Endicott Edges Curry On Homecoming & Family Weekend, 34-27

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott football team defeated Curry, 34-27, on Saturday afternoon at Hempstead Stadium.

With just 7:42 minutes remaining in the final quarter of play, Tim Russell (Stoneham, Mass.) stepped in front of a pass and returned the interception for a 57-yard touchdown to help secure a Gulls victory. Russel finished the matchup with eight total tackles (2 TFL) and a sack. 

Prior to the game-clinching turnover, Ryan Smith (Glastonbury, Conn.) drilled a 33-yard field goal to make it 27-14 (3:20, 3rd quarter).

The Gulls also saw John Kenney (Wilmington, Mass.) notch a pair of rushing scores in the second (8:30, 10-7 lead) and third quarters (12:54, 24-14 advantage), respectively. 

Meanwhile, Shane Aylward (Tewksbury, Mass.) scored on a 47-yard catch-and-run scamper, sandwiched between Kenney's TD scores, to push the Gulls out in front 17-14 with 05:12 to go in the first half. 

Smith rounded out the scoring for Endicott with a 41-yard field goal to open up the offensive festivities (14:14, 2nd quarter, 3-0).

As for Curry, the Colonels' offense had a chance to tie the game on their last possession but Endicott's defense denied the comeback bid by registering its third and final fourth-down stop of the game. 

BEYOND THE BOX 

• Mehdi Squalli (Rochester, N.Y), Tyler Davis (Bethel, Conn.), and Russel all registered an interception in the win.
• Sam Opont (Bridgeport, Conn.) recorded 11 tackles in the matchup, tying his career-high (11/17/18 vs. USSMA). 
• Aylward has now gained 100+ receiving yards (117) in back-to-back games (10/2/21 vs. Curry career-high). 
• Ingraffia and Kenney both averaged 5.1 yards per carries for the Gulls. 
• Smith has now converted two or more field goals in back-to-back weeks. 
• Eight different Gulls caught passes in the victory.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (4-1, 1-0 CCC Football) hosts Western New England (3-2, 1-0 CCC Football) on Saturday, October 9 at 12 PM. Curry (2-2, 0-1 CCC Football) visits Husson (3-1, 0-0 CCC Football) on Saturday, October 9 at 1 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)