On a day when 13 seniors would play their final game in Fauver Stadium, Rochester came out of the gates with a wave of emotion. Unfortunately, the Engineers of RPI were able to weather the storm and fought back to pull out a 28-14 victory.
The Yellowjackets got on the board first with 5:22 remaining in the first quarter when junior quarterback Aaron Molisani (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) capped an 11 play, 79 yard drive with a one yard sneak. Freshman kicker Rob Corey(Scranton, PA/Pitsford Area) nailed the extra point and Rochester had a 7-0 lead.
After both teams traded possessions, the Yellowjackets got the ball back with 1:02 remaining in the first quarter. The 'Jackets only needed 34 seconds to score as Molisani hit senior wide receiver Kevin Toolan (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) in the middle of the field for 36 yard touchdown pass. Toolan reached up over an RPI defender and played the ball to himself before sprinting the rest of the way. It was his first career touchdown reception. There was some confusion on the extra point as Corey's kick hit the left upright but an official's flag had already blown the play dead for a false start penalty again Rochester. Thus the play didn't count and after moving back five yards, Corey hit the extra point.
The Engineers would answer on the ensuing possession as sophomore running back Jay Bernardo (East Greenbush, NY/LaSalle Institute) plunged into the end zone from a yard away. The drive was aided by two big RPI plays; the first was an 18 yard scramble on a third and 14 from the Engineers 21 yard line by sophomore quarterback Frank Catellier (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) and the second was a Catellier to freshman receiver Brendan McGowan (Mesa, AZ/ Mountain View) pass for 25 yards on a third and 12 from the Rochester 27 yard line. The extra point was hit by sophomore kicker Brett Bebea (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia). Neither team could get anything going in the second quarter until a flurry late in the period threaten to change that.
Rochester got the ball back on their own eight yard line with 4:01 in remaining in the half and proceeded to march methodically down the field. Freshman running back Matt Bielecki (Albany, NY/Burnt Hills) ran five straight times to start the drive off and got the ball down to the Rochester 37 yard line. Molisani completed two passes to Toolan which moved the ball to the Engineers 31 yard line and pass interference call on RPI on the next play put the ball on the 16. After a Rochester timeout, the Engineers again came up with huge plays to keep the score at 14-7. First, senior strong safety Jimmy Motzkin (Lynnfield, MA/Lynnfield) stopped Bielecki for a seven yard loss then on third down, Molisani was called for intentional grounding which moved the ball all the way back to the RPI 31 yard line. A fourth down toss into the end zone went incomplete and RPI ran out the clock to end the half.
In the third quarter, RPI looked to take control and continue their momentum from the end of the half. On their first possession, the Engineers used a little trickery to get the ball into scoring position. On a second down and nine play, McGowan got a lateral from Catellier who then received the ball back from McGowan on a pass and advanced it down to the Rochester 33 yard line. Then after two completions (the conventional way) to freshman receiver Drew Utschig (Harrison, NY/Iona Prep) and McGowan, Catellier hit sophomore tight end John Branche (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) for a four yard touchdown pass despite a diving effort by junior cornerback Michael Dermody. Kebea's kick was good and the score was tied at 14-14.
After a Yellowjackets three and out, RPI once again went down the field looking for the go ahead score. Catellier completed two passes to Branche and one to sophomore receiver DeSean Moore (Albany, NY/Albany Academy) to move the ball deep into Rochester territory. A roughing the passer call put the ball on the Rochester six yard line and the reeling 'Jackets defense needed a big play. They answered the call on the next play as freshman defensive lineman Alex Haney (Buffalo, NY/Lockport) forced a Bernardo fumble that was recovered by junior linebacker Ray Finocchio on the 'Jackets nine yard line.
Rochester took the momentum as the 'Jackets marched down the field thanks to Molisani and Bielecki. But once again, RPI would come up with a huge defensive play to spoil the Yellowjackets effort. Motzkin, who two plays earlier missed a sack, sacked Molisani for a loss of ten yards to the Engineers 31 yard line. Rochester decided to go for it on fourth down rather than risk a long field goal but Molisani's pass to Toolan fell just incomplete and RPI dodged yet another bullet.
