards and committed three turnovers.
Both teams return home Saturday at noon. WPI hosts the University of New England, while RPI welcomes Utica.
