UNION, N.J. – Three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Drew Frenette (New Bedford, Mass.), 139 yards receiving with both a touchdown catch and throw for senior receiver Nate Lewis (Acushnet, Mass.), and a timely pick-six for sophomore linebacker Marjan Solomon (Waltham, Mass.) were all key factors in Endicott's gridiron victory of the season as the Gulls defeated NJAC rival Kean 41-28 on the road Saturday afternoon.
Endicott (1-2) earned their first win over a NJAC school in program history after having suffered losses to Kean in the 2013 regular season and Rowan in the 2013 NCAA Tournament First Round. The Gulls were efficient on offense, registering 22 first downs, converting 40% of their third downs, and accumulating 442 total yards (339 passing, 103 rushing) of total offense while defensively limiting Kean's offensive momentum from the first half into the second half and coming up with timely stops throughout the game.
Endicott returns home for their week four match up and NEFC opener on Homecoming Weekend against Curry. Endicott will raise their 2013 NEFC Championship banner on Saturday morning at the Athletic Department's Hall of Fame and Athletics Recognition Ceremony before kicking off with the Colonels at 12:00 pm in Endicott Stadium. The Blue and Green are 4-7 all-time against Curry but have won their last four meetings.
Frenette connected with his receivers on 21-of-35 pass attempts for 316 yards and three touchdown passes, including two that came in the opening quarter to seniors Brett Egizi (Walpole, Mass.) and Lewis. Frenette first hit Egizi for a 43-yard score just 3:36 into the game as the Gulls defense forced a quick three-and-out and Endicott went 74-yards on six plays over 2:20 to put up the game's first points. The team's extra-point was blocked, but after another three-and-out for the Gulls defense, Frenette found Lewis for a 65-yard touchdown to make it 13-0 Endicott.
Kean got on the board with a Robert Meade (Colonia, N.J.) one-yard touchdown run to make it 13-7. Regan's 34-yard field goal put the Blue and Green ahead 16-7 but the Cougars fired right back midway through the second quarter as Meadow hooked up with junior receiver Qaudir Johnson (Staten Island, N.Y.) on a 25-yard score to cut the Gulls lead down to 16-14.
Kean's defense forced an Endicott punt and took over with 6:01 remaining until halftime and trailing by two. The Cougars orchestrated a 12-play, 82-yard drive over 5:15 that resulted in another one-yard Meade touchdown run as Kean went into the locker room with a 21-16 advantage.
Endicott came out of halftime with a 70-yard drive that ended with junior Dimitri Skinsacos (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) hauling in a nine-yard touchdown toss from Frenette to make it 22-21 Endicott. The Gulls went for two and Frenette found Lipscomb for the two-point conversation.
The Gulls took over possession once again after their defense forced another Cougars punt and Frenette's passing and shifty running by sophomore tailback Christian Martinez (Tariffville, Conn.) set Endicott up on the opposition's 23-yard line. On 2nd-and-10, Lewis got the ball in the backfield and threw a pass downfield to Lipscomb hauled in the touchdown catch. Lipscomb's first touchdown catch of the season made it a 31-21 game in Endicott's favor with 5:32 left in the third quarter.
Regan hit a 25-yard field goal with 8:05 on the clock in the fourth quarter and on the ensuing Kean offensive possession, Meade's first pass of the drive was intercepted by Solomon at the 22-yard line and returned back into the end zone. Solomon's first career interception gave Endicott a 20-point lead at 41-21 with 7:50 remaining.
The Cougars were able to tack on another seven points on Meade's second touchdown pass of the game, this time 23-yards to senior Brandon Robinson (Ocean Twp., N.J.), but it would not be enough as Endicott held on for the 41-28 triumph.
Lewis finished with seven catches for 139 yards, a receiving touchdown and a passing touchdown, Egizi added 78 yards on three catches, Skinsacos grabbed six balls for 56 yards and a score, and Lipscomb caught three balls for 47 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Martinez carried the rock 28 times for 82 yards.
Defensively for the Gulls, sophomore linebacker John Elnagger (Rowley, Mass.) had a team-high seven tackles, five solo, with one tackle going for a loss. Fifth-year linebacker Andrew Holfinger (Sterling, Mass.) had six tackles, five solo, and a tackle for a loss which was a sack, his third of the season. Senior lineman Nick Almeida (Somerset, Mass.) recorded five tackles and two tackles for a loss while Rasheed Adigun (Salem, N.H.), John Fortes (North Reading, Mass.), and Michael Maldonado (Palm Beach, Fla.) all had tackles for a loss.