Late in the third, Rochester once again drove into Engineer territory led by Molisani. The fleet footed signal caller converted a third and six with a nine yard run and showed he has a little luck on his side on a third and nine play. He threw a pass to the right sideline for junior receiver Dave Ferris (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) that was deflected to Ferris for a ten yard gain and a first down thanks to some nifty footwork on the part of the junior receiver. The drive would stall on the Engineers 19 yard line and Corey came out to attempt a 36 yard field goal into a howling wind. His kick was wide left and RPI had stopped Rochester in the red zone yet again.
Early in the fourth quarter, RPI once again used the big play to break the deadlock. First, Molisani was picked off by senior linebacker Sean Doran (Miami, FL/Valley Forge) at the Rochester 36 and returned it to the 27 yard line. On the very next play, Catellier hit Branche again for the 27 yard touchdown and after Kebea hit the extra point, RPI lead for the first time 21-14. Rochester was forced to punt on a three and out on the next possession and RPI iced the game with a nine play, 70 yard drive that ended with senior running back Otis Williams (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) driving it from a yard out. That was set up by a 17 yard Catellier to Branche reception down to the one yard line. Kebea hit his fourth extra point and RPI widened the lead to 28-14.
Rochester would drive down into the RPI redzone twice in the final 7:37 but wasn't able to come away with points either time. The first trip ended with Bielecki being thrown for a loss by Motzkin and the second with Molisani being unable to connect with Ferris on a pass over the middle.
Offensively, Rochester and RPI both recorded 435 yards of offense on the day. The Yellowjackets ran for 168 and passed for 267 while the Engineers ran for 163 and passed for 272. Molisani completed 26 of 47 for 267 yards and a touchdown. His completion total gives him 151 for the season which pushes him ahead of classmate Pat Manuel (Elmira, NY/Elmira-Notre Dame) for the single season completions record. Molisani was also the 'Jackets leading rusher with 85 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown while Bielecki ran 25 times for 75 yards.
Toolan registered six catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, all of which are career highs. Bielecki also added a career high six grabs for 43 yards. RPI had Catellier throw for 251 yards on 17 of 35 and two touchdown passes. Bernardo led the way on the ground with 72 yards on 16 carries while Catellier and Williams added 48 and 46 yards respectively. Branche totaled 127 yards on seven catches and added two scores while McGowan, in addition to throwing for 21 yards on 1 of 3 passing, added six catches for 82 yards.
Defensively, Rochester freshman safety Jim Milks (Buffalo, NY/East Aurora) and Finocchio each recorded 10 tackles to lead the way. Milks added a forced fumble and a pass breakup while Finocchio added a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Junior linebacker Matt Simon had another strong game with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a sack. RPI had Motzkin record a game high 13 tackles including 5.5 for loss, one pass breakup and a sack. Doran added ten tackles to go along with his interception and Grant Cochran (Kent, WA/Kent-Meridian) added ten tackles as well.
Best wishes to the 13 seniors who played their final game home game today. Michael Bernstein (Summit, NJ/Summit), Frank Ciampa (Fairport, NY/Fairport), Brad DiPietro (Troy, NY/Troy), Jon Field (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), Justin Galloway(Webster, NY/Webster), Ryan Gilroy (Utica, NY/Utica-Notre Dame), Matt Kelley (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles), Mike Kwon (Setauket, NY/Syosset), Eric Lord (Troy, NY/Troy), Dave Sanok (Orchard Park, NY/St. Francis), Matt Shackles (Coram, NY/Longwood), Kevin Toolan (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) and Benjy Waller (Millwood, NY/Horace Greeley) will all be missed as teammates and contributors not only to Rochester athletics but the Rochester community.
The Yellowjackets record is now 4-5 and they will play their final game next week against archrival Hobart in Geneva. This will be the 97th meeting all time in a series that was first played in 1892. Kickoff is scheduled for 1pm.
