RPI football bests Brockport in overtime thriller

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team welcomed fans into ECAV Stadium for the first time in the 2025 season Saturday, and treated them to an absolute thriller.

RPI battled through four quarters and used an overtime touchdown from Kayden White to secure a 30–24 victory over SUNY Brockport in the two program's first meeting since the 2018 NCAA Division III playoffs.

RPI won that second round tournament matchup, 21-13, to end Brockport's season. The Golden Eagles, who, entering Saturday's contest, were receiving votes in the most recent AFCA national coaches poll, seemed poised for some revenge.

The perennial Empire 8 contenders orchestrated an impressive opening drive, marching 81 yards on 17 plays in 8:06. Quarterback Ben Gocella capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Simmons. Brockport's second series spanned another 8+ minutes, and resulted in a field goal that extended the Golden Eagles' lead to 10–0 midway through the second quarter.

Brockport got the ball back not even three minutes later, and was looking to bury the Engineers with another score. But the RPI defense provided a massive spark, as Thomas Mulvaney intercepted a pass from Gocella and returned it 27 yards to set up the offense at the Brockport 14-yard line.

Just three plays later, Anthony DeMatteo connected with White for an eight-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 10–7. The Engineers tied the game in the seconds before halftime when Aleks Maric drilled a career-long 41-yard field goal.

Momentum continued to swing in RPI's favor in the third quarter when DeMatteo found tight end Josh Young for a 77-yard touchdown strike, giving the Engineers their first lead at 17–10.

Brockport tied the game early in the fourth, but RPI answered with a three-yard scoring run from White to regain the advantage. The Golden Eagles pulled even again on a short touchdown pass with just over five minutes left in regulation, and a late RPI interception by Luke Lavello at the 1-yard line helped preserve the deadlock and force overtime.

In the extra session, the Engineers' defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs after Brockport stalled on its overtime opportunity. RPI then needed only two plays to finish the contest, as DeMatteo hit Young for a 10-yard gain before White broke through the line for a 15-yard touchdown run.

White finished with 52 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns, including two on the ground and one through the air. DeMatteo completed 13 of 24 passes for 236 yards and two scores, spreading completions to four different receivers. Young led all pass-catchers with four receptions for 106 yards, while Paisley Nickelson added three catches for 83 yards. Defensively, Miles Lafferty and Owen Boland each tallied 11 tackles, while Mulvaney and Lavello recorded interceptions that set up RPI scores.

RPI (2-1) will be back home next Saturday to host Liberty League rival Rochester at 1:00 p.m.