Resilient Gulls Storm Past Norwich, 30-21

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott football team defeated Norwich, 30-21, in their third come-from-behind victory of the year on Saturday afternoon at Sabine Field.

Down by one point entering the final quarter of play, Ryan Smith (Shrewsbury, Mass.) converted his third field goal of the game (40-yards) to secure a 23-21 lead (11:21).

Following the go-ahead field goal, the Gulls made a 42-yard house call on 4th-and-1 when Mike Ingraffia (Kings Park, N.Y.) tossed the ball to Anthony Caggianelli (Pelham, N.H.) on an option play to help seal the deal (5:04, fourth career TD). 

The Gulls were able to chip away at 14-0 first quarter deficit courtesy of a two-yard rushing touchdown by Ingraffia (2nd, 3:51, 14-7) and a 32-yard field goal via Smith (2nd, 00:32, 14-10) prior to completing the comeback in the second stanza.

In the second half, Endicott obtained its first lead of the game at the 12:12 mark of the third after Shane Aylward (Tewksbury, Mass.) scored his third touchdown of the year to give the Gulls a 17-14 lead.

Smith then sandwiched a pair of field goals (36-yards, 3rd, 5:16, 20-14 | 40-yards, 4th, 11:21, 23-21) around a Norwich go-ahead TD (3rd, 1:22, 21-20) before Caggianelli capped the scoring in the contest and clinched the victory.

BEYOND THE BOX

• Endicott is now 2-0 all-time versus Norwich (W, 34-14, 11/17/12).
• Cagggianelli's 42-yard TD run is his longest play from scrimmage this year.
• Aylward accumulated his first 100-yard receiving performance in the matchup (5 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD, 39 long).
• Infgraffia produced his first passing and rushing touchdowns of his collegiate career.
• The Gulls had a season-high three sacks in today's game.
• Mehdi Squalli (Rochester, N.Y) has compiled seven or more tackles in all four games this season (9 vs. Norwich).
• Sam Opont (Bridgeport, Conn.) scooped up two fumbles (ties single-game record) and notched eight tackles (one solo, one sack).
• Endicott has forced two or more turnovers in every game this season.
• The Gulls' defense posted seven tackles for a loss against the Cadets (three sacks).
• Kevin Lemieux's (Ashburnham, Mass.) first career forced fumble iced Norwich's final drive of the game.
• Zachariah Twardosky (Merrimack, N.H.) picked off his first collegiate pass.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (3-1) makes its return to The Nest for homecoming weekend on Saturday, October 2 when the Gulls play host to Curry (2-1) at 12 PM at Hempstead Stadium.

Norwich (1-3) will travel to Coast Guard (2-2) on Saturday, October 2 for a 1:30 PM kickoff. 

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(Photo Credit - Chris Lyons '22)