13 Gulls Receive CCC Football All-Conference Honors; Aylward, McGonagle, Meropoulos, & Russell Earn Major Awards

Posted: Nov 16, 2021

BEVERLY, Mass. — Thirteen members of the Endicott football program have earned Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) postseason honors, as announced by the league earlier today.

Headlining the group of award winners were Tim Russell (Stoneham, Mass.), Shane Aylward (Tewksbury, Mass.), Colin Meropoulos (Monroe, Conn.), and head coach Paul McGonagle.

Russell was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, while Aylward and Meropoulos claimed Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year accolades, respectively. McGonagle rounded out the Gulls' major award winners with Coach of the Year honors.

Along with their major awards, Russell and Aylward were tabbed to the CCC Football All-Conference First Team, while Meropoulos was chosen to the Second Team.

The Gulls also saw Sam Opont (Bridgeport, Conn.), Tyler Davis (Bethel, Conn.), and Ryan Smith (Glastonbury, Conn.) garner First Team accolades, while Mike Ingraffia (Kings Park, N.Y.), Justyn Lester (Tewksbury, Mass.), Kyle Secone (Harpswell, Maine), James Day (Greenwich, Conn.), Joseph Pagett (Newtown, Conn.), and Quinten Fox (Old Greenwich, Conn.) all received Second Team laurels.

TIM RUSSELL | DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | FIRST TEAM

In 10 games this season, the senior linebacker compiled 79 tackles (39 solo, 40 assisted, 7.9 per game), 2.5 sacks, four interceptions (including one pick-six), and one fumble recovery for the Gulls.

Russell is only the second student-athlete in program history to claim Defensive Player of the Year honors joining Endicott Hall of Fame defensive lineman Kevin Eagan '12, who won the award twice during his career (2010-11), on the list.

Russell's overall conference ranks include: solo tackles (4th), assisted tackles (3rd), total tackles (3rd), tackles per game (4th), sacks (10th), sack yards (6th, 23 yards), interceptions (1st), interceptions returned for touchdowns (1st), fumble recoveries (9th).

His statistics in conference-only games are even more staggering as they include: solo tackles (4th, 25), assisted tackles (2nd, 29), total tackles (1st, 54.0), tackles per game (1st, 9.0), sacks (5th, 2.5), sack yards (3rd, 23 yards), interceptions (1st, 2), interceptions returned for touchdowns (1st), fumble recoveries (6th).

SHANE AYLWARD | OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR | FIRST TEAM

Aylward notched 59 receptions for 669 yards and five touchdowns in his debut season (10 games played).

He is the third student-athlete in program history to earn Offensive Rookie of the Year accolades joining Ryan Mrozek (offensive lineman) and Endicott Hall of Fame running back Michael Lane '12 on the list.

Aylward also is the first wide receiver in the conference to haul in Offensive Rookie of the Year honors since 2016 (all running backs selected between then and now).

His overall conference ranks include: receptions (1st), yards (3rd), yards per game (4th, 66.9), yards per catch (8th, 11.3), touchdowns (6th). Meanwhile, his conference-only games rank as follows: receptions (1st, 42), yards (3rd, 424), yards per game (3rd, 70.7), yards per catch (11th, 10.1), touchdowns (9th, 2).

COLIN MEROPOULOS | DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR | SECOND TEAM

In 10 games played this season, Meropoulos registered 49.0 tackles (22 solo, 27 assisted, 4.9 per game, 14.5 tackles for a loss), a league-best 13 sacks (83 sack yards, 1st in league), one forced fumble, and seven quarterback hurries.

He is the fifth student-athlete in program history to receive Defensive Rookie of the Year honors joining Jesse Simoni '20 M'22, William Rivera '19, Craig Anderson '17, and Eagan on the list.

Among his fellow NCAA Division III peers, Meropoulos currently ranks fourth overall in sacks and No. 44 in tackles for a loss.

Meropoulos' debut season has also been one for the record books as the defensive lineman's 13 sacks are a single season program record. His 14.5 tackles for a loss rank tied for fifth all-time in a single season, while his 4.5 sacks against the University of New England on October 30, 2021, rank first all-time in a single game (4.5 tackles for a loss second all-time).

PAUL MCGONAGLE | HEAD COACH | FOURTH SEASON

McGonagle earned his second career CCC Football Coach of the Year award (2018, 2021) by leading Endicott to its first league championship since 2013 behind an 8-2 overall record and 5-1 conference mark.

The Gulls, who are undefeated at home (5-0) this season, rank first in the following conference-only statistical categories: points per game (28.8), points (173), tackles per game (76.3), and defensive touchdowns (2).

