Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott’s Phil Konopka (Shelton, Conn.) went 16-of-24 for 233 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-sealing 24 yard strike to Ryan Carino (Stratford, Conn.), as the Gulls topped Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 34-23, on Saturday afternoon in Beverly, Mass. The win improves the Gulls to 2-1, while the Buccaneers slip to 1-2.

Mass. Maritime suffered an early blow as top-offensive producer Nathan Sherr (Lynnfield, Mass.) left the game with an apparent leg injury on the Buccaneers’ opening drive. Sherr, the reigning New England Football Writers Gold Helmet award winner, rushed for a school-record 325 yards and three touchdowns last week against MIT. After gaining 12 yards on his first carry, Sherr was hit in the backfield by Endicott’s \#Chris Gogolos\# (Newburyport, Mass.) and never returned.

Despite the loss of its starting running back, the Buccaneers struck first with a seven play, 37 yard drive that was capped off by a Douglas Dyke (Plainville, Mass.) plunge out of the wild cat formation. The PAT by Jake Bickley (Wilbraham, Mass.) was successful, giving Mass. Maritime the early 7-0 lead.

Endicott struck back as \#Phil Konopka\# dumped a short screen pass off to \#Mike Lane\# (Mefield, Mass.) and let the running back scamper 28 yards down the left sideline before being hauled down at the two yard line. \#Colby Hawkins\# (Scituate, Mass.) got the call on the next play, taking a handoff up the gut for the two yard score. The Buccaneers were able to stay in the lead, however, as Mass. Maritime blocked a low point-after attempt by \#Carlos O’Donnell\# (Salem, Mass.) to make it 7-6 after one quarter of play.

The Endicott defense held Mass. Maritime to a three-and-out, allowing the offense to take over at the Endicott 19 yard line after a Jake Bickley punt of 38 yards. Three plays after a 19 yard completion to tight end \#Tim Viall\# (Sandwich, Mass.), the Gulls converted on a fourth and eight situation as Konopka found \#Neil Powers\# (Westford, Mass.) in the far corner of the end zone for the TD connection. The PAT made it 13-7 in favor of the Gulls.

After another three-and-out by the Buc’s offense, the Gulls once again turned a fourth down situation into six points. On fourth and one at the Mass. Maritime 40 yard line, running back \#Mike Lane\# followed \#Kevin Eagan\# (West Hartford, Mass.) to the right side and then made a nifty cutback to the left for a 40 yard touchdown dash, increasing the Endicott lead to 20-7.

Mass. Maritime responded with a nine play, 75 yard drive that was concluded with a 22 yard field goal by Jake Bickley. The Gulls would take a 20-10 lead into the intermission.

The Buccaneers put together their most impressive drive of the day in the third quarter, marching 79 yards in 5:29 to make it 20-17. Matt Spinazzola (Melbourne, Fla.) hooked up with Kyle Rowe (Plymouth, Mass.) for a 23 yard touchdown toss in the right corner of the end zone, making it a three point game. That touchdown would be the only scoring of the frame, as the Gulls carried a 20-17 lead into the fourth.

The Gulls put the game out of reach in the final 15:00 minutes of play, as Konopka found a wide open \#Neil Powers\# over the middle of the field for an easy 34 yard touchdown. Konopka and the Gulls struck again through the air on their next possession, this time playing pitch and catch with \#Ryan Carino\# on the far side for a 24 yard toss. The PAT put Endicott ahead, 34-17.

Despite trailing by 17 points, Mass. Maritime refused to go away quietly. The Buccaneers put together a 15 play drive that covered 60 yards, capped off by a rollout pass by Spinazzola to Rowe on fourth and goal. To make it interesting, the Bucs successfully recovered the ensuing onsides kick, giving the visitors possession with 50 seconds left down by 11.

The excitement was short-lived, however, as wide out Jonathan Emond (Green Harbor, Mass.) made an eight yard catch and then fumbled the football, returning possession to the Blue and Green. Senior \#Dan Leary\# (Stratham, N.H.) came on to take the knee, sealing the Endicott win, 34-23.

The Gulls were led by Konopka’s 233 yards and three touchdowns. Running back \#Mike Lane\# ended the day with 205 all-purpose yards, including 106 rushing yards on 15 carries which included a touchdown. \#Neil Powers\# had three catches for 74 yards and two scores.

Mass. Maritime’s Douglas Dyke netted 88 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown. Kyle Rowe had five catches for 68 yards and two TDs.

The Endicott defense was once again anchored by \#Kevin Eagan\#, as the sophomore had seven solo and seven assisted tackles and a forced fumble in the win. Junior \#PJ Bay\# (Darien, Conn.) had 10 takedowns and a fumble recovery for the Gulls.

Endicott opens NEFC Boyd Division play on September 26th when the Gulls travel to Middleton, R.I. for a 3:00 p.m. match-up with Salve Regina University. Mass. Maritime now shifts its focus to its Bogan opener against Worcester State at noon on the same day.