Oct. 2, 2004
Beverly, MA-- Endicott pulled off a double overtime win today in what could turn out to be a preview of the Boyd Division Championship. The Gulls matched up against the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth in a NEFC Boyd Division bout. The Corsairs, fresh off their 18-13 victory over 2003 NEFC Champions, Curry College, had recently jumped up to 5th in the New England Division III football poll.
With both teams at a stalemate, UMass put the pressure on late in the first quarter. The Corsairs had a golden opportunity to strike first, but the Gulls defense forced UMass placekicker Derek Bealby's (Peterborough, NH) field goal attempt wide.
UMass special teams would falter again in the second quarter. Bealby's 37 yard field goal attempt was blocked by Jay Munroe (Beverly, MA/ Beverly) and recovered by the defense. Both teams played a very defensive game with a total of 22 punts. Orlando Johnson (Newport, RI/Rogers) led the Endicott defense with 10 tackles.
In the 4th quarter with UMass in the Gulls' red zone, the Corsairs had their best scoring opportunity of the afternoon but the EC defense remained strong and recovered a UMD fumble to end the threat.
The game was sent into overtime, with a scoreless regulation. With UMass at 3rd and goal, senior quarterback, Vladamiro Teixerra (Dorchester, MA) ran into the end zone to put UMD on the board. Bealby redeemed himself by kicking the extra point.
An illegal shift against EC had brought the Gulls to 4th and 4. In one of the biggest catches of the day, junior split end Ricky Burton (Mattapan, MA/ Amherst Regional) received quarterback Alex Smith's (Winthrop, MA/ Winthrop) pass to bring Endicott to 1st and goal. With 1 yard to go Endicott's' hammer offense allowed Gerard Festa (Revere, MA/Revere) to score. Kicker Adam Maher kept the Gulls alive by kicking the extra point and forcing the game into double overtime.
This time it would be the Gulls playing offense first. Smith found Kevin Samaha (Concord, MA/Concord) for a gain of 6 yards to bring Endicott to the UMD 19. Two plays later, Matt Thompson (Clinton, MA/Clinton) rushed for 19 yards for the touchdown to give Endicott the lead 13-7. Maher added some insurance by kicking his second extra point in overtime. With a fired up defense, the Gulls would not allow UMass any yards in their second offensive chance in overtime. In Teixeira's fourth down attempt, his pass was intercepted in the end zone by freshman Pego Jean-Paul (Stamford, CT/Stamford).
UMass (3-2, 1-2 Boyd) faces Nichols College next Saturday at home at noon. The Gulls (3-2, 2-0 Boyd) travel to Fitchburg State next Saturday at 1PM for an important NEFC match up.