EDWARDSVILLE – Visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) led from start to finish holding off a furious Wilkes University late comeback attempt handing the Colonels their first loss of the season 32-25 in the squad's home debut Friday night at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes fell to 1-1 overall on the season following the home defeat while RPI picked up its first victory of 2024 standing 1-1.
 
After an opening drive that finished with a punt, the RPI defense came up with the game's first big play when they caused a Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) fumble deep in Engineers territory returning the ball back to the Wilkes 32 to setup the first points of the night. Five plays later Christian Buckley ran through the middle of the Wilkes defense from five yards out to put the visitors up 6-0 after the extra point attempt was blocked.
 
Wilkes responded on a closing drive of the first quarter as Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) made good on a 25-yard field goal attempt to cut the lead to 6-3 with :55 left in the opening frame.
 
RPI used a nine-play, 48 yard drive on the ensuing possession settling for a 29-yard field goal of its own to push the lead back to six at 9-3 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
 
After forcing a Wilkes punt, RPI marched down the field for another scoring drive, this time using the pass to setup the five yard touchdown run from quarterback Jake Kazanowsky to extend the advantage to 16-3 at the break.
 
The Colonels received the second half kickoff and used a 13-play, 80 yard drive to gain the momentum back again as the scoring drive was capped off by an Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) two yard rushing score to cut the deficit to 16-10 with 8:28 left in the stanza.
 
The Engineers finished off the scoring in the third frame with another field goal from Aleksandar Maric, a 31-yard attempt that sailed through to make it a 19-10 lead as the teams headed to the final quarter of play.
 
Wilkes punted on its first drive of the fourth, but RPI could not capitalize as the 33-yard field goal attempt by MAric was blocked setting up the Colonels at their own 32 yard line. The Wilkes offense marched down the field using the pass and run before Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) pushed through from one yard out to cut the lead to one score at 26-18 following a two point conversion that was successful.
 
Wilkes forced a punt on RPI's next possession, but on the Colonel first play of the following possession, quarterback Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) was picked off by Anthony D'Agostino to end the rally. From there, Kayden White darted off the left side for a 39-yard touchdown run to push the lead back to double figures at 32-18 with 3:44 left in the game.
 
Wilkes tried one last comeback attempt on the next offensive possession when Powell found Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) in the back of the endzone from five yards away capping an eight play, 86-yard drive to bring the Colonels to within seven at 32-25 with :18 left on the clock.
 
The onside kick attempt was recovered by RPI and the visitors sealed the game with one knee to recorded their first victory of the season.
 
Powell finished 25-for-36 for 292 yards and one touchdown through the air while also leading the team in rushing carrying 13 times for 83 yards. Justin Moore (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) top the receivers with four catches for 68 yards.
 
Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) anchored the defensive unit for Wilkes finishing with a team-high 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Rob Barbieri (Avoca, PA/Pittston Area) followed with eight tackles while Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) recorded his second interception of the season.
 
Wilkes takes to the road Saturday with a non-conference contest at Brockport State at 1:00 p.m.