TROY, NY — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute hasn’t lost a game in 2021 and hasn’t lost a game on campus since 2018, only once since 2017.
That success at home continued Saturday afternoon when RPI beat Buffalo State 24-16 to become 6-0 this season and stay perfect against Liberty League opponents.
RPI relied heavily on the passing game in the win. Quarterback George Marinopoulos passed for 194 yards and two touchdowns while Jake Kazanowski came in for one pass, a 31 yard touchdown, for a total of 225 passing yards in the win. The Engineers rushed for only 66 yards.
“We had two different game plans coming in. Depending on what they were going to show us,” said RPI Head Coach Ralph Isernia. “If they were going to load up the box, then we were going to have some single coverage on the outside. If they were going to play a little bit softer in the box then that would have given us some good run numbers in there. We were looking for either scenario.”
Four different Engineers were targeted in the passing game. Peter Lombardi continues to be a threat in the red zone. He had another two touchdown game while Vinnie McDonald caught Kazanowski’s 31 yard pass at the end of the third quarter.
“We talk about players and plays and we have it scripted how many times we want to give the ball to someone,” said Isernia. “Vinnie attracts a lot of attention on the outside so if they are going to bracket coverage him, that’s going to leave something open for someone else. That’s what you saw with Sterling [Walker-Sutton] and Peter there. It’s something we plan for — getting the ball in playmaker’s hands.”
RPI took a 14-3 lead into halftime Saturday. Marinopoulos and Lombardi connected for a 19 yard touchdown on RPI’s first drive of the game and again at the end of the second quarter, that time from 17 yards out. Buffalo State kicker Nick Sciandra hit a 30 yard field goal between the two scores.
Connor MaCdougall hit a 27 yard field goal at 3:02 in the third quarter and Kazanowsky found McDonald in the corner of the endzone with zeros on the clock to give RPI a 24-3 lead going into the final frame of Saturday’s match.
Buffalo State Quarterback Cam Sionko had two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Tiger’s in their effort to claw back. A five yard touchdown run at 2:39 in the fourth wasn’t enough to close the gap and a passing touchdown to Nas Jackson with no time left was too little, too late.
Buffalo State utilized two quarterbacks in their offense. Cam Sionko was the main quarterback, utilized to pass and run the ball. Javon Ford mainly was an addition to the ground game.
“I know the personnel that would dictate what we are going to call in those situations,” said Isernia on defending against a dual quarterback offense. “We have calls for both of them whether it is a read option or if it’s going to be a passing play. That wasn’t something that got us off balance.”
The RPI defense has cemented itself as a group at the top of the Liberty League. They had an interception and two fumble recoveries against Buffalo State Saturday.
“It’s something we talk about all the time. Getting the turnovers and they get points off the turnovers,” said Isernia on the defense and the momentum it gives his offense. “I think getting those turnovers changed the complexion of the game.”
Jimmy Leblo had the RPI interception on the ensuing play after RPI lost possession on a fumble of their own. Leblo also had a fumble recovery.
RPI will have its biggest test of the season next weekend when they travel to Hobart. It will be the Engineer’s second game of the season where they have to play a team coming off of a bye week.
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October 10, 2021 at 05:33AM
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: RPI continues undefeated excellence with 24-16 win over Buffalo State - Troy Record
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