RPI football just punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III playoffs, securing their first trip since 2021 with a hard-fought 14-10 win over host Ithaca on Saturday! This wasn’t just any victory, either; it was the Engineers’ sixth straight win, a streak that sealed at least a share of the Liberty League title and, thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker against Ithaca, an automatic bid to the NCAAs. Talk about earning it!
Hunter’s Heroics Ignite Playoff Run
The man of the hour? Senior tight end Grayson Hunter. This guy, a backup behind starter Josh Young, absolutely went off, snagging two crucial touchdown passes that powered RPI to victory. His first score was a diving 15-yard grab from starting quarterback Micah Balzarini, tying the game at 7-7 with just 1:16 left in the second quarter. But he wasn’t done. In the third quarter, with 4:22 left, Hunter hauled in a 19-yard pass from backup quarterback Justin McCormack that was tipped by an Ithaca defender. That put RPI ahead 14-10, and they never looked back. Coach Ralph Isernia heaped praise on Hunter, saying, “Certainly, there’s a lot of attention that goes to Josh Young, and that’s understandable. But he’s able to get open and he’s made plays for us this entire year.” You love to see a backup step up in a huge moment! Isernia also noted that McCormack’s entry into the game was by design, adding another dimension with his run game and effective passing.
Defense Clamps Down in Crucial Win
This win wasn’t just about offensive fireworks; the defense absolutely stepped up when it mattered most. RPI’s D held Ithaca well below their league-leading average of 40.3 points per game, a massive effort when the stakes were this high. Defensive linemen Owen Boland and Cameron Keeperman combined for a huge sack on Ithaca quarterback Michael Reed, squashing a late Bombers drive that could have changed everything. And if that wasn’t enough, the game came down to a thrilling final play. Ithaca launched a Hail Mary pass from the RPI 48-yard line, but it fell incomplete in a crowded end zone, with Aidan Bekkenhuis getting the credit for the breakup. What a way to close out a playoff-clinching game!
This victory was even sweeter because RPI snapped a four-game losing streak against Ithaca. Now, the Engineers, sitting at 7-2 overall and 6-0 in the Liberty League, have a chance to claim the league title outright. Next Saturday, they’ll battle Union College for the Dutchman Shoes Trophy in Troy. You can bet they’ll be fired up to secure that outright title before heading into the NCAA playoffs!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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