Engineers defeat Ithaca in wild finish

RPI blocks kick, gets called for penalty, stops two-point attempt

The RPI football team kept its perfect record intact in the wildest of ways on Saturday, holding off a last-second Ithaca rally to escape with a 10-9 victory in its Liberty League opener at Ithaca.

The Engineers held a 10-3 lead with just seconds left in the fourth quarter before Ithaca quarterback Peter Palczewski completed a pass to Andrew Vito, who dropped the ball at the goal line, but was snatched before it hit the turf with a diving grab by junior Will Gladney for a touchdown with all zeros on the clock.

With RPI clinging to a onepoint edge, 10-9, the Ithaca extra-point attempt was blocked. The overjoyed Engineers, who erupted onto the field to celebrate, were then slapped with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for rushing the field and Ithaca was given another chance.

The Bombers decided to go for a two-point conversion to win the game rather than trying for overtime and an end-around attempt by Vito was stuffed by the RPI defense to send the Engineers home with the win.

RPI and Ithaca were tied 3-3 at halftime and the Engineers took the lead in the third quarter on Nick Cella’s 2-yard touchdown run with 12 minutes, 1 second left in the quarter.

Cella finished the day with 73 yards on 24 carries to lead the Engineers, who now sit at 5-0 overall.

RPI has a bye next week and returns to action on Oct. 20 against Hobart in Troy.