TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology opened the 2020-21 spring football season with a convincing and history making 52-6 win over Defiance College on Saturday afternoon.

Rose-Hulman gained 531 yards of total offense in the victory and held Defiance to just 124 total yards and -9 rushing yards on the afternoon.  Andrew Dion led the offense by completing 15-of-24 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns. 

Noah Thomas was the day's history maker, becoming Rose-Hulman's career leader for receiving yards in the win.  Thomas hauled in seven receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns, improving his career receiving total to a school record setting 2,562 yards.  The four-year starter ranks second in school history for receiving touchdowns (26) and fourth in total receptions (189).

Shane Welshans helped balance the attack with 61 rushing yards, and Lance Shelton added a 42-yard touchdown run to bolster the ground game.  Adam Saliu and T.J. Ballard provided receiving depth, with Saliu making three receptions for 98 yards and Ballard hauling in four catches for 50 yards.

Defense was a key story on the day, as Rose-Hulman tallied five sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss.  Michael Stevens had a team-high 12 tackles, one fumble recovery and one sack.  Andrew Hesse led the defense with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss among his six total tackles.  Rashard Brown added five tackles and one forced fumble, and Riley Roberts and Bryce Mefford also contributed five tackles.

Rose-Hulman scored quickly and often to take a 24-0 lead after the first quarter.  Adam Clark kicked a 22-yard field goal to give the Engineers a 3-0 lead.  Following a fumbled punt that gave Rose-Hulman the ball deep in Defiance territory, Dion hit Thomas on a 15-yard touchdown strike to give the Fightin' Engineers a 10-0 lead with 7:07 left in the opening quarter.

Shane Welshans pitched in two first quarter touchdowns to the performance.  Welshans scored on a 1-yard run and a 6-yard pass reception from Dion on the final play of the opening quarter to push the lead to 24-0.

Shelton added a 42-yard sprint down the left side of the field to make the score 31-0, and Dion connected with Thomas on a 56-yard scoring strike to make the score 38-0.

The lone Defiance score came late in the second quarter, when Daylon Lange connected with Amin Shaheed on a 13-yard touchdown pass to bring the Yellow Jackets within 38-6 at the half. 

Rose-Hulman added a pair of second half touchdowns for the final margin of victory.  Dion and Adam Saliu connected on a 48-yard pass in the third quarter, and Grant Ripperda scored on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Rose-Hulman also honored its 23 seniors prior to the season opener at Cook Stadium. Seniors honored today included Gavinn Bakker, T.J. Ballard, Jonathan Bartlett, Adam Clark, Ezenna Cmadu, Andrew Dion, Joshua Fisher, Alex Gipson, Nathan Griesbaum, Maxwell Hatch, Andrew Hesse, Jacob Huff, Adam Kinyon, Ryan Krouse, Bryce Mefford, Matthew Ogden, Tanner Payne, Jakob Quasebarth, Peyton Sakelaris, Adam Sturgeon, Noah Thomas, Dylan Turner, and Jake Zimmerman.

Rose-Hulman stands 1-0 on the season, while Defiance dropped to 0-1.  The Fightin' Engineers hit the road for Mount St. Joseph next Saturday at 2 pm.