Courtesy of WPI Athletic Communications
NEWPORT, R.I. -- In a back-and-forth game, Salve Regina University football 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, Conn.) to
Josh Letellier (Groton Long Point, Conn.), including the game-winner with just 24 seconds remaining, to secure the victory. Twice Letellier made spectacular grabs while also drawing pass interference flags on the Engineer defender which were declined.
Bellizzi completed 16-of-26 passes for 245 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Letellier hauled in seven passes for 158 yards and both touchdown catches. On the ground, running back
Justan Luzzi (Belleville, N.J.) led the Seahawks with 101 yards on 23 carries, including an 18-yard touchdown run. He has four straight games with over 100 yards on the ground.
Nick Bostrom (Norwell, Mass.) recorded six tackles and a sack, while
Jack Zingaro (Newtown, Conn.) 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, following
Mark Sokk's (Bloomfield, Conn.) first pick of the season. 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 over three minutes to play, Salve Regina mounted the game-winning drive. Bellizzi connected with Letellier again, this time for a 15-yard touchdown, despite a WPI defender getting flagged for pass interference (declined). The Seahawks' defense sealed the victory with an interception by Zingaro on WPI's final possession.
For WPI, quarterback Mike Ingraffia (Kings Park, N.Y.) completed 16-of-34 passes for 171 yards, while also rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown. John Chau (Suffern, N.Y.) 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, Conn.) contributed six catches for 67 yards, while Aaron Skaling (Bedford, N.H.) had three for 38.
Defensively for WPI, Gavin Chieff (Bernardsville, N.J.) led all players with a career-high 19 tackles, also grabbing an interception. Frankie Polito (Shrewsbury, Mass.) finished with eight stops, while Michael Duggan (Tewksbury, Mass.) added a sack.
Both teams close out the 2024 season on Saturday, November 16 at noon. WPI plays host to MIT and Salve Regina welcomes Norwich.
SUMMARY
- 2nd | 13:05 | SRU - Justan Luzzi 18 yd run (Nathan DiRado kick), 1 plays, 18 yards, TOP 0:10 | Seahawks 7, Engineers 0
- 2nd | 00:35 | WPI - Mike Ingraffia 14 yd run (Brock Dubey kick), 8 plays, 96 yards, TOP 3:03 | Seahawks 7, Engineers 7
- 3rd | 04:46 | WPI - John Chau 10 yd run (Brock Dubey kick), 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 4:12 | Engineers 14, Seahawks 7
- 4th | 11:52 | SRU - Josh Letellier 30 yd pass from Anthony Bellizzi (Nathan DiRado kick) 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:53 | Seahawks 14, Engineers 14
- 4th | 00:24 | SRU - Josh Letellier 15 yd pass from Anthony Bellizzi (Nathan DiRado kick) 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:44 | Seahawks 21, Engineers 14
