Hawk Talk

For the first time in the program’s history (since 1886), the Rensselaer football team was selected to participate in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Engineers (9-0), who completed their first-ever perfect regular season with a 17-6 win over Hobart, were invited to host national power Rowan (N.J.) University (8-1) on Nov. 20 on the Ned Harkness Field. Heading into the game (which occurred after press time), Rensselaer, which captured its third straight UCAA Championship, had won 12 straight games and 25 of its last 27 contests over the past three years. Prior to this season, the only Rensselaer team to go unbeaten in the program’s 114-year history was the 1911 squad, which finished 7-0-3.

The Engineers’ offense averages 208 yards rushing, 207 yards passing per game while the defense has allowed just 252 yards against per contest (71 yards rushing). The team, which outscored its nine opponents 324 to 73, entered the championship game leading the nation in turnover margin and ranked among the country’s top teams in several other categories,

Photo by Sean Russell/The Poly

including third in scoring defense (8.4 points against per game), fifth in pass efficiency defense (74.7), and 12th in rushing defense (630 rushing yards against). 

The Engineers, who have never faced Rowan, won both games they’ve played on Harkness Field, their all-weather, secondary home field. They defeated Worcester State, 69-12, in an ECAC Championship game on Nov. 18, 1995, and defeated Hobart, 16-14, on Nov. 15, 1997.