TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Coming off its first eight-win season in 25 years, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology football team has released its schedule for the upcoming 2016 season.
Rose-Hulman finished 8-2 overall and placed second in the HCAC at 6-2 in league play during a historic 2015 season. The Fightin' Engineers set five team school records, three individual school records and nine career school records. Highlights included team school records for points scored (426), touchdowns (58), extra points (52), passing efficiency as a team (162.8) and fewest sacks allowed (8).
The 2016 team should be another veteran crew with high expectations. Rose-Hulman is projected to return seven offensive and 10 defensive starters from the 2015 squad. The team ranked among the HCAC leaders in total offense and scoring offense, along with total defense and scoring defense.
Expected returning players with all-conference honors in their career include defensive back Tyler Brutofsky; running back Kevin Dufauchard; wide receiver Alec Fisher; linebacker Kaelen Garner; linebacker Mike Henry; defensive lineman Connor Kispert; tight end Joe Moehrle; defensive back Kevin Nowak; quarterback Austin Swenson; and defensive back Alec Thompson.
The 2016 season opens on Saturday Sept. 3, when the Fightin' Engineers host Illinois College at 7 p.m. The last time these two teams met at Cook Stadium, Rose-Hulman earned a memorable 74-68 triple overtime victory in 2014. Rose-Hulman leads the all-time series with Illnois College 17-9-1.
Rose-Hulman hits the road for three consecutive weeks after the opener, traveling to Millikin (Sept. 10) and Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foes Hanover (Sept. 17) and Defiance (Sept. 24). The Fightin' Engineers will face Millikin for the first time in varsity football since 1934 and trail 4-3 in the all-time series. Hanover narrowly leads Rose-Hulman 33-32-2 all-time, while the Fightin' Engineers and Defiance are tied at 5-5 historically.
The Homecoming game features a visit from Anderson University on Oct. 1. Rose-Hulman leads the all-time series with Anderson 14-6 and has won six consecutive Homecoming games dating back to 2010.
Rose-Hulman then hits the road for Mount St. Joseph on Oct. 8, before hosting Manchester on Oct. 15. The Fightin' Engineers narrowly lost 27-26 to Mount St. Joseph in overtime last year and trail the all-time series with the Lions 9-5. Rose-Hulman leads Manchester 18-8 in its football history, including last season's 35-28 win.
The Fightin' Engineers will travel to Franklin College on Oct. 22 in a showdown against the six-time defending league champion Grizzlies. Franklin narrowly topped Rose-Hulman 42-35 last season and leads the all-time series 40-23-2.
Rose-Hulman concludes the 2016 season with a two-game homestand featuring Bluffton on Oct. 29 and Earlham on Nov. 12. The Fightin' Engineers defeated Bluffton 28-27 on the road last season and lead the all-time series 9-3. Rose-Hulman and Earlham will square off for the Battle of the Borders Broadsword on Nov. 12 after the Engineers earned a 64-13 win in 2015.
2016 ROSE-HULMAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Sat. Sept. 3 ILLINOIS COLLEGE 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 10 at Millikin 1 p.m. CT
Sat., Sept. 17 at Hanover * 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 24 at Defiance * 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 1 ANDERSON * 2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 8 at Mt. St. Joseph * 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 MANCHESTER * 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 22 at Franklin * 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 29 BLUFFTON * 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 12 EARLHAM * 1:30 p.m.