WPI 46, Mount Ida 20 

Box Score

Newton, MA --- Senior running back Garrett Vandette (North Attleboro, MA) rushed for career-highs of 180 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries, as the WPI football team cruised to a 46-20 victory over Mount Ida College this afternoon at the Mount Ida Athletic Stadium. With the win, WPI snapped a five-game losing streak and improved its overall record to 3-5. The Mustangs fell to 4-4 on the year.

Despite Mount Ida's first home loss of the fall, senior running back Antwan Harris (Hartford, CT) reached a career milestone . With his 150 yards on the ground today, the captain brought his career total to 4,061. The school's all-time leading rusher, he became just the ninth player in New England Division III history to eclipse the 4,000-yard mark.

WPI scored on five of its six possessions in the first half and never looked back. Vandette exploded down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown scamper on the game's first play from scrimmage. He then tallied scoring runs of six and 16 yards to put the Engineers in front 20-0 early in the second quarter.

Mount Ida got on the board with 11:22 remaining in the second quarter, when freshman Corey Sullivan (New Haven, CT) broke off a 56-yard touchdown run to slice the deficit to 20-8. The quarterback finished the day with 123 yards on 16 carries.

Wide receivers Matt Burger (Ballston Lake, NY) and Mike Butler (Athol, MA) collected touchdown receptions of 28 and 35, yards respectively to extend the Engineers lead to 33-8 at the halftime break.

Each squad found the endzone twice in the second half. Harris registered a two-yard touchdown plunge to cap off a six-play, 43-yard drive midway through the third quarter. His seventh score of the season made the score 33-14.

Vandette answered with his fourth touchdown of the day less than two minutes later. His eight-yard run put the finishing touches on a five-play, 59-yard drive.

Following an injury to Sullivan, sophomore quarterback Marc Skehan (Irvington, NY) marched the Mustangs 63 yards in seven plays. He found freshman fullback La-Ronn Zimmerman (Waterbury, CT) for a six-yard score to cap things off with 7:24 to go in regulation. It was the first collegiate touchdown for both players.

Sophomore Justin Wells (Jay, Maine) wrapped things up for WPI with a two-yard touchdown three minutes later.

The Engineers piled up 476 yards of total offense. Junior quarterback Rob Pantalone (Camp Hill, PA) was effective both in the passing game and on the ground. He completed 8-of-12 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns while carrying seven times for 66 yards. Burger caught seven balls for a game-best 140 yards, while Butler recorded four catches for 61 yards.

WPI limited Mount Ida to 368 yards of total offense behind strong play from sophomore linebacker Matt Boudreau (Rensselaer, NY), who totaled 11 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. Junior linebacker Dustin Bradway (Glastonbury, CT) also contributed seven tackles for the visitors.

The Mustangs defensive effort was led by freshman Theo Sowell (Colchester, CT). The safety finished the day with a squad-best six tackles.

Both squads will close out their 2006 campaigns next Saturday at noon. WPI (3-5, 0-5 LL) is slated to host Saint Lawrence University for a Liberty League contest, while Mount Ida (4-4, Independent) will welcome Maritime College (SUNY).

Release courtesy of Mount Ida Sports Information