Endicott win 23-15 over WNEC to take over Boyd Division

Boxscore

Beverly, Mass. – Endicott junior running back \#Mike Lane\# (Medfield, Mass.) rushed 47 times and compiled 272 all-purpose yards to lead the Gulls to a 23-15 win over Western New England College on Saturday evening. The Blue and Green took over first place in the New England Collegiate Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division and now stand at 7-2 (5-1 NEFC Boyd).

The Golden Bears fall into second place but hold the same record as Endicott at 7-2, 5-1 in the division.

Endicott relied on the run heavily as Lane rushed 47 times for 183 yards on a WNEC defense that had averaged 127.8 yards on the ground per game through eight weeks this season. Lane caught three passes out the backfield for 18 yards and was also a factor in the return with three kickoff returns for 71 yards.  

Although Lane did not reach the end zone, the run attack set up Endicott quarterback \#Phil Konopka\# (Shelton, Conn.) for two touchdowns through the air. Konopka connected with tight end \#Taylor Allen\# (Westboro, Mass.) on a three yard pass to the back of the end zone towards the end of the second quarter and to wide out \#Neil Powers\# (Westford, Mass.) on an eight yard reception in the middle of the fourth quarter.

WNEC’s junior quarterback Bryce Brown (Guilford, Conn.) completed 20 passes on 38 attempts for 187 yards and one touchdown, but threw three interceptions to stall the Golden Bears offense. Brown had his lone touchdown pass on an eight yard completion to senior Matt O’Brien (South Windsor, Conn.) with 4:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. After a two-point pass conversation back to O’Brien, WNEC trimmed Endicott’s lead from 16 points down to eight at 23-15.

The Golden Bears forced a punt on the next Gulls drive, then drove 75 yards down the field to the Endicott six yard line with under a minute remaining. On fourth down and goal, Brown looked for a receiver in the end zone but Gulls junior linebacker \#Nick Scozzaro\# (Wellington, Fla.) sacked the quarterback from behind to force the turnover on downs. 

With the ball, Endicott took a knee and held on for the 23-15 victory.

Scozzaro led the Blue and Green defensively with 10 total tackles, including seven solo take downs. He had 4.5 tackles for a loss of 36 yards, an interception, and three sacks for a loss of 21 yards. Endicott senior \#PJ Bay\# (Darien, Conn.) and sophomore \#Craig Lussier\# (Dracut, Mass.) also intercepted passes by Brown. \#Oscar Moore\# (Chelmsford, Mass.) and \#Kevin Eagan\# (West Hartford, Conn.) each tallied 10 tackles and had a sack. 

WNEC senior linebacker Justin Bailey (Northborough, Mass.) led all tacklers with a game-high 14, including a tackle for a loss and a broken up pass. 

Offensively for the Golden Bears, junior wide receiver Kenny Muhlack (Groton, Conn.) was the game’s top receiver with four catches for 68 yards and was a presence in the run game with four rushes for 20 yards. His longest reception was a 35 yard catch. WNEC’s running back duo of Mike Graham (Norwalk, Conn.) and JJ Jachym (Milford, Conn.) combined for 13 rushes for 85 yards. Graham’s 42 yard touchdown run with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter cut Endicott’s lead to 13-7. 

Endicott also got clutch kicking from freshman \#Dylan Rushe\# (Palos Verdes, Calif.) who completed field goals of 30, 38, and 23 yards. Rushe is now 12-of-16 on the year and this is the second time this season he has attempted and made three field goals perfectly. 

Endicott will play their final home game of the regular season on Saturday, November 6 at 5:00 pm against MIT at Endicott Stadium. WNEC looks to get back on the winning track against UMass Dartmouth at home on the same day starting at 1:00 pm.