TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman football team picked up a convincing win over Manchester on Saturday to remain undefeated in the HCAC this season with a final score of 52-14. The Fightin' Engineers currently lead the HCAC standings with a record of 6-2 overall and a perfect 4-0 record in the HCAC.
The team took the time before the game to honor their 17 seniors. Student-athletes were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Rose-Hulman football program by their family and friends.
Brock Zanetell led the offense with 266 passing yards and three passing touchdowns.
Alexander Marsteller was the lead rusher with 93 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Joseph Alexion led the receivers with nine catches for 106 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Alex Shryock and
Brandon Chan led the Rose-Hulman defense with four tackles each.
William Fleck and Curtic Gault were able to get in the backfield to record one sack each.
Andrew Madlem had a forced fumble and fumble recovery, and
Antonio Barnes came up with an interception.
Rose got on the board on their first drive of the game. The team dipped into their bag of tricks on fourth down, executing a fake punt with
Andrew Mrozinske passing across the middle to
Hugh Meighan for a 40-yard gain to keep the drive alive. The team got all the way down to the Manchester 18-yard line to set up a 35-yard field goal for
Cohen Peters to make the score 3-0.
The Fightin' Engineers extended their lead on the next drive, going 62 yards in nine plays, crossing the end zone on a two-yard rush by Marsteller to make the score 10-0. Marsteller would score again in the first quarter from one yard out to extend the Rose-Hulman lead to 17-0.
Rose-Hulman finished their explosive first quarter with a seven-play, 66-yard drive that ended in a two-yard passing touchdown from Zanetell to
Austin Porter to make the score 24-0.
Manchester reached the end zone in the second quarter to avoid the shutout, making the score 24-7.
The Rose-Hulman offense could not be stopped, adding another score on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Zanetell to Alexion right before the half to make the score 31-7 at the halftime break.
Rose opened the second half with a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended in a three-yard touchdown reception by Alexion, his second of the day, to extend the lead to 38-7.
The Fightin' Engineers secured the big win with two more scores, a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Porter and a six-yard rushing touchdown by
Frank Niyonyishu to defeat the Manchester Spartans with a final score of 52-14.
Rose-Hulman football will return to action on the road for the biggest game of the season. The Fightin' Engineers will face Mount St. Joseph on Saturday, November 7, at 1:30 PM for first place in the HCAC.
