Game Leaders
Team Stats
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Time of Poss.
Newport, RI --- In a back-and-forth game, Salve Regina scored two late touchdowns to secure a dramatic 21-14 victory over WPI in NEWMAC football action on Saturday. The Engineers dip to 5-4 overall, 3-3 in conference play, while the Seahawks go to 5-4, 4-2 in the NEWMAC.
Trailing 14-7, Salve Regina rallied in the fourth quarter with two touchdown passes from Anthony Bellizzi (South Windsor, CT) to Josh Letellier (Groton Long Point, CT), including the game-winner with just 24 seconds remaining, to secure the victory.
For WPI, quarterback Mike Ingraffia (Kings Park, NY) completed 16-of-34 passes for 171 yards, while also rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown. John Chau (Suffern, NY) led the ground game with 95 yards on 19 carries and a third-quarter touchdown that gave WPI its only lead of the game. Jay Mezzo (Naugatuck, CT) contributed six catches for 67 yards, while Aaron Skaling (Bedford, NH) had three for 38.
Defensively for WPI, Gavin Chieff (Bernardsville, NJ) led all players with a career-high 19 tackles, also grabbing an interception. Frankie Polito (Shrewsbury, MA) finished with eight stops, while Michael Duggan (Tewksbury, MA) added a sack.
Salve Regina's Bellizzi completed 16-of-26 passes for 245 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Letellier hauled in in seven passes for 158 yards and both touchdown catches. On the ground, running back Justan Luzzi (Belleville, NJ) led the Seahawks with 101 yards on 23 carries, including an 18-yard touchdown run.
Nick Bostrom (Norwell, MA) recorded six tackles and a sack, while Jack Zingaro (Newtown, CT) added an interception and two pass breakups.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Seahawks struck first in the second quarter when Luzzi broke free for an 18-yard touchdown run, capping a one-play, 18-yard drive set up by a WPI turnover. The Engineers answered late in the frame with a 96-yard drive, capped by a 14-yard rushing touchdown from Ingraffia to tie the game at 7-7 going into halftime.
After a defensive stalemate to start the second half, WPI seized the lead late in the third quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Chau, finishing an 8-play, 77-yard drive. Salve Regina responded early in the fourth quarter when Bellizzi found Letellier for a 30-yard touchdown pass, knotting the game at 14-14.
With just under three minutes to play, Salve Regina mounted the game-winning drive. Bellizzi connected with Letellier again, this time for a 15-yard touchdown, with the score coming just after a key WPI penalty extended the drive. The Seahawks' defense sealed the victory with an interception on WPI's final possession.
Both teams close out the 2024 season on Saturday, November 16 at noon. WPI plays host to MIT and Salve Regina welcomes Norwich.