Fourth quarter drives propel Endicott past Mass. Maritime
Sept. 20, 2008
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. - Freshman quarterback Phil Konopka (Shelton, Conn.) completed 14-of-20 passes for 121 yards, including a 21-yard strike to senior Angelo Ortiz (Mashantucket, Conn.) with 5:39 remaining, as Endicott used a pair of fourth quarter scores to post a 20-17 non-league college football victory over Massachusetts Maritime Saturday afternoon at Commander Ellis Field.
Konopka directed the visiting Gulls (1-2), who trailed 17-6 entering the final frame, on touchdown drives of 60 and 68 yards, respectively, as he hooked up with freshman Taylor Allen (Westboro, Mass.) on a seven-yard toss 27 seconds into the final stanza before his game-winning connection with Ortiz.
The host Buccaneers (0-3) took advantage of a pair of Endicott turnovers on special teams to net all 10 of their first half points, as a near block and a errant snap on two Gull punts set up freshman quarterback Nick Montalto's (South Yarmouth, Mass.) one-yard plunge in the first quarter and a 27-yard field goal by sophomore Jake Bickley (Wilbraham, Mass.) 4:51 before halftime sandwiched a two-yard run by junior Colby Hawkins (Scituate, Mass.) that staked Massachusetts Maritime to a 10-6 edge at the break. Montalto connected on a four-yard touchdown reception to junior Joseph St. Pierre (Beverly, Mass.) late in the third quarter to give the Bucs' their 17-6 lead, setting up Konopka's fourth quarter heroics for Endicott.
Hawkins and senior Drew Cusato (Merrimack, N.H.) combined for 130 rushing yards in the win for the Gulls, who received a combined 59 receiving yards from Ortiz and sophomore Neil Powers (Westford, Mass.). Montalto completed 9-of-12 attempts for 76 yards to go with his score for Massachusetts Maritime, as junior Brandon Payne (Marion, Mass.) rushed for 51 of the hosts' 126 yards on the ground and combined with senior Colin Teehan (Plymouth, Mass.) for 55 receiving yards. Endicott amassed 279 yards of total offense for the day compared to 202 for the Buccaneers.
Senior John Ortolani (Billerica, Mass.) and freshman Kevin Eagan (West Hartford, Conn.) each recorded 11 total tackles to lead the Gulls' defensive effort, while junior Kevin McCarthy (Tewksbury, Mass.) also notched 11 total tackles (nine solo) in the setback for the hosts. Senior Kyle Audette (Mattapoisett, Mass.) chipped in with 10 stops for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received eight tackles, one sack, a fumble recovery and two pass break-ups from freshman Walter Butler (Bourne, Mass.).
Massachusetts Maritime begins New England Football Conference play next Saturday afternoon when the Bucs head to Worcester, Mass. to take on Worcester State at 1:00 p.m., while Endicott also opens league action next Saturday afternoon by hosting Salve Regina in Beverly, Mass. at 1:00 p.m.