Engineers host Utica in hopes of getting back in top 25

TROY, NY » Utica college will be visiting ECAV Stadium Saturday night for a 6 p.m. matchup with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers for a non-league game between the two.

6 p.m. is an unusual start time for the Engineers at home. It will be the first home night tilt for the Engineers since 2014 when they defeated WPI 27-6 in a game that began at 7pm.

RPI is 1-1 this season after last week’s Transit Trophy loss to WPI, 6-3. In week one, RPI stomped out Alleghany 52-14 to open the season two weeks ago.

For Utica, this will be the first road game of the season. Utica has played two Liberty League teams, having defeated St. Lawrence 40-14 in the season opener and Buffalo State 26-15 last week.

Last season against Utica, RPI

pulled away with a win 23-20 triple overtime win thanks to two field goal kicks by Sanjay Krishnan in overtime for the Engineers. D.J. Stefonsky sealed the win with an interception in the end zone in the third overtime.

The Pioneers had a chance to win the game with four seconds left in regulation, but RPI’s Rohan Cherian-Ashe blocked a 32yard field goal attempt to send the game to overtime.

RPI is 8-3 all-time against Utica. RPI began playing against Utica back in 2002 and took a hiatus in 2011 before meeting again last season. RPI is 4-1 against Utica at home. The last time Utica visited RPI, the Pioneers beat the Engineers 38-28.

Utica is led by quarterback Logan Wilcox, who has totalled 374 passing yards in the first two weeks of the season. Wilcox has thrown four touchdown passes and three interceptions.