Oct. 18, 2008
BEVERLY, Mass. - Curry College used a 37 point offensive outpouring in the first half to hold off Endicott College, 46-27, in a New England Football Conference Boyd Division shootout on Homecoming Weekend in Beverly, Massachusetts. The Colonels remain unbeaten, improving their record to 7-0 (4-0 NEFC) while Endicott falls to 2-5 (1-3 NEFC).
Curry senior quarterback Ryan Van De Giesen (N. Attleboro, Mass.) was 14-of-26 for 324 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The Colonels also had four separate running backs break the goal line, as the visitors ran the ball 58 times for 229 yards.
After Endicott went three-and-out to open the contest, Curry took over at its own 33 yard line. The Colonels wasted no time putting digits on the board as Aljumaa McKenney (Millbury, Mass.) capped off a 7-play, 68-yard drive with a five-yard plunge up the middle. Matt Alksninis (Mansfield, Mass.) missed the point after.
The Curry defense continued to stifle any Endicott offensive opportunities, forcing another three-and-out to take possession on its own 29-yard line. Van De Giesen completed three passes, two of which went for gains of 34 and 19 yards, allowing Jamaal Woods (Malden, Mass.) to break the plain on a five-yard carry for the 13-0 lead.
Curry struck again late in the first quarter when Van De Giesen connected with Norman Landry (Blackstone, Mass.) for a 71-yard score. The quarterback froze the Endicott secondary as he tucked the ball away at his hip on a play action, allowing Landry to streak down the far sideline for the wide-open TD reception.
The Gulls finally got on board when a speedy Mike Lane (Medfield, Mass.) took a handoff and was able to turn the corner and race down the sideline for a 39-yard rush to pay dirt. Unbelievably, Curry was able to turn a negative into a positive as the Colonels blocked the point after attempt and returned the loose ball 98-yards to tack on two additional points.
The Endicott defense put together a stop on the ensuing drive, allowing quarterback Phil Konopka (Shelton, Conn.) to hook-up with Tim Viall (Sandwich, Mass.) for a 62-yard touchdown strike. Carlos O'Donnell's (Salem, Mass.) PAT cut the deficit to 22-13.
The Colonels responded with back-to-back touchdowns to kill the Endicott momentum. Van De Giesen connected with senior wideout Brian Taylor (Lowell, Mass.) for a 39-yard play action score. Curry's Robert Driscoll (Milton, Mass.) then intercepted a Konpka pass, allowing the visitor's Michael Gentili (Leominster, Mass.) to pound a run up the gut for a two-yard TD carry. Endicott would trail 37-13 at the half.
A safety would be the only points of the third quarter as Phil Konopka was dragged down in his own end zone by Curry's Curtis Ushry (Brockton, Mass.). Endicott would get the points back in the fourth as Konopka lobbed a 26-yard pass to the right pylon to an outstretched Aaron Santos (Cambridge, Mass.) for the score.
As they did all afternoon, the Colonels were able to answer right back on their next possession. After a kick-off that sailed out of bounds, Van De Giesen found Taylor for a 32-yard gain. Curry then applied a heavy dose of Stephen DiFabio (Salem, N.H.) who eventually made his way into the end zone.
The Gulls would get on the board one final time before all was said in done, this time running the offense out a no huddle formation. Quarterback Matt DeOliveira (Malden, Mass.) orchestrated a four-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a screen pass to Tyler Felix (Foxboro, Mass.) that went for a 61-yard touchdown. The PAT capped off the offensive shootout with the Gulls falling, 46-27.
Curry used 85 plays to rattle off 553 yards of total offense in the win. The Colonels were 4-of-6 inside redzone territory, while converting on greater than 50% of third down opportunities (9-of-16).
Endicott's Phil Konopka finished the day 10-of-25 for 144 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Mike Lane carried the ball 10 times for 99 yards and a score.
Curry's Stephen DiFabio was the squad's leading rusher with 87 yards on 15 carries. Brian Taylor had four receptions for 118 yards while Jon Chattman (Woonsocket, R.I.) had six catches for 80 yards.
Kevin Eagan (West Hartford, Conn.) had 6.5 total tackles and two sacks for a loss of 19 yards for the Gulls. Curry's Daniel Dawson (Stoneham, Mass.) posted six tackles including one for a loss.
Endicott looks to rebound next Saturday as the Blue and Green travel to Springfield, Mass. to square-off with Western New England. Curry hopes to keep its perfect season alive at Plymouth State on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
