FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Endicott football team saw its spirited fourth quarter comeback fall just short against Framingham State University, 32-21, on Saturday afternoon at Bowditch Field.

Trailing 20-7 headed into the fourth quarter, the Gulls brought the game within a touchdown on two separate occasions (20-14, 26-21) via touchdowns from freshman Ricardo Matos (Miami, Fla.) and senior Conor Crotty (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), respectively, but the Rams used a 26-yard TD run at the 5:20 mark of the contest to seal the victory in both team's season openers.

Framingham State junior receiver Stephen Beahn (Spencer, Mass.) highlighted the game for both sides with a program record 248 yards and three touchdowns.

ENDICOTT OFFENSE/DEFENSE

• In a backup roll, Scherer went 13-for-21 (one INT), and also compiled 176 passing yards, 39 rushing yards and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) for the Gulls. Scherer spearheaded Endicott's comeback bid against the Rams late in the contest as the sophomore quarterback brought the game within one score on three different occasions.
• Senior wideout Thomas Connors (Amesbury, Mass.) paced the squad with five catches for 99 yards, both career highs.
• Crotty finished with four catches, 38 yards, and one touchdown, while Matos had three catches and 27 yards to go along with his nine yard TD catch at the 14:54 mark of the fourth (20-14).
• Christian Martinez (Tariffville, Conn.) shined in his collegiate debut at the inside linebacker position with seven tackles (four solo, one for a loss) and two blocks. Martinez played running back the last two seasons for the Gulls.
• William Rivera (Orangeburg, N.Y.) recorded six tackles (five solo, three for a loss) and one interception.
• Freshman Travis Bounsy (West Newbury, Mass.) notched five tackles (three solo, one for a loss) and one forced fumble in his first collegiate game.
• Junior free safety Christian Filonow (Nashua, N.H.) forced his first career fumble and also collected five solo tackles.

FRAMINGHAM STATE OFFENSE/DEFENSE

• Senior running back Jalen Green (Brockton, Mass.) tallied 111 yards and one touchdown on the ground to go along with one reception for 10 yards.
• Junior quarterback Zak Walker (Ayer, Mass.) threw for 248 yards (22 completions, 29 attempts, one interception), and four touchdowns – three of which went to Beahn and the other to classmate Mike Calicchio (Chelmsford, Mass.).
• As a team, the Rams tallied 479 yards on offense (154 rushing, 325 passing).
• Kenneth Bartolo (Malden, Mass.) and Aaron Owens (Springfield, Mass.) both tied for the team lead in tackles (eight total, seven solo). Bartolo also had a tackle for a loss, recorded an interception, and broke up one pass.
• Jaquan Harris (Boston, Mass.) compiled three tackles (two solo), to go along with one interception – which was returned for 36 yards – and three pass breakups.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Framingham State has defeated Endicott four straight times to start the season dating back to 2013.
• The Gulls last win in a season opener versus the Rams came on September 1, 2012 by a 34-7 score.
• Prior to Framingham State's current four-game winning streak (all season openers), Endicott put together a four-game winning streak, also in season opening contests, from 2009-12 and outscored the Rams during that stretch 126-62.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (0-1) hosts Hobart next Saturday at 12 p.m. Framingham State (1-0) travels to Cortland St. next Saturday for a non-league matchup at 12 p.m. 

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