Konopka dons Gold Helmet Award after Endicott's record-breaking win
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior quarterback
Phil Konopka (Shelton, Conn.) became the first player in Endicott
history to earn the Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football
Writers Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, given to a New England
Division I FCS and a Division II/III player with the most
outstanding performance each week.
Konopka’s record-breaking 385 yard, five touchdown
performance in a 55-7 Gulls victory over Curry to remain undefeated
at 5-0 (2-0 NEFC Boyd) earned him this week’s coveted
award. The senior, along with head coach JB Wells, was in
attendance to receive the award at Harvard’s Hall of History
at Dillon Field House (footage above, courtesy of Harvard Athletic
Communications).
Konopka shattered his own Endicott records for passing yards and
touchdown passes in a single game against the Colonels this
week. On a 55-yard, first half touchdown pass to junior wide
receiver Mike Murphy (Chelmsford, Mass.), Konopka eclipsed his
previous mark of 297 passing yards set back on October 2, 2010
against Curry. Konopka finished the first half with 350 yards
passing, including 246 yards on 8-of-9 pass completions in the
opening quarter.
Endicott’s signal caller had touchdown passes of 41, 59, 2,
55 and 10 yards against the Colonels in that order. The first
four came in the first half and three came in first quarter.
Konopka’s final touchdown pass, a 10-yard score to senior
receiver Ryan Carino (Stratford, Conn.) broke the Gulls football
record for touchdown passes in a game which he had set in week
three this season at home against Fitchburg State.
Konopka was also named NEFC Offensive Player of the Week and ECAC
DIII North Player of the Week. He leads the NEFC in nearly
all statistical categories for a quarterback.
University of Maine's Pushaun Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) won
the New England Division I Gold Helmet for the 193-yard, three
touchdown rushing effort in a 31-17 Black Bears win over \#5 ranked
Delaware last Saturday.
Endicott returns to action on Saturday, October 8th
with a road game at Nichols starting at 1:00 pm.