Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
TROY, N.Y. - Freshman Ike Irabor scored three touchdowns and the Union College defense forced five turnovers as the Dutchmen defeated No. 14 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 34-10, in a Liberty League football game at East Campus Stadium. The visitors finish at 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the conference and gain possession of the Dutchman Shoes Trophy for the first time in six years. The Engineers, who drop to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the league, look to rebound next Saturday when they compete in the NCAA Playoffs. RPI had already earned the conference's automatic bid into the post-season.
Rensselaer jumped out to a 7-0 lead at 3:56 of the first quarter when senior Nick Cella completed a 5-play, 38-yard drive with a one yard carry. RPI was set up with short field position after a 20-yard punt and eventually got to the one yard line on a 31-yard pass from George Marinopoulos to Conor Davies. Cella finished the series with his fifth touchdown of the season.
Union answered immediately with Irabor scoring from a yard out and then took advantage of consecutive Engineers turnovers to take a 13-point lead. Daniel Gioioso intercepted a deflected ball to put Union at the 32-yard line and two plays later Irabor scored from five yards away on a reception from sophomore quarterback Will Bellamy for a 14-7 lead at 13:41 of the second quarter - just 53 seconds after tying the game. RPI's next possession ended after four plays when Jack Reilly recovered a fumble on the 31-yard line and the Dutchmen scored two plays later. Bellamy found Andre Ross Jr. from 27 yards out for a 20-7 lead at 10:59 of the second frame.
RPI cut into the lead with a 23-yard field goal from Sanjay Krishnan to open the third quarter and the score remained 20-10 until 6:09 remained in the fourth quarter. After forcing a turnover on downs at the RPI seven yard line, Union got a seven yard scamper from Irabor for a 27-10 edge. Reilly had a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown four minutes later for the final margin.
The Engineers were led offensively by Cella, who carried 23 times for 115 yards and the touchdown. Marinopoulos completed 18 of 38 passes for 193 yards with six completions going to Davies for 86 yards. Jack Hoggard finished with 11 tackles, including six unassisted and 1.5 for lost yards (2). He also had a 17-yard fumble return. Luke Watanabe (2 solo) and Jack Fallon (1 solo) added eight stops. Fallon also forced a fumble.
Gioioso led the visitors with 13 tackles, including 3.5 sacks (19 lost yards) and 6.5 tackles for lost yards (24), along with his interception. Evan Gilland (4 solo) and Colin Lama (2 solo) both had nine tackles. Irabor finished with 118 yards on 23 carries on the ground and 24 receiving yards on two receptions. Bellamy threw for 200 yards (15 of 26) and Ross Jr. had five receptions for 82 yards.
Rensselaer, which is playing in the NCAA Playoffs for the second straight season, will find out its opponent when the field is announced on Sunday at 5:30pm.