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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology returns home to face Manchester University in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football action on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Cook Stadium.
Rose-Hulman stands 4-2 overall and 3-1 in HCAC play entering Saturday's matchup. The Fightin' Engineers have defeated Hanover, Defiance and Anderson in conference play, along with a loss to Mount St. Joseph.
The Fightin' Engineers have relied on their defense for a solid start to the season. Rose-Hulman leads the HCAC in scoring defense (18.5 points per game) and is third in total defense (375.2 ypg). The defense has forced 16 sacks, 13 interceptions and six fumbles in the first six games.
John Kirby leads the defensive statistics with 44 tackles. Kevin Nowak and Alec Thompson pace the squad with three interceptions. Kaelen Garner is the HCAC leader in sacks (5.5) and Thompson has a team-high eight pass breakups.
Austin Swenson holds nearly 20 career school records entering Saturday's game. The three-year starting quarterback is the career record holder in pass completions (643), completion percentage (64.2%) and passing touchdowns (69).
Meanwhile, Alec Fisher is the one of the most decorated receivers in Rose-Hulman history. Fisher holds the career school record with 29 touchdown receptions and ranks third all-time in receptions (176) and fourth in receiving yards (2,169).
Junior Matt Murray has been named the HCAC Special Teams Player of the Week three times this season. Murray is 2-2 on field goals, 11-12 on extra points and averages 39.9 yards per punt so far in 2016.
Manchester seeks its first win of the season with four of its five losses coming by two touchdowns or less. The Spartans are coming off a 20-14 loss to Defiance last weekend. Tristan Chester is 92-168 through the air for 997 yards and four touchdowns to lead the passing offense. Defensively, Jack Kay leads the HCAC in tackles with 55 (11.0 per game) and Nathan Burk ranks third.
After this weekend's action, Rose-Hulman travels to HCAC leader Franklin College for a key matchup on Oct. 22.
