BEVERLY, Mass. — The No. 11/12 nationally ranked Endicott football team defeated Husson, 32-6, in Saturday afternoon's Conference of New England (CNE) Championship matchup at Hempstead Stadium.
Prior to the game, 41 seniors were honored for their contributions to the Endicott football program.
Yavier Cosme-Diaz (Stratford, Conn.) kicked off his senior day celebrations in style, as he punched in two early touchdown rushes to put the Gulls up 14-0 in the first quarter (5:58 | 0:24).
After the Gulls defense forced an Eagles three-and-out, the Gulls offense stormed down the field on just three plays, capped off by a Kennedy Charles (Portland, Maine) 43-yard catch and run to the house. The Gulls then made it a 22-0 lead after a two-point conversion was successfully run in by Jayson Little (Natick, Mass.).
Both defenses forced punts over the next few drives, but Endicott got the ball back and found the endzone once more before half off of an eight-play, 57-yard drive. Shane Aylward (Tewksbury, Mass.) connected with Adam Goodfellow (Wayland, Mass.) on a 3rd and 14 trick play, which resulted in a 22-yard score for the Gulls to cap off the 2:57 drive.
In the second half, Mike Bartley (North Caldwell, N.J.) drilled a 19-yard field goal to make it a 32-0 lead.
Husson finally got on the board in the fourth quarter thanks to a six-yard passing touchdown, but that was the only score the Blue and Green's defense allowed on the afternoon.
On the defensive side of the field, Will Shannon (Topsfield, Mass.) produced the lone turnover of the afternoon with an interception (returned for 26 yards; set up the Bartley field goal drive).
Keenan Scullin (Hermitage, Pa.) blocked a 23-yard field goal attempt at 12:30 of the first quarter to keep Husson off the board on its offensive drive of the game. The play shifted momentum in the contest and ignited the home supporters after the Gulls fumbled on the matchup's opening drive.
Matthew Whelan (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) racked up a team-high seven tackles (one TFL), while Michael Canney (Dracut, Mass.) recorded a team-high two TFL's.
Clayton Marengi (Lynnfield, Mass.) (12-18, 173 yards passing, one touchdown) and Charles (five receptions, 115 yards, one TD) highlighted the offensive efforts for the Gulls.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Gulls hold a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series.
- Bryan Metayer (Norwood, Mass.) rushed for 147 yards on 18 attempts (both career highs).
- Bartley nailed all three of his PATs in addition to his field goal, while Ryan Smith (Glastonbury, Conn.) racked up 352 kickoff yards and 161 punt yards.
- First career passing touchdown for Aylward (second career completion).
- Scullin notched his first career blocked field goal.
- Fourth consecutive conference championship for Endicott (2021-24).
WHAT'S NEXT
No. 11/12 Endicott (8-1, 4-0 CNE) travels to Curry next Saturday for a 12 PM contest with the Colonels. Husson (6-3, 3-1 CNE) hosts UNE next Saturday in a 1 PM kickoff from Bangor.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)
