Sept. 9, 2006
BEVERLY, MA - RPI's Jimmy Robertson (Yonkers, NY, Iona Prep) threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-7 victory over Endicott College Saturday at Endicott Stadium. This was RPI's season opener while Endicott, who suffered a 30-28 loss at Hartwick last week, was playing its home opener.
Robertson was 24-of-35 for 240 yards and 2 TDs, however the Gulls defense, which led the nation in interceptions last year, forced three interceptions off of the sophomore quarterback.
RPI could not get the ball in the end zone in the first quarter but the visitors were able to make it 3-0 when Drew Taranto (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) kicked a 20 yard field goal to cap off a 15-play, 44-yard drive that ate up the first 7:29 of the game. Endicott traveled 26 yards on its first drive of the game but was forced to punt after Drew Cusato (Merrimack, NH/Merrimack) was stopped short of the first down marker on third down.
After Taranto doubled the lead with a 37-yard field goal, the Engineers orchestrated a nine-play, 63-yard drive that culminated in a Jay Bernardo (East Greenbush, NY/LaSalle Institute) (27 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD) eight-yard touchdown run with 4:08 to go in the second quarter. Toranto tacked on the PAT to make the score 13-0 at halftime.
Endicott received the ball in the second half and seemed to be gaining momentum after Vinny Orlando (Manchester, MA/Manchester-Essex) (8-of-19, 85 yards) hooked up with Ryan MacLean (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield ), who had five catches for 67 yards, for a gain of 19 yards. However, the drive stalled on third-and-one, Orlando's pass intended for Ray Lynch (3 catches, 18 yards) fell incomplete.
The Endicott defense stood tall on the ensuing drive as Mike Baklik (Killingworth, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) intercepted a Robertson throw to set up what would be Endicott's lone touchdown.
After Orlando found MacLean for a gain of 18 yards, Angelo Ortiz (Mashantucket, CT/St. Thomas More) (8 carries, 20 yards, TD) plunged in for a one yard touchdown with 5:50 left in the third quarter. Endicott, which had cut the lead to 13-7, could not hold the Engineers' offense, as Robertson capped off a six-play, 47-yard drive, which culminated in a Jon Branche (Schenectady, NY/Colonie) (3 catches, 54 yards, TD) 12 yard touchdown catch. Taranto added the PAT to make the score 20-7.
RPI struck again one minute into the fourth quarter when Robertson completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Eren Savasli Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Tech) that increased the visitors' cushion to 27-7 after the extra point. Endicott 47 yards down field on 10 plays but could not capitalize, as Orlando fumbled the ball away after being sacked by Doug Ingraham (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island).
Both teams swapped three and outs and after Orlando's fourth down pass intended for Andy Roy (Manchester, NH/Manchester Central) fell incomplete with just over a minute to play, Robertson took a knee to end the game.
Armin Warner (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) made eight solo stops (9.0 total) for the Engineers while Pego Jean-Paul (Stamford, CT/Stamford) led EC with seven solo tackles (8.0 total). Orlando Johnson (Newport, RI/Rodgers), Baklik and TJ Sawyer (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) each had interceptions for the hosts.
RPI is back in action next Saturday at Utica while the Gulls will travel to Mass Maritime at 1:00 PM.