Boxscore
Framingham, Mass. — The Endicott College football team pulled off a stunning 33-27 triple overtime victory over Framingham State University in the 2010 season opener for both teams at Framingham’s Maple Street Field. The Gulls are now 1-0 on the young season, while the Rams are 0-1.
The Rams controlled the game early and held a 14-0 lead after three quarters. Senior quarterback Kurt Leone (Marshfield, Mass.) connected with senior wide receiver Jason Patterson (Attleboro, Mass.) on a 22-yard touchdown strike with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter for the Rams first score, and freshman running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) scampered in from a yard out with 1:32 remaining in the third to account for the Rams second touchdown.
The Rams held several opportunities to extend their lead in the first three quarters but a missed field goal, a blocked field goal by Gulls junior \#Kevin Eagan\# (West Hartford, Conn.) and a turnover on downs inside the Gulls five-yard line halted long drives by Framingham State.
Endicott gained momentum in the fourth quarter as they scored 17 unanswered points to take their first lead of the game. Quarterback \#Phil Konopka\# (Shelton, Conn.) connected with \#Mike Murphy\# (Chelmsford, Mass.) for a 44-yard touchdown pass just eight seconds into the fourth quarter. After a Rams punt, the Gulls drove eighty yards in six plays for their second score, a 15-yard touchdown run by \#Neil Powers\# (Chelmsford, Mass.) with 8:13 left in the game.
The Gulls defense forced a three and out on the Rams ensuing possession, giving the Gulls the ball on their own 28-yard line with 5:53 remaining. The Gulls drove 56 yards in eight plays for the go ahead score - a 32-yard field goal by \#Dylan Rushe\# (Palos Verdes, Calif.) with 2:46 remaining giving the Gulls a 17-14 advantage.
The Rams answered with a drive of their own, 55 yards in 14 plays, to tie the game on a 27-yard field goal by senior Phil Cosmos (Natick, Mass.) with 26 second remaining. Endicott took a knee on the final possession of regulation to force overtime.
In the first overtime, the two teams traded field goals, first a 38-yard field goal by Rushe on the Gulls first possession followed by a 35-yarder from Cosmos on the Rams first possession, forcing the game into a second overtime.
The Rams had the first possession of the second overtime and wasted no time scoring as Leone connected with Alex Avery (Milford, Mass.) for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play. It took the Gulls just four plays to tie the score as Konopka hit \#Taylor Allen\# with a 21-yard touchdown pass knotting the score at 27-27 and forcing a third overtime.
The Gulls had the first possession of the third overtime and after two completions by Konopka Endicott had a first down on the Rams 13-yard line. \#Mike Lane\# (Medfield, Mass.), who finished the game with 78 yards on 27 carries, rushed for 11 yards giving Endicott a first and goal on the Rams two yard line. After an incomplete pass, Lane rushed for a yard and the Rams defense stopped Konopka for no gain on third down setting up a fourth and goal from the one for Endicott. Konopka snuck the ball in from a yard out on fourth down putting the Gulls up 33-27. In the third overtime, the Gulls had to go for two and Konopka’s pass attempt failed.
Having to score a touchdown to extend the game to a fourth overtime, Leone threw an incompletion on first down and completed a pass to Shawn Miller (Tyngsboro, Mass.) on second down for a two-yard gain setting up a third and long for the Rams. Forced out of the pocket, Leone scampered for four yards setting up a critical fourth and four for the Rams. Leone’s pass attempt was incomplete giving the Gulls the victory.
The Rams amassed 440 yards of total offense (309 passing and 131 rushing) in the game to the Gulls 281 yards, most of which came in the fourth quarter and overtimes.
Leone finished the day 25-for-46 for 309 yards and two touchdowns without an interception despite being sacked five times. Van Alstyne led the Rams with 128 yards rushing on 28 carries with a score. Patterson and Avery both eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark in the game. Patterson made five catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, while Avery had 11 for 103 yards and a score.
Konopka completed 13 of 28 for 195 yards with two touchdowns, while Lane finished with 109 all-purpose yards, 78 rushing and 31 receiving. Mike Murphy led all receivers with 47 yards on two receptions and a touchdown.
Defensively for the Gulls, Eagan led all tacklers with 8.5 total tackles, including six solo tackles and five assisted tackles. The junior also blocked a field goal attempt, made 3.0 sacks, and broke up a pass attempt. Junior defensive back Bill Hickey (Walpole, Mass.) broke up five pass attempts. Freshman Marcell Cooper (Dorchester, Mass.) reached the quarterback for a sack and Chris Gogolos (Newburyport, Mass.) and Mike Dillon (Cheshire, Conn.) teammed up for another sack behind the line of scrimmage.
The Gulls host RPI next Saturday at 1 pm for their home opener in Beverly.