CCC CHAMPS! No. 23/24 Football Downs Salve Regina To Capture League Title, 42-10

BEVERLY, Mass. — The No. 23/24 nationally ranked Endicott football team defeated Salve Regina, 42-10, on Saturday afternoon to capture the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship at Hempstead Stadium.

Prior to the game, upperclassmen Nolan Anderson (Raynham, Mass.), Michael Awiszus (Andover, Mass.), Anthony Bracamonte (Saco, Maine), Tyler Bridge (Wells, Maine), Anthony Caggianelli (Pelham, N.H.), Colin Campbell (Howell, N.J.), Tyler Davis (Bethel, Conn.), Christopher Edwards (Millis, Mass.), team manager Eva Forte (Marlborough, Mass.), Nick Gaiero (Windham, N.H.), Robert Genaway (Hinsdale, Mass.), Kristian Gruszecki (Dudley, Mass.), Kevin Hinkle (Cromwell, Conn.), Ismar Kandic (Cromwell, Conn.), Benjamin LaRaus (Bedford Hills, N.Y.), Michael LeFebre (Methuen, Mass.), Joe Leonard (Cumberland, R.I.), Justyn Lester (Tewksbury, Mass.), Anthony Norcia (Everett, Mass.), Bailey Olson (Colchester, Vt.), Joseph Pagett (Newtown, Conn.), Tyler Perillo (Reading, Mass.), David Pignone (Stoneham, Mass.), Kyle Secone (Harpswell, Maine), Dylan Shute (Salisbury, Mass.), and Jonas Wiechmann (Acton, Mass.) were all honored for their contributions to the program and the Endicott College community in a Senior Day ceremony.

Leading 7-3 in the second quarter, the Gulls scored 21 unanswered points to run away with the victory.

Clayton Marengi (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Caggianelli both punched home rushing touchdowns (11:59, 14-3, 29 yards | 5:05, 21-3, 1-yard), while Johnny Carreiro (Southington, Conn.) recovered a punt return fumble in the end zone to cap the scoring in the quarter (:37, 28-3).

The Gulls also saw Shane Aylward (Tewksbury, Mass.) haul in a 79-yard flea flicker from Everett Knowlton III (Mansfield, Mass.) in the first (12:48), Colin Meropoulos (Monroe, Conn.) recover a strip sack fumble for a score in the third (7:28), and Yavier Cosme-Diaz (Stratford, Conn.) scamper in for a five-yard TD in the fourth (12:39).

Defensively, Endicott held Salve Regina to its second-lowest points (10) and total offense figures (308) on the season.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Gulls won their second straight CCC Championship.
• Endicott captured its fourth conference championship in program history (2010, 2013 - NEFC | 2021, 2022 - CCC).
• Zachariah Twardosky (Merrimack, N.H.) notched a season-high nine tackles (1.0 TFL, 1 pass breakup).
• Campbell picked off a career-high two passes.
• Hector Johnson (Worcester, Mass.) forced his second career fumble on Meropoulos' TD.

WHAT'S NEXT

No. 23/24 Endicott (9-0, 5-0 CCC) visits Western New England on Saturday, November 12 at 1 PM. Salve Regina (5-4, 2-3 CCC) hosts Husson next Saturday at 12 PM.

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - David Le '10)