WORCESTER – The backfield of Sean McAllen (Prospect, CT) and Connor Field (Granby, CT) accumulated nearly 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns as host WPI opened the 2019 campaign with a 51-0 win over city-rival Worcester State Friday night in Alumni Stadium. Austin Pesce (Monroe, NY) chipped in with an 89-yard punt return for a score.
WPI has now posted shutouts in seven of its last 22 games dating back to the 2017 season opener. Prior to that, WPI had gone a span of 67 games without notching shutout. It was the fourth time in the 26-game series the Engineers blanked the Lancers, and the first time since 2009.
Julian Nyland (Melrose, MA) connected with Clark Ewen (Arlington, MA) for a 22-yard TD just 2:30 into the contest. Later in the frame, McAllen scored his first of the season and moved into a tie with Nick Fluet for third all-time on the WPI scoring list with 210 points.
The second quarter saw Pesce make it 21-0 prior to Bryce Wade's (Modesto, CA) third of five extra points of the night at 9:32. With 2:45 until the break, Field punched in a two-yard run, followed by a 22-yard TD by Nic Rossi (Howell, NJ) with 50 seconds on the clock.
Field, who went on to post a career-best 117 yards, tied another career-high with his second touchdown with 5:18 left in the third. Wade later made it 44-0 with a 22-yard field goal with 10:33 to play. Zach Uglevich (Maynard, MA) and Nate Fankhanel (Clifton Park, NY) capped the scoring with a one-yard plunge and extra point, respectively with 2:07 remaining.
In addition to 78 rushing yards and a score, McAllen led the receivers with 42 yards on three catches. Pesce also accounted for a 35 yard grab and Uglevich added 74 yards – all in the second half – for the Engineers. Nyland finished 10-15 with 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Andrew Nicklas (West Hartford, CT) was 1-1 with a 35-yard connection.
Aaron-Moses Williams (Springfield, MA) went 10-24 and was a yard shy of 100 for the Lancers as Stephen Miranda (Hudson, MA) came in to go 2-2 for Worcester State. Kyler Brown (Chelmsford, MA) and Amir Mells (Dorchester, MA) led the receivers and rushers with 31 and 24 yards, respectively. Zach MacAlister (Gardner, MA) added 25 receiving yards for the guests.
Evan McCauley (North Providence, RI), Steve Mey (Watertown, MA) and Nick Ostrowski (Charlton, MA) all posted four tackles for a balanced WPI defense. Of the four Engineers with three stops, Joe Kerkach (Ashland, MA) and Nica Hesel (Downingtown, PA) each boasted a pair for-loss totaling 23 yards. Carter McLellan (Davidson, NC) and Tommy Feraco (Holden, MA) also notched a tackle for-loss for the home team. Sam Casey (Winchester, MA) and Adam Klosner (Ilion, NY) accounted for WPI's two takeaways by hauling in interceptions.
Nick Ashley (Worcester, MA) led the Lancers with eight tackles (seven solo) to go with seven unassisted by Eddy Boamah (Worcester, MA). AJ Byard (Deerfield Beach, FL), Danny George (Leicester, MA), Gus Ramstrom (Natick, MA) and Anthony Casparriello (Westboro, MA) all recorded five stops on the night.
WPI amassed 460 yards to WSU's 147 with the largest margin on the ground (294-43). Time of possession also tipped in the Engineers favor (35:52-24:08).
Next Saturday WPI hosts rival RPI in the annual Transit Trophy game at 2:30pm. The meeting will be the 112th between the two programs. Worcester State opens its home campaign next Friday, entertaining Becker at 7pm.
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