Senior Anthony Pilla, a Marian graduate, will serve as one of three captains of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team, it was announced recently. The captains were elected by their teammates.Pilla is an outside linebacker who has started each of the past two seasons. Last year he compiled 41 tackles, including 22 unassisted, led the team with 8.5 tackles for lost yards (32) and had 2.5 sacks (17 yards). He had a team-best three forced fumbles, recovering one, with a blocked kick. He was the league’s Defensive Performer of the Week once and an All-Liberty League Second Team selection.In 2013, Pilla, a civil engineering major, had 53 tackles including 29 unassisted, 8.5 behind the line of scrimmage (37 yards lost) and 5.5 sacks (26 yards lost) in 10 games. He also broke up one pass.Pilla is one of 15 returning starters for RPI, which is coming off a 6-5 campaign (4-3 Liberty League). Rensselaer opens the 2015 season on September 5 when it hosts Norwich University in a game between teams that played in the post-season last year. Following a game at Alfred University on September 12, the Engineers host MIT, which played in the NCAA Playoffs in 2014, on September 19 at noon.