Nationally, among all NCAA Division III programs, Endicott is ranked No. 16 in red zone offense (.875), No. 25 in team passing efficiency defense (99.60), No. 41 in turnover margin (0.80), and No. 48 in team sacks (2.60).

McGonagle currently sports a 24-8 overall record (.750) and a 16-3 conference record (.842) during his tenure as head coach of the program (2018-present).

Additionally, under McGonagle's leadership, the Gulls have qualified for the postseason in every eligible season, won two championships (New England Bowl, 2019), and witnessed 40 members of the program earn CCC Football All-Conference honors (no less than 13 in a season).

SAM OPONT | DEFENSIVE LINEMAN | FIRST TEAM

A four-time All-Conference honoree (three 1st Team, one 2nd Team), Opont tallied 63 tackles (14 solo, 49 assisted, 6.3 per game, 5.5 tackles for a loss), two sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one pass breakup in 10 games.

He currently ranks first overall in the league in assisted tackles and fumble recoveries (6th nationally).

Opont's play at the nose guard position also has aided Endicott in ranking second in conference-only games in points allowed (106), points per game (17.7), and first in tackles (76.3).

Lastly, Opont is just the second defensive lineman in program history to earn four All-Conference honors and one of two defensive linemen to claim at least three All-Conference First Team selections.

TYLER DAVIS | DEFENSIVE BACK | FIRST TEAM

Davis served as one of the most reliable members of the Gulls' secondary this season behind his 70 total stops (29 solo, 41 assisted — 2nd overall in league). His average of 7.0 tackles per game also knots him at a tie for sixth place overall in the conference.

Davis stuffed the stat sheet even more by disrupting the opposing ball carrier 3.5 times behind the line of scrimmage, forcing two fumbles, plucking away one pass, and breaking up six more (third-highest on the team) in 10 games played.

RYAN SMITH | KICKER | FIRST TEAM

Smith was a difference-maker on special teams for the Gulls all season compiling a league-best 73 points on 14 field goals made (1st in conference) and 31 point after attempts (1st).

Meanwhile, in conference-only games, Smith ranks first in field goals made (8), PAT% (100%), and points (45), and second in PATs made (21).

Nationally, Smith is No. 81 in the country in total points scored (73) and No. 103 in scoring (7.3).

MIKE INGRAFFIA | QUARTERBACK | SECOND TEAM

Ingraffria took command of the Gulls' offensive unit in the fourth week of play when he was thrust into action as the team's starting signal-caller on Homecoming Weekend against Curry (10/2).

In conference play, Ingraffria accumulated 1,192 passing yards and tossed eight touchdowns over the course of his six starts en route to a 5-1 record in those games.

Ingraffia's conference-only ranks include: completions (102, 3rd), completion percentage (62.6%, 1st), yards (1,192, 2nd), yards per game (198.7, 2nd), touchdowns (8, 3rd).

JUSTYN LESTER | GUARD | SECOND TEAM

Lester helped pave the way for an Endicott rushing attack that produced 20 rushing touchdowns in the team's 10 games, placing the Gulls second overall in the CCC Football rankings.

Endicott also averaged 3.6 yards per attempt on the ground, ranking within the top-3 of the league.

KYLE SECONE | GUARD | SECOND TEAM

Secone helped pass protect for an Endicott offense that averaged 11.9 yards per play, ranking third in the league.

Secone started in all 10 games for the Gulls in their championship-clinching season.

JAMES DAY | DEFENSIVE BACK | SECOND TEAM

Day had a breakout season in his first year on the field for the Gulls. Day racked up 31 total tackles (19 solo, 12 assisted), one tackle for loss, and a team-best eight pass breakups in his 10 starts this season, placing within the top-50 in the league for total tackles.

Day's two interceptions also helped contribute to Endicott's 14 total interceptions on the season, which ranks second in the conference.

JOSEPH PAGETT | DEFENSIVE BACK | SECOND TEAM

Pagett's 41 stops (17 solo, 24 assisted, 4.6 per game) this season placed him within the top-30 in the conference in total tackles.

Pagett also played a pivotal part in the Gulls' passing defense which only allowed 179.5 yards per game in 2021.

QUINTEN FOX | PUNTER | SECOND TEAM

Fox currently leads the conference in punting average at 37.0 yards (56th nationally) in 10 games this season. Meanwhile, his 52 punts (2nd overall) equated to a league-best 1,923 yards.

Fox also pinned 20 punts back inside of the opponent's 20-yard line (first in conference), forced 11 fair catches, had three touchbacks, and bombed a 52-yard punt for his longest of the year.