Drue Sokol Photo Editor
Football’s Meliora Weekend match-up this past Saturday, Oct. 13 ended in a 31-21 loss to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). With 3,125 people watching, UR dropped to 3-3 overall and RPI improved to 5-1 on the season.
After UR chose to defer after winning the coin toss, the Yellowjackets defense forced a three-and-out against RPI’s offense, which was forced back to 4th and 35 after UR sacked RPI starting quarterback Mike Hermann twice in a row. UR junior quarterback Dean Kennedy then led the Yellowjackets down the field on a 66-yard drive. After being stopped at the 26-yard line, senior kicker Alex Antonucci attempted a field goal, which was blocked.
The first score came on the first play of the second quarter. Senior running back Quinton Mitchell ran in a one-yard touchdown to top off an 83-yard Yellowjackets drive. Hermann was injured later in the quarter, giving his backup, junior Brendan McGlynn, a chance on the field.
McGlynn’s first pass was completed for 24 yards. His second was intercepted by senior free safety Kobie Hamm in the end zone. UR failed to make anything of the turnover though, and Hermann returned and led a 67-yard drive that culminated with a touchdown pass to RPI wide receiver Reggie Colas. But then, with one second left in the first half, Kennedy let fly a Hail Mary that was tipped by an RPI defender into the endzone — right into the hands of junior wide receiver Mason Parmelee. This put UR up 14-7 going into halftime.
Early into the third quarter, Hamm dropped an easy pick on an RPI third down, allowing RPI to score on the next play with a 56-yard pass to Colas. UR quickly took the lead back with a one-yard Mitchell run. Colas then caught his third touchdown of the night, though, tying the game once again.
On the last play of the third quarter, RPI cornerback Dustin Schuld took the ball right out of the hands of junior tight end Ken Apostolakos, who was juggling a catch from Kennedy, and returned it for a 65-yard interception return. This put RPI up 28-21 going into the fourth.
UR almost had a chance to turn the game around with an easy interception, but instead allowed it to bounce into the hands of RPI wide receiver Chris Grogan. This set RPI up for a 24-yard field goal. Antonucci would go on to miss a 28-yard field goal attempt later in the quarter, leaving the final score at 31-21.
With senior running back Chris Lebano not in the game, Mitchell took the majority of the carries Saturday. He split running back duties with Lebano last week, rushing for 31 yards and a touchdown. This week he ran for 99 yards on 28 touches for two TDs. Kennedy assisted, setting him up on the one-yard line for both scores.
UR travels to Schenectady, N.Y. on Saturday, Oct. 20 to take on Union College.
Ondo is a member of the class of 2014.