Endicott Football Releases 2014 Schedule

2014 Endicott Football Schedule

BEVERLY, Mass. – The schedule for the 12^th season of Endicott football gridiron action has been released and, from start to finish, looks to be most challenging lineup the program has faced with a mix of talented non-conference opposition and a stingy schedule of league rivals vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The defending NEFC champion Gulls will be on the road for six of their 10 regular season dates of competition starting with their season opener on Saturday, September 6^th at 2013 MASCAC winners Framingham State and ending with their season finale on Saturday, November 15^th at 2013 NEFC runner-up Salve Regina.

Endicott's 2014 schedule features a three-game non-conference stretch which includes the team's home opener on September 13^th followed by seven-game NEFC schedule starting on Homecoming Saturday, September 27^th, and ending with their final regular season contest on the road November 15^th. The NEFC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament will be given to the regular season champion with NCAA First Round action beginning on November 22^nd. The Blue and Green will have a bye during week seven with no action scheduled for Saturday, October 18^th.  

Two of Endicott's three non-conference games to start the season will be against teams that won their leagues and qualified for NCAA Division III Tournament play last fall. Framingham State (2013: 9-2, 8-0 MASCAC) captured the inaugural MASCAC Championship and automatic bid into NCAA postseason play in 2013 and nearly upset their First Round opponent Ithaca with a 20-17 loss. Endicott has met Framingham State in their season opener in each of the past six seasons and own a 4-2 record over the Rams. In the 2013 season and home opener for the Gulls, however, Framingham State won 35-23 behind 214 yards rushing and a touchdown from senior All-American Melikke Van Alstyne.

Following their season opener with the Rams, Endicott continues their three game non-conference schedule with the program's first ever tilt against nine-time Liberty League champions Hobart (2013: 10-1, 7-0 Liberty League) who ended their NCAA Tournament run in the Second Round last season. The Statesmen finished 2013 ranked #11 in the country with a 10-1 overall record. Hobart will travel to Endicott on Saturday, September 13^th for a 12:00 pm kickoff in Endicott Stadium for the Gulls' home opener.

In week three, Endicott travels down to Union, New Jersey to battle NJAC opponent Kean (2013: 2-8, 1-6 NJAC) after hosting the Cougars during the 2013 regular season. Kean defeated Endicott by a touchdown last fall, 24-17, as the Gulls nearly erased a 16-0 deficit by scoring 17 points in the second half. The Cougars, however, got a touchdown run with just under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to help beat Endicott in the first meeting between these two programs.  

On September 27^th, the Endicott Community will celebrate Homecoming Weekend with a variety of events including a Saturday, 12:00 pm kickoff with Curry (2013: 4-5, 4-3 NEFC) to start their NEFC schedule. The Gulls are 4-7 all-time against the Colonels with wins in each of their last four games including last season's 42-27 road victory. On October 4^th, the Gulls travel to Castine, Maine to take on Maine Maritime (2013: 1-8, 1-6 NEFC) who the Gulls beat 53-28 in front of a capacity crowd last fall. In their final game before the week seven bye, Endicott hosts Nichols (2013: 1-8, 0-7 NEFC), a team they have averaged 52.7 ppg against offensively over their last three games, all wins.

Following the bye, Endicott travels to Coast Guard (2013: 3-7, 3-4 NEFC) for their first ever game at Cadet Memorial Field on Saturday, October 25^th in New London, Connecticut. In their first meeting between the Gulls and Bears last October, the Gulls defense held the opposition to just under 300 yards of total offense in a 33-7 Endicott home victory.

Endicott will host their final home game of the season under the lights of Endicott Stadium on Saturday, November 1^st at 5:00 pm against NEFC opponent MIT (2013: 6-3, 4-3 NEFC). The Gulls have never lost to the Engineers in 11 previous meetings which includes last season's 52-21 win in Cambridge.    

For week 10 and 11 of the Endicott football season, the Blue and Green hit the road for a pair of important, regular season conference games which could decide who earns the NEFC's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament. On Saturday, November 8^th, Endicott visits Western New England (2013: 4-6, 3-4 NEFC) before ending their 2014 regular season with Salve Regina (2013: 7-4, 6-1 NEFC), who the Gulls met in a de facto NEFC Championship last season. Endicott scored wins over both the Golden Bears (38-21) and Seahawks (24-0) in the final two weeks of the 2013 regular season to earn a bid into the NCAA Tournament.