BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott football program used a total team effort to defeat Bridgewater State University, 17-3, on Friday night at Hempstead Stadium. Tonight's game was the first-ever Friday night contest in program history.
Endicott jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter as Nick DiCairano (Trumbull, Conn.) drilled home a 25-yard field goal (11:14) and Dylan Bonfilio (Burlington, Mass.) punched in a six-yard touchdown run (27-seconds remaining) to highlight the offense.
Meanwhile, on defense, the Gulls saw Jesse Simoni (East Greenbush, N.Y.) block a 33-yard field goal attempt at 5:59 of the first quarter to keep Bridgewater State off the scoreboard, at least for the moment.
From there, Endicott held the Bears scoreless until the tail end of the second quarter when Jacob Crear (North Attleboro, Mass.) broke up the shutout via a 23-yard field goal with seven ticks remaining on the clock. Prior to the field goal, Endicott's defense stymied Bridgewater State from the five-yard line on three consecutive plays (two incomplete passes, one-yard rushing loss).
The Gulls then sealed the win in the second half behind a Riley Shanley (Simsbury, Conn.) four-yard touchdown reception on fourth down (5:52, third), and their stalwart defense that featured a blocked field goal by Ayinde Johnson (Norwalk, Conn.) at 10:09 of the third quarter.
FOR ENDICOTT
- Bonfilio threw for 115 yards passing on 12 completions (18 attempts, 1 TD). He also rushed for 95 total yards on 12 carries (1 TD).
- John Kenney (Wilmington, Mass.) rushed for 54 total yards on a team-high 20 carries.
- Shanley finished the contest with three catches, including his touchdown reception, for a total of 35 yards.
- Zach DeNike (Old Tappan, N.J.) paced the team in both receptions (five) and receiving yards (45).
- Christian Pizzotti (Melrose, Mass.) led Endicott with a team-high 10 tackles (five solo, five assisted, one tackle for a loss).
- William Rivera (Orangeburg, N.Y.) compiled nine tackles (five solo, four assisted) to move into a tie for second place all-time on the career tackles list.
- Defensively, Endicott notched eight pass breakups including a game-high three each from George Balian (Burlington, Mass.) and Simoni.
FOR BRIDGEWATER STATE
- Stefano D'Emilia (Bridgewater, Mass.) set a career high with 47 pass attempts. His previous career high was 45 attempts versus Western Connecticut in 2017.
- D'Emilia total tonight also stands as the second highest single-game total in program history.
- Danny Higgins holds the program record with 52 attempts in 2014 vs. Fitchburg State.
- Travis Bassett (Littleton, Mass.) set a career high with 11 pass receptions.
- His previous career high was nine receptions against Framingham State in 2014.
- Tonight's total also marks the fourth highest single-game total in program history. The record is 14, which was set by Jack Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) last year against Western Connecticut.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott is 2-1 in the all-time series.
- Paul McGonagle earned his first career victory as Endicott's head coach.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (1-1) hosts MIT next Saturday, September 15 at 12 PM. Bridgewater State (1-1) visits Framingham State next Saturday at 12 PM.
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(Photo Credit - Allison Moore)