RPI football buries Buffalo State to extend win streak
TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team posted its most prolific offensive outing in nearly two seasons, rolling past Buffalo State, 57–13, Saturday afternoon on Homecoming & Reunion Weekend in East Campus Stadium.
The 57-point performance was RPI's highest since a 63–0 win over Dean College in September 2023, while running back Kayden White's career-high 147 rushing yards were the most by an Engineer since Dylan Burnett ran for 188 against Buffalo State in October 2022.
The Engineers' latest show of force improved their overall record to 5-1, 3-0 in Liberty League play. They've rattled off four straight victories, four straight 30+ point outings and in their three league contests, have outscored opponents 124-26.
RPI had to overcome an early hiccup Saturday, as the Bengals struck for a 75-yard touchdown pass just 15 seconds into the game.
But the Engineers responded with 26 unanswered points - a run fueled by explosive plays, defensive pressure and opportunistic special teams.
Aleks Maric put RPI on the board with a 32-yard field goal. Just minutes later, a two-yard touchdown run from White gave the Engineers a lead they would never relinquish.
On Buff St.'s ensuing possession, Patrick O'Keefe forced a safety, extending RPI's lead to 12-6. The Engineers got the ball and quarterback Anthony DeMatteo recorded a seven-yard touchdown run, capping a 19-point first quarter for RPI.
DeMatteo opened the second quarter with his second rushing score before White broke free for a 29-yard touchdown, extending the margin to 33–13. Just two minutes later, return man Gage Swanger electrified the crowd with a 70-yard punt return touchdown to push RPI's advantage to 40–13 by halftime.
RPI added 17 more points after the break, with Maric drilling a 33-yard field goal and quarterback Frankie Garbolino and wide receiver RJ Encarnacion each adding rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
White's 147 yards and two touchdowns came on just 15 carries. The junior back averaged nearly 10 yards per attempt. DeMatteo completed 12 of 16 passes for 157 yards to go along with his two ground scores. Paisley Nickelson topped the receiving corp with five catches for 42 yards.
The Engineers' defense was relentless, recording 10 sacks and holding the Bengals to only 36 rushing yards on 43 attempts. Miles Lafferty led that unit with eight tackles, including a sack, while Owen Boland added six stops, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a recovery. Cortez Garrett and Cassius Johnson each intercepted a pass, and RPI's defense forced five fumbles, recovering two.
Maric went 2-for-2 on field goals and converted all seven extra points, while Hayden Gray averaged 63 yards per kickoff with four touchbacks.
RPI will head into the bye week, with its next challenge set for Saturday, Oct. 25 at Hilbert.