PITTSFORD, N.Y. — The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team closed its 2025 season with a 35-24 victory against St. John Fisher University in the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl this afternoon at Growney Stadium. The win marked RPI's third ECAC Bowl title in four years (2022, 2023, 2025) and capped an eight-win campaign for the Engineers.
RPI struck first on its opening drive, marching 70 yards in just under six minutes as quarterback Anthony DeMatteo connected with Robbie Peterson for a three-yard touchdown. St. John Fisher responded with a field goal to trail by five, 7-3, but the Engineers quickly regained momentum when defensive lineman Cortez Garrett forced a fumble and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to give RPI the 14-3 advantage. The Cardinals answered with back-to-back touchdown passes from Ryan Whitney late in the second quarter to take a 17-14 halftime lead.
The Engineers wasted no time regaining control after the break, on the second play of the third quarter, Kayden White broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run to put RPI back ahead, 21–17. Later in the period, DeMatteo found tight end Josh Young on a one-yard scoring strike following a 55-yard burst by White, extending the lead to 28–17.
RPI put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter with a methodical 11-play, 82-yard drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass from DeMatteo to RJ Encarnacion.
White was named the game's Most Valuable Player after leading the RPI offense with 128 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, averaging 11.6 yards per attempt. DeMatteo was efficient through the air, completing 13-of-17 passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Paisley Nickelson caught two passes for a team-high 54 yards, while Peterson, Young, and Encarnacion each hauled in touchdown receptions.
Defensively, Miles Lafferty led the Engineers with eight tackles and a sack, while Aidan Bekkenhuis added seven stops, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. Garrett delivered one of the game's pivotal plays with his strip-sack and score, while Griffin Kramer and Garrett each recorded interceptions in the second half. The RPI defense also tallied six tackles for loss and two sacks while forcing four total turnovers.