TROY, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute junior quarterback Dan Cole and senior wide receiver Evan Cochran enjoyed record-setting performances and the Engineers' point-after-touchdown unit came up with a last second, game-winning stop as RPI defeated Hartwick 39-38 in a Division III football game this afternoon at '86 Field in Troy, N.Y.
In a game that saw the two teams combine for 1,075 yards of total offense, including 923 yards through the air, the biggest play of the contest came on a Hartwick point-after-attempt late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 39-32, the Hawks capped a 9-play, 70-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Pincelli to Eric Hipsman with 21 seconds remaining.
Hartwick then lined up to attempt a game-tying point-after kick but a Rensselaer surge forced Pincelli, the holder, to pick up the ball and throw it. His two-point conversion pass sailed over Hipsman's head and fell incomplete. A Hartwick onsides kick was unsuccessful and Rensselaer ran out the clock for the victory.
In the win for the Engineers, Cole completed 30 of 42 passes for 440 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 69 yards to set a new school record for total offense in a game (509 yards). One of Cole's favorite targets was Cochran, who finished with eight receptions for 235 yards and a school-record four touchdowns.
Pincelli completed 24 of 40 passes for 483 yards and five touchdowns. He was intercepted once the game's only turnover in extremely wet and sloppy conditions. Senior Ryan Soule led Hartwick's receivers with nine receptions for 210 yards and a touchdown.
The Hawks opened the wild affair with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Pincelli to Colin Ray on their first possession. The short score was set up by a 62-yard reception from Pincelli to Soule on Hartwick's third play from scrimmage.
After punting on their first possession, the Engineers tied the game on their second when Cole and Cochran hooked up from 79 yards out with 8:48 left in the first quarter. However, a 3-yard run by Clarence Welch, which was set up by a 73-yard pass play, put the Hawks ahead, 14-7, just over a minute later. Cole and Cochran connected again, this time from 14 yards, capping an 11-play, 56-yard drive with 2:41 left in the quarter.
The second quarter was much of the same for Rensselaer as Cole and Cochran combined on two more scores (45 and 18 yards) to give the Engineers a 28-14 lead with 10:42 remaining in the half. Hartwick pulled to within eight when Pincelli hit Jeff Moyer on a 29-yard touchdown but the point-after-touchdown failed. Junior kicker Matt Verenini pushed RPI's lead to 31-20 but Hipsman caught a 10-yard touchdown pass with 58 seconds left in the second quarter and RPI led 31-26 at the break.
After a surprisingly scoreless third quarter, Hartwick took a 32-31 lead on a 28-yard touchdown reception by Soule with 9:01 left in the fourth quarter. The Hawks tried to increase their lead to three points but a two-point conversion attempt failed.
Rensselaer went back ahead six minutes later when Cole found senior tight end Ryan McGough from 4 yards out on third-and-goal. The margin was increased to seven points on a Danny Stephens reception on the two-point conversion attempt.
Hartwick, which finished with 508 yards of total offense, then drove 70 yards in 2:44 to pull within one point before the missed conversion attempt. Rensselaer, which ran 28 more plays than the Hawks (83 to 55), compiled 567 yards of offense.
Besides Cole and Cochran, another offensive standout for RPI was Flynn Cochran, Evan's younger brother, who made nine catches for 102 yards. He also had 52 yards rushing on 13 carries. Defensively for the Engineers, senior defensive back J.R. Williams (six solo) and junior Chris Pierz (four solo) each had a team-high six tackles.
For Hartwick defensively, sophomore defensive back Anthony Tomaino made a game-high 17 tackles, 12 unassisted. Nick Tucci (six solo) and Abel Ghanooni (five solo) chipped in with eight tackles apiece.
Rensselaer improved to 5-1 and kept alive its hopes for an NCAA playoff bid. Hartwick fell to 5-2.
Game Story
Your support helps keep this site operating