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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Official Athletics Website of the MIT Engineers
MIT
MIT football offensive line
Aiden Shertzer
13
MIT MIT 2-1 , 0-1
19
Winner Springfield SPR 3-1 , 1-0
MIT MIT
2-1 , 0-1
13
Final
19
Springfield SPR
3-1 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MIT MIT 6 7 0 0 13
SPR Springfield 3 3 7 6 19

Game Recap: Football |

Springfield Escapes With 19-13 Win Over MIT Football in NEWMAC Opener

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield College defensive back Will Aviles blocked Luke Pelletier's go-ahead field goal attempt and returned it 68 yards for a game-winning touchdown with 1:49 left in regulation to help the host Pride escape with a 19-13 victory over the MIT football team in the NEWMAC opener for both teams at a windy and rainy Stagg Field on Saturday afternoon. 

THE BASICS: 

  • Score: Springfield 19, MIT 13 
  • Records: Springfield (3-1 Overall, 1-0 NEWMAC), MIT (2-1 Overall, 0-1

HOW IT HAPPENED:   

  • Springfield put up three points on its opening drive of the game. Kyle Melville returned the opening kickoff of the game 30 yards to midfield before the Pride offense moved the ball 27 yards on seven runs to set up Ian Wernik for a 40-yard field goal, making the score 3-0 at 10:56 of the first. 
  • MIT was forced to punt on its first drive, but the Engineers' special teams came up with a big play on the ensuing Springfield drive. After going three and out, Springfield's punt attempt was blocked by MIT defensive back Willem van Roijen. The block returned the ball to the Engineers at the Springfield 13-yard line. 
  • That set up Ryan Treptow and the MIT offense for the game's first touchdown, as Treptow connected with senior Keegan Doody for an 11-yard reception at 6:28. MIT's extra point attempt was no-good, giving the Engineers a 6-3 lead. 
  • With Springfield driving into MIT territory on its next drive, Wyatt Alford forced a fumble with a big hit on Desmond Perezcastaneda that Joshua Tang recovered at midfield for MIT. MIT was unable to convert the turnover into points, but the Engineers still carried a 6-3 lead into the second quarter.  
  • Springfield tied the score at 6:17 of the second quarter thanks to Wernik's second field goal of the game. However, MIT immediately had an answer on its next drive. The Engineers moved the ball 78 yards on 6 plays, as Treptow looped a pass over the middle to Owen Rourke for a 21-yard touchdown to put MIT back ahead 12-6 with 3:11 left in the half. Pelletier's extra point was good, giving MIT a 13-6 lead that the Engineers would take into the break.  
  • MIT went three and out on its opening drive of the second half, but the defense answered the call on the first Springfield play after halftime as a fumble at the line was recovered by Chase Fishman to return the ball to Treptow and the offense. A pair of passes from Treptow were incomplete to start the next MIT drive before Springfield linebacker Mike Mendicino intercepted the MIT quarterback to give the ball back to the Pride.  
  • Mendicino's interception set up Springfield's most complete drive of the day, a nine-play, 71-yard sequence that resulted in a one-yard touchdown rush from Jayden Aziz. Wernik split the uprights on the extra point to tie the game at 13-13 at 8:10 of the third quarter.  
  • The defenses took over as the rain started to pick up as the game moved through the third quarter and into the fourth. Both MIT and Springfield were forced into a pair of punts at the end of the third quarter, sending the game to the fourth quarter tied.  
  • A nine-play MIT drive at the start of the fourth quarter came to an end on downs at the Springfield 38-yard line. The Pride earned the ball back only to see its next drive end with a punt after six plays and almost four minutes of game time.  
  • That set up MIT with an opportunity to win the game, and the Engineers responded with MIT's best drive of the contest. MIT moved the ball 87 yards on 10 plays, despite Treptow leaving the game midway through the drive. Backup Noah Hopkins entered the game following an MIT timeout on 3rd and 5 and found tight end Michael Dennison across the middle for a 53-yard reception that moved the Engineers to the Springfield 16-yard line.  
  • A one-yard run and a pair of incompletions set the stage for a go-ahead field goal attempt from MIT but Pelletier's attempt was blocked by Aviles who scooped the ball up and ran through the rain to the opposite end zone to give the Pride an improbable 19-13 lead.  
  • MIT got one more chance on its final drive. Jimmy Conners returned a short kickoff to near midfield. Following an MIT penalty and incompletion, Hopkins found Brendan Spellman for seven yards up the sideline and Doody for 29 yards to move the ball to the Springfield 22-yard line. Forced into 3rd-and-13 following a short run and a sack, Hopkins was intercepted by Mendicino inside the red zone to seal the win for Springfield. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:  

  • Springfield has now won five straight match ups against the Engineers. 
  • MIT's last victory in the series came in 2019. 
  • Doody has now scored in three straight games to start the season. He has five receiving touchdowns in his last five games dating back to last season.  
  • Springfield totaled 248 yards on the ground while limiting MIT to 43 yards. 
  • The Engineers had 227 passing yards. The Pride did not complete a pass, attempting only three throws. 
  • MIT did not have an interception for the first time this season but recovered a season-best two fumbles. 

UP NEXT: 

  • MIT returns home to host the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday, October 3 at 12:00 PM. 

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