Westwood, MA — WPI football saw five standout performers earn spots on the 2024 NEWMAC Postseason All-Conference Teams, as voted on by the league’s coaches following the conclusion of the regular season.
The Engineers boasted three first-team selections, with Billy Tyrrell (Oxford, MA), Douglas Cain (Jefferson, MA), and Gavin Chieff (Bernardsville, NJ) earning their first-team nods after second-team honors in 2023. Senior offensive lineman Thomas McDonagh (Northport, NY) and graduate quarterback Mike Ingraffia (Kings Park, NY) also claimed their first career postseason accolades.
Tyrrell anchored an offensive line that helped the Engineers amass 1,519 rushing yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, and scoring seven rushing touchdowns. The veteran lineman also contributed to a passing attack that delivered 24 touchdowns. Tyrrell concludes his WPI career with 35 appearances in the Crimson and Gray.
Cain emerged as a pivotal offensive weapon, posting career highs in receptions (36), receiving yards (294), and touchdowns (4). The graduate tight end excelled as both a receiver and blocker, bolstering the Engineers’ dynamic passing game. Cain finishes his career with 80 receptions for 758 yards and nine touchdowns across 38 games.
Chieff led the NEWMAC in total tackles (94) and ranked second in solo stops (60), averaging 9.4 tackles per game. He also logged a career-high four interceptions this season, bringing his career total to seven. Chieff earned two NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Week honors and capped his career with 232 tackles, 164 solo stops, one sack, one fumble recovery, and a blocked field goal in 34 games played.
McDonagh earned his first all-conference nod after excelling as a left tackle, providing key blind-side protection. Alongside Tyrrell, McDonagh helped WPI’s offense tally 1,519 rushing yards and 24 passing touchdowns. His blocking played a crucial role in both the ground game and aerial attack.
Ingraffia made an immediate impact in his first season with WPI, contributing both on the ground and through the air. He rushed for 392 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Through the air, he completed 154-of-255 passes (60.39%) for 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns. Ingraffia notched six multi-touchdown games and was named NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Week twice. Over a three-game stretch, he passed for 813 yards with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions, adding a rushing touchdown to his totals.
The contributions of Tyrrell, Cain, Chieff, McDonagh, and Ingraffia helped WPI finish the 2024 season with a 6-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark in NEWMAC play, marking the program’s first winning season since 2019.
NEWMAC Release
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