Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
WORCESTER --- Senior Sean McAllen (Prospect, CT) ran for 164 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries to be named MVP and lead WPI past Western Connecticut, 35-6, in a New England Bowl Series game at Alumni Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Engineers finish their season with a program-best 10 wins, surpassing the 9 wins from 2017 — a year which they also won the New England Bowl Series game — and 1992. WestConn, making its first trip to the New England Bowl Series, sees its season end at 8-3.
With a 3-yard rush late in the first quarter, McAllen surpassed Jason Wooley — who amassed 3,766 yards in his four-year career — as the all-time leading rusher in WPI's 130-year history. McAllen closes his illustrious career with 3,878 yards.
The other half of the two-headed monster in the backfield, senior Connor Field (Granby, CT) ran for three touchdowns, all from goal-to-go — 3, 1, and 6 yards.
While WPI exploded for 28 second-half points, including two of Field's three touchdowns, it was the defense which shined the brightest. The Engineers stingy defense held the high-flying Colonials to just 154 yards, all of which came through the air. Entering the matchup, WestConn average 417.9 yards per-game.
Junior cornerback Adam Klosner (Ilion, NY) highlighted the defensive efforts with a team-high four tackles, two interceptions and PAT block, and classmate Aaron Whitehouse (Tewksbury, MA) also had four tackles, and broke up three passes.
Senior Zack Aherns (South Glens Falls, NY), Joe Kerkach (Ashland, MA), Tommy Feraco (Holden, MA) and Mike McGoff (Ashland, MA) each registered a sack for WPI, which held the Colonials to just 42 yards in the first half.
The Engineers excelled in special teams, too, as junior Bryce Wade (Modesto, CA) connected on all five extra points, and junior Sean Dandeneau (North Smithfield, RI) blocked a punt which led to McAllen's rushing touchdown four plays later.
Senior signal caller Julian Nyland (Melrose, MA) threw for 173 yards on 15-of-22 passing. Senior Clark Ewen (Arlington, MA) was the primary target, as he had seven catches for 107 yards, all happening in the first half.
Senior quarterback David James (Stamford, CT) threw for 154 yards and a touchdown on 16-of-37 passing, but was also intercepted three times, and sophomore Will Daniels (Bethel, CT) made nine catches for 98 yards and the lone touchdown for the Colonials.
Defensively, Jihad Bryant (Lawrence, NJ) had 12 tackles, including one for loss, and Vincent Scancarello (Monroe, NY) added seven tackles, a sack and an interception for WestConn.