TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology scored the last 24 points of the game to rally from a 21-7 deficit and claim a 31-21 victory over Hanover College in the 2021 Homecoming Game on Saturday at Cook Stadium.

After a 7-7 halftime tie, Hanover scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second half to take a 21-7 lead.  Rose-Hulman rallied with a 13-yard touchdown run by Grant Ripperda  and a 37-yard field goal by Jonathan Oliger to close within 21-17 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was all Rose-Hulman.  Andrew Dion connected with Jailen Hobbs on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 11:47 remaining to put the Fightin' Engineers ahead 24-21.  Dion then scored the game clinching touchdown with a 19-yard scoring run with 39 seconds left in the game to wrap up the scoring in the 31-21 victory.

Rose-Hulman's defense made the biggest play of the day to secure the win.  The Fightin' Engineers held a 24-21 lead with less than five minutes remaining, and Hanover reached the red zone to face a 3rd-and-goal on the 12-yard line.  Chaikou Sow hauled in an interception in the endzone and added a 42-yard return to not only prevent a potential score, but also give field position to the Engineers.

Dion completed 20-of-36 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown, along with a rushing score.  Shane Welshans rished for 70 yards and one touchdown, and Grant Ripperda added 46 rushing yards and another score.  

Noah Thomas led the receivers with six catches for 74 yards, and Adam Tice-Saliu added three receptions for 60 yards on the afternoon.

Riley Roberts had a team-high nine tackles along with 2.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks.  Sow added eight tackles, one pass breakup and his key interception.

Rashard Brown contributed seven tackles and one sack, and Michael Stevens had six tackles to provide defensive depth.

Hobbs led the special teams with 101 yards on three kickoff returns and 32 yards on a pair of punt returns.  His performance included a 65-yard kickoff return and a 27-yard punt return.

For Hanover, Matthew Weimer finished 13-of-27 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, Jared Frank had four receptions for 114 yards and a 51-yard touchdown, and Shawn Coane led the team with 79 rushing yards.  Walt Ballinger added a 28-yard second half score.

The score was tied 7-7 at the half after two first quarter touchdowns.  Welshans provided the second score from 3 yards out to tie the score.

Rose-Hulman snapped Hanover's 14-game HCAC winning game that dates to 2018, and also handed the Panthers their first HCAC road loss since 2017.  The Fightin' Engineers improved to 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in HCAC play, while Hanover dropped to 2-3 and 1-1 in league games.