Aug. 17, 2005

BEVERLY, MA -- With 22 starters returning, the Gulls hope 2005 will bring them closer to their ultimate goal of a New England Football Conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Instrumental in reaching those goals is Endicott's first senior class, a group that arrived on campus with little more than a promise that they would be influential in building a college football program from the ground up. The 2005 season marks the third season of varsity competition for the team, which has improved its record each year.

"This senior class is special. These guys came here when we literally had nothing to offer but challenges and opportunities. They have done their best to rise to some pretty high expectations," said head coach J.B. Wells, "and our early success is directly related to their perseverance and leadership."

Paving the way for the Gulls' offense is a deep and talented offensive line, led by junior All-NEFC tackle Angelo Perrina (Reading, MA), senior centers Rob Velasquez (Laconia, NH) and Jeremy Fields (Gales Ferry, CT) and tackle Chris Milliken (Amherst, NH) returns. Juniors Ross Crimaldi (Milford, MA), Joe Cooney (Cranston, RI), Jared Fisher (Westerly, RI) and sophomore Jeff Learned (Clinton, MA) all saw significant playing time last season in Endicott's offensive line rotation.

Gerard Festa (Revere, MA) led the Gulls with 800 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in 2004. With talented classmates Tim Boyd (Rockland, MA), Hull Manwaring (Niantic, CT), Matt Thompson (Clinton, MA) and Jeff Trinque (Clinton, MA) all returning at running back, the competition for carries will be stiff.

Sophomore quarterbacks Alex Smith (Winthrop, MA) and Vinny Orlando (Manchester, MA) both started, and won games last season. Coach Wells is looking for the pair to push each other and give the Gulls and double threat. The quarterbacks' main target will likely be fellow sophomore Ryan MacLean (Mansfield, MA).

Senior Ricky Burton (Dorchester, MA) and juniors T.J. Gramstorff (Londonderry, NH) and Andy Roy (Manchetser, NH) will also contribute. Senior All-NEFC tight end Kevin Samaha (Concord, NH) will look to pick up where he left off in 2004 where he led the team in touchdown catches. He will be backed up by sophomores Jake Maxfield (Newport, NH) and converted linebacker Andrew Bettencourt (Peabody, MA).

Defensively, the Gulls return 23 players started at least one game in 2004. Leading the charge will be first team All-NEFC defensive back Orlando Johnson (Newport, RI) who returns for his junior campaign. Slowed by injuries last season, senior Mike Farrell (East Longmeadow, MA) will look to regain the form that saw him gain All-NEFC honors in 2003. Juniors T.J. Sawyer (South Burlington, VT) and David Gilmore (Londonderry, NH) have become leaders at cornerback and safety, and super sophomores Jared Giblin (Mansfield, MA) and Pego Jean-Paul (Stamford, CT) worked themselves into significant roles at the end of last season.

Juniors Mike Baklik (Haddam, CT) proved to be formidable against the run as well as the pass, and is interchangeable in both the free and strong safety positions.

All-NEFC linebacker Jay Munroe (Beverly, MA) heads up a solid group of linebackers. Senior Jesse Blackwell (Concord, NH), juniors Mike Petrini (Ridgefield, CT) and Ryan Paquette (Middlebury, VT) all return. A talented sophomore group featuring Joe DePamphilis (Winthrop, MA) and Mike Kelley (Abington, MA) made significant contributions to an already talented position group.

All-NEFC defensive end Joe Leaver (Stoughton, MA) and junior classmate defensive tackle Gary Palmieri (Peabody, MA) lead the defensive line. Joining Leaver and Palmieri will be seniors Victor Lawrence (Ledyard, CT) and Erico Lopez (Boston, MA) and juniors Justin Garland (Holliston, MA) and Matt McDonnell (Foxboro, MA) who saw significant minutes in the trenches last season.

Junior Adam Mahar (Athol, MA) posted impressive numbers in his first year as a place kicker and showed power in his kick offs. Sophomore Adam Labbe (Litchfield, ME) will also vie for time.

Orlando Johnson has continued to be one of the most dangerous punt and kickoff return men in the NEFC. He possesses the speed, skill and ability to evade would-be tacklers.

Endicott will play a challenging 10 game schedule in 2005, beginning with non-conference opponents Hartwick College and Rensselear Polytechnic Institute before embarking on their NEFC schedule. Key match-ups will be the homecoming game against Salve Regina, as well as annual slugfests with divisional rivals UMass-Dartmouth and Curry.

With the return of many players from 2004 and the addition of another talented recruiting class the expectations remain high in Beverly.

"Our team took another big step toward our goals of winning the NEFC championship and participating in the NCAA Playoffs" said coach Wells. "This past off-season was the best of any team I have ever been a part of. The leadership, strength and speed gains, and tremendous commitment and chemistry will pay off big dividends this fall."