BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott senior cornerback Tyler Calitri (West Hartford, Conn.) was named the inaugural recipient of the Senior Perseverance and Achievement Award, while freshman linebacker William Rivera (Orangeburg, N.Y.) claimed Defensive Rookie of the Year honors to highlight eight student-athletes who were named to the New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Conference squad earlier today.
Junior defensive lineman Craig Anderson (Franklin, Mass.) and junior wide receiver Jake Pelletier (Trumbull, Conn.) headlined the list of eight All-Conference honorees for the Gulls as both student-athletes were chosen as first team selections at their respective positions.
Calitiri, linebacker Connor McLaughlin (Canton, Mass.), defensive lineman John Fortes (North Reading, Mass.), offensive linemen Andrew Edwards (Falmouth, Maine) and Liam Porter (Natick, Mass.), and fullback Spencer Walsh (Melrose, Mass.) all picked up NEFC All-Conference second team laurels to round out the group of eight honorees for the Gulls.
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Calitiri received the Senior Perseverance and Achievement Award after bouncing back from a serious injury last season to captain the Gulls in 2015, along with earning his All-Conference second team accolades this year. Calitiri finished his senior season with 37 tackles (29 solo, eight assisted, 3.7 average), and two interceptions.
Rivera ranked No. 20 in the NEFC in tackles per game (6.0) as a rookie to go along with 54 total tackles (36 solo, 18 assisted), two interceptions and one sack. Rivera led Endicott during his freshman campaign in both tackles (tied w/ McLaughlin), and tackles per game.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE WINNERS
Anderson compiled nine sacks and 44 tackles (27 solo, 17 assisted, 4.4 per game) to earn his first career spot on the NEFC All-Conference first team. Anderson, who is currently ranked No. 27 among all NCAA Division III lineman in sacks (first in NEFC), claimed NEFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 and second team accolades in 2014.
Pelletier put together a well-rounded season as the junior wide receiver finished the year ranked in the top-10 in every major statistical category at his position. In nine games played, Pelletier caught 51 passes for 630 yards (70.0 per game, 12.4 per catch), and six touchdowns.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE WINNERS
McLaughlin and Fortes played pivotal roles for an Endicott defense that ranked first in sacks, second in interceptions, third in rushing yards per game, and fourth in passing yards per game and tackles per game.
Individually, McLaughlin tied for the team-lead in tackles with 54 (27 solo, 27 assisted), alongside two sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception. Fortes registered 43 tackles (20 solo, 23 assisted), 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a recovery and one block.
Edwards and Porter were the main cogs on Endicott's offensive line that guided the Gulls to the third highest points per game total in the conference. Endicott's offensive line only allowed 20 sacks in total (2.0 per game), which also helped the Gulls rank second in the conference in red zone efficiency, third in passing yards per game, and fifth in rushing yards per game.
Walsh registered 290 yards (41.0 per game, 4.3 per rush), and one touchdown on 67 rush attempts at the fullback position for Endicott in 2015. Walsh wraps up his career at Endicott ranked third all-time in program history in rushing yards (1,925), and rushing touchdowns (15).
Endicott posted a 5-5 record overall, and a 5-2 mark in NEFC play in 2015. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
