Football Falls in Season Opener 34-7 to Endicott
Release courtesy of Andrew Mowry
Framingham, Mass. – The Endicott Gulls capitalized on seven turnovers and used thirty-four unanswered points to defeat the Framingham State University Rams, 34-7, this afternoon in the season opener for both schools.
The Rams got off to an early lead thanks to a 12-yard touchdown reception by senior wide-receiver Alex Avery (Milford, Mass.). However, it was the lone bright-spot for the Rams on the day, as seven costly turnover and injuries spoiled the Rams home opener at Maple Field.
After the Avery touchdown, Endicott would cut into the lead thanks to a field goal by junior Dylan Rushe (Palos Verdes, CA). Rushe, for a second consecutive season is a nominee for the Fred Mitchell Award, which is given for excellence both on the football field and in the community.
It would remain 7-3, until Rams freshman quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass) dropped the snap on the ensuing Rams possession that junior lineback Andrew Holfinger (Sterling, Mass.) would recover for the Gulls.
Endicott would capitalize on the turnover, as sophomore quarterback Drew Frenettte (New Bedford, Mass.) would connect with senior running-back Mike Wheeler (Hanover, Mass.) on a twenty-one yard touchdown reception to give the Gulls their first lead of the game. A lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the afternoon.
A 50-yard field goal from Rushe with 4:06 left in the half would make the score 13-7, and on the next possession for the Rams, Holfinger would intercept a Silva pass and return it all the way for an Endicott touchdown.
Senior defensive back Chris Blydell (Lynn, Mass) blocked a Rushe field-goal just before the half to give the Rams some much needed momentum with the score was 20-7 at halftime.
In the second half, sophomore Al Krasco (Medford, Mass.) replaced Silva, who finished the afternoon 12-for-17, for 117 yards a touchdown with three interceptions. Krasco did not fare much better against the stingy Endicott defense and later would be knocked out of the game with an injury, leaving the quarterback duties to sophomore Mitchell Johnson (South Easton, Mass.).
Endicott was able to keep Rams running back Melikke Van Alstyne in-check on the day as Van Alystne carried the ball 23 times for 66 yards. Last season, Van Alstyne was a first-team All-Bogan Division selection.
Head Coach Tom Kelly seemed to be unfazed by their inability to run the ball saying after the game, "we have faith we can run the ball. They just did a nice job stopping us today."
The third-quarter would go scoreless, and so would the forth until junior defensive back Andrew Lawson, who had three picks on the day, intercepted a Johnson pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to make the score 27-7. The final touchdown on the day would come thanks to a 35 yard run by Wheeler with four minutes remaining. Wheeler finished the day with 60 yards on eight carries with a touchdown.
Framingham State's defense received a solid game from senior captain defensive lineman James Muirhead (Middleboro, Mass.). Muirhead finished the day with a game-best 11 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble and later talked about the game. "We came out and worked hard, things just weren't going out way. It's only one-game and we have a short-week ahead of us. We just have to put this in the past and continue to get better every day," Muirhead said.
The Rams will look to bounce-back this Friday as they travel to Nichols to play the Bison under the lights at 7 p.m. Nichols will look for revenge after the Rams defeated them last-season by a score of 54-13.
Endicott will host Castleton State in their home opener next Saturday at noon.