VIDEO INTERVIEW - JEFF SOKOL
VIDEO INTERVIEW - AUSTIN SWENSON
VIDEO INTERVIEW - GREG LEE
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology set multiple school records in a historic triple overtime thriller, topping Illinois College 74-68 in a game that tied the NCAA Division III record for points in a game.
Rose-Hulman set school records for total offense in a game (824 yards), passing yards in a game (603), touchdown passes (7) and total plays run (114). Illinois College also made history with 745 yards of total offense.
The two teams combined for 1,569 yards of total offense, 1,138 yards of passing offense and 77 first downs in a game that tied the longest contest in Rose-Hulman football history at three overtimes.
The Fightin' Engineers also set a new NCAA Division III national record for first downs in a game with 41, and the two teams set a new national record with 77 combined first downs. The national record for touchdown passes in a game between both teams also fell, as the teams combined for 13 to top the previous mark of 12.
Both teams also set the NCAA Division III single game record for offensive plays in a game. Illinois College holds the new national record with 117 offensive plays, Rose-Hulman ran 114 and the two teams combined for a new mark of 231 plays from scrimmage.
Sophomore Austin Swenson finished 37-60 through the air with school records of 603 passing yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Rose-Hulman offense. Sophomore Alec Fisher led the receivers with 10 catches for 219 yards and three touchdowns, and sophomore Joe Moehrle added seven receptions for 105 yards and three touchdowns.
Fisher's performance ranked second in school history in receiving yards (219). Both Fisher and Moehrle tied for third in single-game Rose-Hulman history with three touchdown catches each.
Other key receivers included junior Aaron Abbott with eight receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown, along with senior Zac Erba with five receptions for 129 yards.
Senior Greg Lee led the Fightin' Engineer ground attack with 162 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. Defensively, junior Chris Sander led Rose-Hulman with 21 tackles for the second most in a game in school history.
Michael Bates led the Illinois College offense with a 42-73 performance for 535 yards and six touchdowns through the air. Josh Gentile had 14 catches for 261 yards and three touchdowns, and Bryce Heaton added 16 catches for 201 yards and three scores. Dakota Lammy led the ground game with 125 yards and three touchdowns.
For a game with 231 plays run, the game was played relatively turnover free as each team committed only one turnover. Coincidentally, both turnovers happened on the same play from scrimmage.
Illinois College jumped out to a 19-3 lead early in the second quarter on three touchdown passes from Bates. Rose-Hulman answered with 27 consecutive points to take a 30-19 lead.
The Rose-Hulman rally started with a 15-yard pass from Swenson to Moehrle at the 11:28 mark of the second quarter. Swenson and Fisher then hooked up on touchdown passes of 67, 34 and 20 yards to give the Engineers the lead at halftime.
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The third quarter featured two more touchdown passes by Swenson, a 14-yard strike to Abbott and a 22-yard pass to Moehrle. Illinois College also had a 62-yard score from Bates to Gentile, as the Engineers took a 44-33 lead to the fourth quarter.
The wild fourth quarter featured six touchdowns and a field goal to knot the score at 61-61 after regulation. Rose-Hulman led 51-40, before Illinois College regained the advantage at 54-51 on two touchdown passes from Bates.
Rose-Hulman tied the score at 54-54 on a 23-yard field goal by Craig Larew with 4:56 remaining. The Fightin' Engineer defense came up with two stops to give Rose-Hulman the ball on its own 35-yard line with 2:21 left in a 54-54 tie.
Three plays later, Lee sprinted 45 yards for a touchdown that gave Rose-Hulman a 61-54 edge with 1:25 on the clock. Illinois College relied on a 53-yard touchdown run by Lammy to tie the score again at 61-61.
Rose-Hulman marched to the Illinois College 27-yard line, before a 45-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide to the left on the final play of regulation.
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In overtime, Lammy put Illinois College ahead 68-61 on its opening possession on a six-yard touchdown run. Rose-Hulman answered to tie the score at 68-68, as Swenson connected with Moehrle on a 13-yard scoring strike. Larew's clutch extra point forced the second overtime.
In the second extra period, Rose-Hulman was held scoreless after Illinois College defensive lineman Dylan Ringhausen recorded a key sack. The Fightin' Engineer defense answered with a stop of its own, as a potential game winning 36-yard field goal for the Blueboys fell short.
In the third overtime, Rose-Hulman answered with another stop. The Engineers relied on a sack by Andrew Schuelke and pass breakups by Sander and Joseph Woodley to force another Illinois College field goal try that missed wide right.
Rose-Hulman would win with a score in the third overtime, and a 16-yard pass from Swenson to Barry Tomasetti on the opening play of the drive gave the Engineers first and goal. Three plays later, Lee scored on a three-yard touchdown to give Rose-Hulman the 74-68 win and set off jubilation in Rose-Hulman's "Red Out" game.
Rose-Hulman improved to 2-0 on the season, while Illinois College stands 1-1. The Fightin' Engineers return to action at Hanover College on Saturday.
