On a cloudy and rainy day, the Ithaca College football team did something they had not done in 22 years, defeating the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers in Troy, NY, in a thrilling 20–17 overtime victory.
Graduate student receiver Anthony D’Addetta got the game going with a big return on the opening kickoff, totaling 34 yards and setting the Bombers up at midfield.
The Bombers got the ball to the Engineer’s 34-yard line; however, graduate student quarterback A.J. Wingfield’s pass was intercepted by junior linebacker Anthony D’Agostino, halting the Bomber’s momentum.
The Engineers put together a solid first drive, having success in both the run and the pass. Still, on a third and seven on the Bomber’s 41-yard line, junior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky threw an interception to junior defensive back Jake Connolly to turn the ball over with 8:07 left in the first quarter.
Like the Engineers, the Bombers could not capitalize on the turnover. Following junior kicker Derek Baldin’s punt heading into the endzone, the Engineers put together an eight-play, 80-yard drive, capped off with Kazanowsky finding graduate student slot receiver Gil Goldsmith for the touchdown. Even with two false starts on the extra point, graduate student kicker Jared Elstien still connected on the kick to put the Engineers up 7–0 with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bombers responded strongly, putting together a 14-play drive. The Bombers pushed the ball to the Engineers’ five-yard line; however, a personal foul call on senior wide receiver Sam Kline pushed the ball back to the Engineers’ 19-yard line.
Wingfield and the offense couldn’t capitalize but set up a more manageable field goal attempt for Baldin, making the score 7–3.
As the Engineers looked to respond, a botched snap by graduate student center Zavien Guitian gave the ball back to the Bombers at the Engineer’s 39-yard line.
Opting to go for it on 4th down instead of kicking a long field goal, Wingfield found senior wide receiver Ben Marinaccio open amongst the defense, who fell to the ground after an eight-yard completion to ensure the first down.
On second and four, it seemed like Wingfield threw to graduate student wide receiver Julien Deumaga for a screen. However, the Bombers called the trick play, and Deumaga found the open senior running back Jalen Leonard-Osbourne for the touchdown and the lead with 6:11 remaining in the second quarter.
Both defenses held strong to end the second quarter, with the halftime score a close 10–7 Bombers lead.
Connolly played a massive role in the first half, totaling two interceptions before halftime. Head coach Michael Toerper had one word to describe Connolly, baller.
“It was only a matter of time before those plays came,” Toerper said. “We say it every day in practice, so I’m not surprised at all. He’s a stud.”
The third quarter was a defensive affair for both sides, with the Bombers punting the ball twice and the Engineers punting the ball three times.
With 4:39 to go in the third quarter and their final drive of the quarter, the Engineers looked to have a spark. First-year running back Kayden White popped a big 14-yard run, getting the Engineers out of the shadow of their endzone. A few plays later, junior defensive lineman Owen O’Neill earned his second sack on the season, forcing an eight-yard loss. On the next play, Connolly continued his impressive game, picking up a sack and setting up a 3rd and 20. A play later, the Engineers would punt.
Punting the ball away with 12:33 remaining in the contest, the Engineers drove down the field in 10 plays to score their first points since 1:20 remaining in the first quarter, with Kazanowsky finding junior wide receiver Sean Kelly for the touchdown, putting the Engineers ahead 14–10 with 9:05 to go in the fourth.
After a three-and-out by the Bombers, the Engineers had a chance to put the game away. Facing a big fourth down, the Engineer’s center Guitian fumbled the snap again and gave the ball back to the Bombers.
After moving the ball down to the Engineer’s 11-yard line on an 18-yard rush, Wingfield was shaken up and forced to leave the game. The absence would be short-lived, as a play later, he would return and find Leonard-Osbourne in the end zone for the score.
17–14 with 51 seconds left, the Engineers got into field goal range and tied the game up at 17, forcing overtime.
The Engineers got the ball first and were forced to try a field goal after five plays. Elstien got the kick up but was blocked by graduate student defender Derek Slywka, making it so the Bombers only needed a field goal to win.
After getting the ball to the 17-yard line, Baldin trotted out for the Bombers to attempt the game-winning field goal. Baldin kicked the ball through the uprights, giving the Bombers a massive Liberty League win.
Baldin, a transfer student, credited the special teams unit for overcoming adversity in the tough weather conditions and making the game-winning field goal just like any other kick.
“It’s all about complementary football,” Baldin said. “It’s not just me out there; it’s ten other guys, and they make my job so easy.”
Toerper echoed Baldin’s sentiments, crediting the special teams for contributing to another big game for the Bombers, saying they are the heartbeat of the football team.
This marked the Bomber’s first win in Troy since Nov. 2001. Both Baldin and Toerper acknowledged the significance of it, shedding the notion that the Bombers can’t win at RPI.
“It’s so big,” Toerper said. “Our guys just believed, and they were finally able to break through. That team was making plays left and right, we were making plays, and it was whoever was gonna be able to stand at the end. I’m so proud of our guys for standing tall.”
The Bombers will return to the South Hill for a matchup against Union College at 1 p.m. Oct. 14 at Butterfield Stadium.
