D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-EAST REGION TEAM
BEVERLY, Mass. – Four members of the Endicott football program have earned D3football.com All-East Region honors, as announced by the organization earlier today.
Nick DiCairano (Trumbull, Conn.) and Kha-lil Goodman (Bellmore, N.Y.) were named to the D3football.com All-East Region Second Team, while Isaiah Gibbs (Teaneck, N.J.) and Sam Opont (Bridgeport, Conn.) earned spots on the Third Team, respectively.
Today's announcement also marked a tie for the most D3football.com All-East Region honorees in a single season for the Gulls. DiCairano, Gibbs, Goodman, and Opont are now forever linked to the class of 2010, which consisted of Dylan Rushe '14 (Palos Verdes, Calif.), Kevin Eagan '12 (West Hartford, Conn.), Taylor Allen '12 (Westboro, Mass.), and Nick Molinari '12 (Staten Island, N.Y.), for producing the most D3football.com All-East Region honorees in a single season in the program's storied history.
Additionally, DiCairano, Gibbs, Goodman, and Opont were selected to their respective All-East Region teams after the D3football.com Staff sifted through 1,056 nominations across four regions (East, South, North, West). All four of Endicott's student-athletes are now eligible to earn All-America honors later this month.
D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-EAST REGION SECOND TEAM
NICK DICAIRANO | SENIOR | KICKER
DiCairano put together another stellar year for the Gulls as the senior placekicker paced the conference in field goals made (13), field goal attempts (19), longest field goal made (47 yards), PATs made (57), PAT% (100%), and points (96). He also ranked second in the league in PAT attempts (57) and third in field goal percentage (68%).
Meanwhile, among all NCAA Division III kickers, DiCairano currently ranks No. 11 in field goals made per game (1.18, leads conference), No. 31 in total points scored, No. 36 in field goal percentage, No. 41 in scoring (8.7), and No. 166 in points responsible for.
DiCairano's sensational senior campaign culminated in a selection to the National Bowl College All-Star Game, which he played in on Sunday, December 8 and won the Special Teams Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award for his efforts in the contest. The National Bowl is an annual postseason college football all-star game that consists of the top senior student-athletes who have earned All-America or All-Conference honors from non-D1/FBS/FCS schools. Additionally, the National Bowl consistently attracts 12-15 NFL and/or CFL scouts and all 32 NFL teams receive and review the National Bowl game film.
DiCairano is now a four-time All-Region honoree (2019: D3football.com/NEFW | 2018: D3football.com/NEFW).
KHA-LIL GOODMAN | SENIOR | TACKLE
For the third time this season, Goodman established a new benchmark for offensive linemen in the storied history of the program. With today's announcement, the senior right tackle became the only o-linemen ever to claim multiple D3football.com All-East Region accolades over the course of his career.
Meanwhile, earlier this season, Goodman became the only offensive linemen ever to earn two New England Football Writers (NEFW) All-New England Team accolades. Goodman now leads all offensive linemen in program history with four All-Region honors to his name.
Goodman's other impressive historical feats this season include when he became the only offensive linemen in program history to earn his second career CCC Football Offensive Lineman of the Year award. He is the only student-athlete in program history to earn this honor. Along with those merits, Goodman became the only right tackle to claim three All-Conference First Team accolades.
In 2019, Goodman's play elevated Endicott's offense to ranking first overall in the conference in points per game (41.5) and total points (457). The Gulls also finished the year second in total offense, third in yards per game (414.6) and passing yards (2,710), and fourth in rushing yards (1,851).
D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-EAST REGION THIRD TEAM
ISAIAH GIBBS | SENIOR | GUARD
Gibbs earned his first career All-Region honor after not allowing any sacks in 11 games played this season.
Gibbs also played a pivotal role in Endicott's offense ranking first overall in the conference in points per game (41.5) and total points (457). The Gulls also finished the year second in total offense, third in yards per game (414.6) and passing yards (2,710), and fourth in rushing yards (1,851).
SAM OPONT | JUNIOR | DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Opont, who was named the Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2019, picked up his first career All-Region honor after posting 59 tackles (24 solo, 35 assisted) in 11 games played this season. In addition to those stats, Opont compiled 7.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks, to go along with one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.
Opont finished the year ranked third on the team in total tackles (19th in the conference) and third on the squad in assisted tackles (seventh in the league).
As a team, behind Opont's play, the Gulls concluded the year ranked No. 1 in the league in points per game (18.4) and points (202), second in rushing yards per game (132.1) and sacks (17), and third in yards per game (360.0), passing yards per game (227.9), tackles per game (71.5).
YEAR IN REVIEW
Endicott posted a 9-2 overall record and 6-1 mark in league play. The Gulls also captured the New England Bowl Championship with a 52-10 win over Dean College on Saturday, November 23.
For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit - David Le '10)