Oct 25, 2025
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – MIT senior defensive back Lucky Deignan intercepted Salve Regina quarterback Thomas Fallon in the end zone with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter to seal a 28-20 NEWMAC victory for the Engineers over the Seahawks on Saturday at Henry G. Steinbrenner '27 Stadium.
MIT's defense recorded four interceptions on the day, including a pick-six from defensive back Dominic Hess that capped a dominant second quarter for MIT. The Engineers got out to a 21-6 halftime lead before Salve rallied to close the deficit to 21-12 in the third quarter. A four-yard touchdown run from Andrew Kulhan gave MIT a 28-12 fourth quarter lead before the Engineers held off a late Salve Regina rally to earn the victory.
THE BASICS:
- Score: MIT 28, Salve Regina 20
- Records: Salve Regina 4-3 Overall (1-3 NEWMAC), MIT 3-3 (1-3 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Salve Regina scored the game's first touchdown in the first quarter, completing a 13-play, 58-yard drive when Fallon connected with Max Collins in the left corner of the end zone to make the score 6-0. The point-after touchdown was blocked by the Engineers, as Varun Ravillacharged through the line to deny the extra point and set the tone for the remainder of the first half.
- MIT's defense would force turnovers on downs on each of the next two Salve Regina drives before recording three interceptions during a dominant second quarter. The Engineers scored three times and produced three turnovers during the second quarter to take a 21-6 lead at halftime.
- The first MIT drive of the second quarter ended with a Shaunak Joshi touchdown pass to Michael Dennison. Luke Pelletier's extra point gave MIT its first lead, at 7-6.
- Salve turned the ball over on downs on its next possession before the two teams exchanged interceptions on back-to-back plays on the next two drives. With MIT on the move in its own territory, Dylan DeAngelis picked off Joshi at the MIT 39. One play later, Gyeongwu Kim picked off Fallon to give the ball back to the Engineers at the MIT 28.
- With a second chance, MIT took advantage, moving the ball 72-yards in just six plays as Joshi found Griffin Patterson on a 13-yard strike to make the score 14-6 with 4:10 left in the opening half.
- The final MIT touchdown of the half came thanks to the defense, as Dominic Hess intercepted Fallon on the second play of the ensuing Salve possession, taking the ball 39-yards back to the end zone for six.
- The final MIT possession of the opening half ended with a Salve interception when Salve's James Minotti picked off Joshi in the final minute of play. Minotti's interception set-up Salve with one last chance but once again it was Hess who ended the rally as a half-ending throw deep toward the end zone was intercepted by Hess at 12-yard line.
- The Seahawks scored the only touchdown of the third quarter, a 15-yard pass from Fallon to Jacoby Smith that pulled Salve within striking distance, at 21-12. However, the Seahawks two-point conversion failed, and the game moved to the fourth with MIT continuing to lead by nine.
- MIT's final drive of the third quarter stretched into the fourth before Kulhan stretched into the end zone on a four-yard run to make the score 28-12 with 13;20 remaining.
- Salve scored on its next drive, putting together back-to-back touchdown drives for the first time on the day after moving the ball 75-yards over 10 plays. Fallon connected with Smith again, this time for a nine-yard touchdown pass.
- MIT got the ball back with 8:57 to play and moved 34 yards over ten plays for the Engineers' own 39-yard line to the Salve 27 before the drive stalled and saw MIT turn the ball over on downs with 3:41 left in the game.
- Salve's offense continued to move the ball on its final drive, moving deep into MIT territory as time continued to tick off the clock. Justan Luzzi carried the ball five times and Fallon added a pair of completions as Salve moved to the MIT 23 with 4th and 1 to go.
- Needing a first down, the visitors opted to take a shot at the end zone but Deignan ended the drive and sealed the game with an outstretched interception in the end zone with 59 seconds remaining.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Hess finished the game with eight tackles and two interceptions, recording his second straight game with two interceptions.
- Linebacker Wyatt Alford had a team-high nine tackles for the Engineers, one ahead of Hess and linebacker Thomas Shoales.
- Dennison was Joshi's favorite target on the day, finishing with seven receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. Dennison has a career-high three touchdown receptions this season to go along with 382 yards receiving.
- Griffin Patterson added six receptions for 57 yards and a score of his own.
- Joshi started for the first time this season, finishing the game 19-of-36 for 265 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
- Kulhan scored his team-leading fifth rushing touchdown in six games this season.
- The Engineers claimed their first win over Salve Regina since 2014 and are now 7-21 all-time against the Seahawks.
UP NEXT:
-
The Engineers will be back home at Steinbrenner Stadium in one week when MIT hosts WPI in NEWMAC play on Saturday, November 1 at 1:00 PM.