BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott football team fell to No. 18 nationally ranked Ithaca, 20-17, in a hard-fought contest on Saturday afternoon at Hempstead Stadium.
Ithaca erased a 17-7 deficit in the fourth quarter behind a two-yard plunge (7:22, 17-13, PAT blocked) and a 30-yard heave with 2:06 remaining to take a 20-17 (PAT good) lead on the scoreboard.
The Gulls nearly tied the game with zero ticks on the clock, but their game-tying 49-yard field goal attempt missed right, ensuring Ithaca's first win of the season.
Endicott produced its 17-7 advantage via touchdowns from Anthony Caggianelli (Pelham, N.H.) and Markys Bridgewater (Lawrence, Mass.) in the second (11:12, 1-yard run, 7-7) and fourth (13:40, 10-yard catch, first of his career, 17-7) quarters, respectively.
Ryan Smith (Glastonbury, Conn.) also added a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the first half (10-7) to account for the rest of Endicott's offense.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Today's game was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- Endicott held Ithaca to a 2-for-4 showing on fourth down, with the most important one of them occurring at the beginning of the third quarter when the Gulls made four straight goal line stops – highlighted by a four-yard loss on 4th and goal from the one-yard line with 6:44 to play.
- Matthew Licciardi (East Greenwich, R.I.) shot his gap on that play and ripped down Ithaca's running back to keep the game in favor of the Gulls, 10-7. He finished with five tackles, including one tackle for a loss.
- Matthew Whelan (Hopewell Junction, Vt.) registered a team-high/career-high nine tackles (five solo).
- Colin Meropoulos (Monroe, Conn.) finished with eight tackles (four solo, 2 TFL) and one forced fumble, which came on 2nd and goal during the Gulls' third quarter goal line stand.
- Zachariah Twardosky (Merrimack, N.H.) notched eight tackles (six solo) and one pass breakup in the second quarter that potentially saved a touchdown, but, at the very least, a 30-yard chunk play for the Bombers.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (1-1) travels to Maritime (N.Y.) on Saturday, September 16 at 12 PM. No. 18 Ithaca (1-1) visits Alfred next Saturday at 1 PM.
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(Photo Credit - Jonny Ratner '24)
