Oct. 19, 2005
BEVERLY, MA - Endicott College head coach J.B. Wells won't have to give any moving pre-game speeches this week. Every run, pass and hit has been a prelude to this moment.
The Gulls (5-2, 3-0 NEFC Boyd Division) are ranked No. 5 in the Division III New England Poll and will enter a hostile Walter M. Katz Field at No. 7 Curry College (5-2, 4-0 NEFC Boyd) Saturday (12:00 pm) during the Colonels' Homecoming with first place in the New England Football Conference Boyd Division at stake. That is more than enough motivational fodder for EC's biggest game of the season to date.
However, the Endicott players can add to the boiling pot a pinch of revenge. The Colonels, who are a perfect 2-0 versus the Gulls (15-11 all-time), came into Endicott Stadium during the Gulls' Homecoming weekend in a game that had similar divisional and playoff implications and walked away 32-7 winners (Endicott's only Boyd loss).
Curry went on to win the Boyd Division and the NEFC championship game for the second consecutive season, each time earning an automatic NCAA bid in the process.
"We've played four good quarters (out of eight) against Curry in the last two meetings. In each loss we played well in the first half, but couldn't put together a strong second half. And you can't do that and beat a veteran team like Curry," said third-year Endicott head coach J.B. Wells.
"I think we're more of a veteran team this season and we're figuring out how to play 60 minutes of football. We've been close into the fourth quarter in all but two games. Those situations have prepared us for this game. I think if we can play solid past halftime, we're going to give them all they can handle."
When the football pundits write their sage weekly predictions the bullet points focus on securing the football and the bend but don't break philosophy. Endicott has been a model citizen in those two categories. The Gulls have taken care of the football and its defense has 18 interceptions and six fumbles for a +13 turnover margin. Meanwhile, Curry has a -3 turnover margin.
The Gulls have forced 12 turnovers in their last two games and Pego Jean-Paul (Stamford, CT/Stamford) is the team leader in interceptions (5) and tackles (28.5). T.J. Sawyer (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) and Orlando Johnson (Newport, RI/Rogers) have four picks apiece.
The Gulls are also averaging 24.1 points per game to Curry's 30.0, while EC is giving up 13.7 per game (which includes a 34-7 loss at RPI) while the Colonels have allowed 14.3 points. Endicott holds a slight edge in total defense (252.1 for EC: 268.1 for CC) while the Colonels have amassed 414.7 total yards to the Gulls' 374.3.
Endicott will also have Jay Munroe (Beverly, MA/Beverly) back in the middle of their defense. The linebacker missed the first six games due to injury but returned last week for Homecoming and made two tackles and recovered a fumble in EC's 35-0 shutout win over Salve Regina.
Another key defensive player for Endicott is defensive lineman Joe Leaver (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton). The junior ranks second on the team with 24.0 tackles and is surrounded by Matt Talis (Lynnfield, MA/Lynnfield), Matt McDonnell (Foxboro, MA/Xaverian) and Robert Brant (Hopkinton, MA/Natick).
Gerard Festa (Revere, MA/St. Mary's) heads up a running game that is second in the NEFC (238.4 yards per game). The junior's 794 yards rank third in the conference while Alex Smith (Winthrop, MA/Wintrhop) and Vinny Orlando (Manchester, Ma/Manchester-Essex) have combined for 947 yards, six touchdowns and just three interceptions with Ryan MacLean (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) a favorite target. The senior wideout has hauled in 25 passes for 343 yards and a score.
Punter Adam Labbe (Litchfield, ME/Oak Hill) has been a huge contributer to the defense. Labbe has 15 punts inside the 20-yard line and is averaging 36.7 yards per punt.
"We match up very evenly with Curry. In the stats we're even, our personnel is equal but Curry has a tradition of winning," said Wells. "In the past the third quarter has been where things have gone south. But it's been a point of pride. A lot of teams pride themselves on the fourth quarter but you have to come out and play well to begin the second half. You can't turn the ball over on offense and you have to hold off the opposition's offensive surge."
