UTICA, NY - The Utica College football team landed on the losing end of a contest for the second week in a row, as the visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers rolled to a 17-6 victory on Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The loss was UC's second on the year, while RPI, a team that had dealt the Pioneers a lopsided 47-0 decision just a year ago, captured the win in its season opener.

Engineer senior quarterback Dan Cole connected on 16 of his 30 attempts en route to throwing for 162 total yards and setting RPI school records for completions and yards passing in a career. The school's previous all-time marks were set at 382 completions and 5,275 yards passing.

The first half of action, which ended 10-0 in RPI's favor, proved to be a defensive battle as neither offensive side was successful in reaching the end zone. The Engineers moved ahead with 2:21 left in the first quarter when senior defensive back Jai Echols recovered a poor snap on a UC punt and ran in from 12 yards out. Senior Matt Verenini increased RPI's lead to ten points with a 32-yard field goal at the 14:40 mark of the second quarter.

UC senior linebacker Anthony Venturino (Utica, NY/DeSales), who returned an 18-yard interception to post the Pioneers' only touchdown of the day at the 14:51 point of the third quarter, highlighted the second half for Utica. The Engineers went on to seal the victory with nine minutes remaining in regulation on an end zone pass from Cole to sophomore receiver Tony Couture.

Sophomore running back David Hogan (Concord, NH/Concord) sparked the UC offensive attack for the second straight week. Hogan managed 87 yards on the ground, including a long dash of 18 yards, and caught three passes on the day. Senior quarterback Adam Luciano (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) threw for 47 total yards, connecting on nine of his 26 attempts.

The Pioneer defensive unit, which smothered RPI's high-powered offensive much of the afternoon, allowing the Engineers to manage only 98 yards rushing and 260 yards total, was led by Venturino's game-high 12 tackles (11 solo), including one for a loss, and interception. Senior lineman Bryon George (Geneva, NY/Midlakes) also had an impressive outing, tallying eight hits (four solo), including two sacks for a loss of 16 total yards.

Click here for Box Score.