Sutton's 92-yard kickoff return helps Salve Regina knock out WPI, 27-24, to complete second-half rally

Courtesy of WPI Athletic Communications

WORCESTER, Mass. - Keith Sutton (Blackstone, Mass.) had a special day on special teams with 154 return yards, including a 92-yard touchdown return, as Salve Regina University football rallied in the second half for a 27-24 victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at Alumni Field in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Saturday afternoon.The loss dips WPI to 3-5 overall, 1-4 in NEWMAC play, while the Seahawks improve to 6-2, 4-1 in their first season in the NEWMAC. 

The Engineers led 7-0 and 14-6, but Salve took over the lead for good early in the second half. WPI had chances to tie late, and then got the ball trailing by only three with 1:35 to play, but a missed field goal and a turnover on downs gave the Seahawks the win.

For WPI, Terrence Benedict (Ticonderoga, NY) got the start, going 26-for-38 with 253 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns. Douglas Cain (Jefferson, MA) was the top receiver, hauling in seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, while Noah Herzig (Hubbardston, MA) had nine receptions for 58 yards and a score. Hunter Carey (South Hadley, MA) had the second 100-yard rush game of the season and the seventh of his career, compiling 105 on 22 carries. Herzig added a rush touchdown on a pair of carries.

Defensively, Max Anderson (North Easton, MA) led the Engineers with 10 tackles, while Drew Plunkett (Medway, MA) had seven tackles and a key interception.

For Salve Regina, Jake Stack (Campbell Hall, NY) was 16-for-24 with 150 yards and a touchdown. Jacoby Smith (Middletown, RI) had three catches for 51 yards, while Marcelino La Bella (Windsor, CT) caught four passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. Justan Luzzi (Belleville, NJ) led the Seahawks with 83 yards rushing on 12 attempts, while Thomas Cea Jr. (Sayville, NY) had 65 yards on 17 carries.

Zachary Ludemann (Howell, NJ) led all players with 12 tackles, while Jonathan Melisi (Shrewsbury, MA) had nine tackles and a sack. Keith Sutton (Blackstone, MA) highlighted the special teams with 154 return yards, including a 92-yard touchdown return.

WPI jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. After forcing a three-and-out from Salve Regina, the Engineers used a 10-play, 57-yard drive, culminating in a 12-yard pass from Benedi to Herzig for the score.

The Seahawks were forced to punt on their next possession but recovered a WPI fumble on the kick. With Salve Regina starting from the WPI 23-yard line, the Engineers' defense held firm, holding the visitors to a field goal attempt, which was wide right to keep the score 7-0. 

After a WPI punt, the Seahawks put together an eight-play, 61-yard drive that spanned the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter. After six straight runs, the seventh found pay dirt, as Cea Jr. carried it in from 19 yards out for the score. A two-point conversion failed, however, keeping WPI on top, 7-6.

Later in the second, WPI pushed the advantage to 14-6 on a Herzig rush from eight yards out. The touchdown capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive that took the clock down to 3:52. Salve Regina made the most of the ensuing possession, with an 11-yard Luzzi rush touchdown punctuating the nine-play, 69-yard drive that made it 14-13. WPI had 55 seconds on its next possession, but the drive stalled at their own 43, keeping it a one-point Engineer advantage at the half.

WPI extended its lead to 17-13 on the first drive of the second half, marching 67 yards downfield in 13 plays, ending with a 31-yard field goal from Brock Dubey (Dudley, MA).

The advantage was short-lived, however, as Salve's Sutton returned the ensuing kick-off 92 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The score put the Seahawks up 20-17, where it would stay at the end of the third quarter. 

On the first drive of the fourth quarter, WPI had a chance to tie, but a 28-yard field goal went wide right, keeping Salve in the driver's seat. The Seahawks then padded the lead on the next possession, with an 11-yard touchdown reception from Stack to La Bella making it 27-17 with 9:20 to play.

Salve Regina seemed to be driving to seal the game, but a Plunkett interception gave WPI the ball on the Seahawk's 37 with 5:16 to play. A Benedict to Cain touchdown pass then capped a seven-play drive that closed the gap to 27-24 with 1:54 to play.

The visitors turned the ball over on downs on the WPI 14-yard line, giving WPI 1:35 left to play with. However, the Engineers went just 13 yards, ending the game on a pair of incomplete passes to thwart the comeback.

WPI will now host its annual Senior Day on Saturday, November 4, taking on Coast Guard at 12 p.m. Salve Regina is also back in action on Saturday, hosting SUNY Maritime at 2 p.m. and the Seahawks will recognize their seniors - (22) Joshua Adams, Francisco Aguero, Avery Arno, Sam Capodice, Garrett DeForest, Jacob Dubois, Griffin Gallati, Matt Heverin, Ryan Janz, Drew Keiran, Matthew Lavoie, Zachary Ludemann, Luke Maruca, Michael Morin, Sean Pampin, Jack Patalano, Jacob Perez, Joe Saccone, Jeff Seganos Jr., Cain Smith, Christopher Tall, Jack Zingaro.