Game Leaders
Team Stats
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Time of Poss.
CANTON, N.Y. - Graduate student Delano Munoz Whatts scored on a rush in the first overtime and then ran in the two-point conversion in the second extra period to lead the No. 23 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team to a 22-20 win over St. Lawrence University in a Liberty League game at Leckonby Stadium.
With the win, the Engineers improve to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference and can clinch the league title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Playoffs with a victory in its regular season finale next Saturday. The Saints fall to 4-5 and 1-4.
After an unsuccessful 36-yard field goal attempt by St. Lawrence with nine seconds remaining in regulation, RPI had the first possession of overtime. Munoz Whatts had four carries, including a 15-yarder on a 4th-and-1 play, followed by a one-yard push into the end zone. Conor MacDougall added the extra point for a 14-7 lead. St. Lawrence answered on its first possession, which included a conversion on a 4th-and-13 play, to tie the score.
The Saints began the second overtime with the ball and Peyton Schmitt promptly went the distance on the first play for a 20-7 lead. The two-point conversion attempt, a pass play, failed and RPI regained possession. Munoz Whatts rushed for eight yards on the first play and George Marinopoulos found Vinnie McDonald in the left corner of the end zone to tie the score. A push by the offensive line on the two-point try enabled Munoz Whatts to get across the goal line and end the game.
He finished with 64 rushing yards on 15 attempts, while Dylan Burnett had 23 yards on four carries, including a nine-yard TD run in the second quarter. McDonald caught four passes for 94 yards from Marinopoulos, who completed 14 of 30 for 188 yards. On defense, senior Cam Younginer had a team-best 12 tackles and Nate Sicard added 10 with five unassisted, including a five-yard sack.
St. Lawrence was led defensively by Caleb Null, who had eight tackles. Freshman quarterback Daniel Lawther, who gave the Saints a 7-0 lead with a 13-yard run on their first drive, rushed for 64 yards on 15 attempts and threw for 184 by completing 22 of 40 throws. Schmitt led SLU in both rushing (67 yards) and receiving (5 catches for 48 yards).
RPI is seeking its third Liberty League championship in the last four seasons and can do so with a win in the Dutchman Shoe's Trophy Game on Saturday at Union College (12pm). Union can finish tied for first with Ithaca College with a victory, though the Bombers hold the tiebreaker. St. Lawrence concludes its season with a game at Buffalo State next Saturday (12pm).