Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. – Western New England quarterback Justin Walz (Groton, Conn.) threw two touchdown passes and ran for two additional scores, including a game-winning 24 yard scamper late in the fourth quarter to lift the Golden Bears to a 26-21 win over host Endicott College on Saturday afternoon in Beverly, Mass. The win improves WNEC to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the NEFC Boyd division. Endicott slips to 3-5 and 1-4 in league play.

Western New England struck first in the closing minute of the opening quarter as Walz connected with senior wide out Matt O’Brien (South Windsor, Conn.) with a 75-yard homerun ball on third and 13, giving the visitors a 7-0 lead.

The WNEC defense stood strong on the following possession, as Endicott senior running back \#Colby Hawkins\# (Scituate, Mass.) lost his footing on a fourth-and-one opportunity, turning possession back over to the Golden Bears at the WNEC 37-yard line. The guests capitalized on the turnover on downs, as Walz dumped off a well executed screen play to freshman running back Mike Graham (Norwalk, Conn.), who made a great cutback move and rumbled 28-yards to the end zone for a 14-0 WNEC advantage.

Endicott changed the momentum of the first half by forcing a Golden Bears’ turnover at the 5:55 mark of the second quarter. Justin Walz targeted an open receiver on the left side, however the ball skipped off the diving wide out’s hands and then caromed off the chest of the fallen receiver, allowing freshman \#Michael Lago\# (Newtown, Conn.) to make a sprawling interception to give the hosts possession at the WNEC 42 yard line.

Endicott made good on the bonus opportunity as the Blue and Green pieced together a seven play, 42 yard drive that was capped off by a 19 yard touchdown pass from \#Phil Konopka\# (Shelton, Conn.) to \#Ryan Carino\# (Stratford, Conn.). Konopka found Carino in single coverage and hit the sophomore with a back-shoulder pass in the front left corner of the end zone for the score.

The Gulls would strike again before halftime as Konopka instituted a well run two-minute drill to lead the Gulls back into the end zone. Endicott ran nine plays for 43 yards, eventually breaking the plane on a one-yard Konopka plunge to send the game into the break tied at 14-all.

Endicott’s opening drive of the second half stalled when the Gulls were whistled for a personal foul penalty, setting up fourth and 16 at their own 44 yard line. While in the punt formation, a misguided long snap forced a turnover deep inside Endicott territory, surrendering prime field position to the WNEC offense.

Walz and the Golden Bears only needed runs of 12 and two yards to get into the end zone, making it 20-14 in favor of WNEC. The ensuing PAT was blocked to keep it a six point game.

The Gulls fought back and took their first lead of the game as Konopka connected with junior \#Neil Powers\# (Westford, Mass.) on a 30-yard post pattern touchdown. The extra point by \#Carlos O’Donnell\# (Salem, Mass.) put EC ahead, 21-20.

The one-point lead stood until the middle of the fourth quarter when Walz put the Golden Bears ahead for good. The senior began the drive by bailing out the guests on a third and 17 situation where he connected with Chris Vaillant (Holliston, Mass.) for a 27-yard completion. Walz capped off the drive as he called his own number after a play-action pass fell apart. The senior eluded the backside pressure by slipping out the pocket and raced down the far sideline. The senior quarterback made two Endicott defenders miss and then stretched into the end zone after a spin-move at the five-yard line opened a path to the goal line. The following two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

The Gulls had a chance late in the fourth quarter as they continually converted in late down situations. The Blue and Green picked up eight yards on a fourth and two, and then rattled off a 10-yard completion on a third and eight situation. An improbable fourth and five opportunity was also successfully completed as Endicott threatened at the WNEC 24-yard line with less than a minute left in regulation. Unfortunately for the Blue and Green, their luck ran cold as four-straight incomplete passes sealed the win for the Golden Bears.

Walz finished the game 12-of-22 for 201 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The senior also ran for the ball 12 times for 50 yards and two scores. Receiver Matt O’Brien had two catches for 84 yards and a TD. The WNEC defense was anchored by Justin Bailey’s (Northborough, Mass.) game-high 15 tackles. Dylan Chandler (Durham, Maine) had 11 tackles and a forced fumble in the win.

Endicott’s \#Mike Lane\# (Medfield, Mass.) had 108 yards rushing on 26 attempts and totaled 163 all-purpose yards. Konopka was 15-of-30 for 132 yards and two touchdowns. \#Mike Fimiani\# (Melrose, Mass.) was his favorite target on the afternoon, as the sophomore hauled in seven catches for 43 yards. Sophomore linebacker \#Nick Scozzaro\# (Wellington, Fla.) had 10 tackles, 3.5 of which resulted in a loss of 10 yards.

Western New England, winners of three-straight, looks to extend its streak next Saturday when the Golden Bears travel to Newport, R.I. for a 1:00 p.m. game against Salve Regina. Endicott sets out to halt its three-game skid when the Gulls take on UMass-Dartmouth at 12:00 p.m. on the same day.