Football Downs Misericordia In Season Opener, 31-21

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott football team defeated Misericordia, 31-21, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Hempstead Stadium.

The Gulls built up a 17-0 advantage heading into the break thanks to a pair of rushing touchdowns and a mid-range field goal.

From there, Endicott held off a second half comeback attempt by the Cougars, not allowing the visitors to bring the game within less than 10 points, to secure its sixth straight season-opening victory.

Markys Bridgewater (Lawrence, Mass.) opened the scoring with a four-yard plunge in the first (8:53), while Lynch scampered into the end zone from three yards out in the second (8:15).

Freshman kicker Garoid Stones (Braintree, Mass.) closed out the first half with his first career field goal from 39 yards out with 1:15 remaining.

In the second half, Adam Goodfellow (Wayland, Mass.) appeared to seize all momentum for the Gulls in the matchup with a 69-yard touchdown reception just 1:05 into the third.

Goodfellow caught a go-route at Misericordia's 48-yard line on the left side of the field from Lynch, evaded a Cougars' safety with an inside juke move, and was later sprung free on a fundamentally sound upfield block by Jayson Little (Natick, Mass.), sending him into the end zone for the pendulum swinging score.

Misericordia didn't go away quietly, however, as the guests scored back-to-back TDs and a successful two-point conversion to make it 24-14 with 6:54 to play.

Both teams exchanged rushing touchdowns in the final three minutes of play before the final buzzer sounded. Bryan Metayer (Norwood, Mass.) found paydirt for the Gulls with a 3-yard rushing TD at 2:44, while the Cougars were able to rip off a 73-yard rushing touchdown with 1:01 left on the scoreboard.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• First-ever meeting between the two programs.
• Endicott held a 394-318 advantage in total offense (21 first downs, 163 yards rushing, 231 yards passing).
• Danny Fleming (Tewksbury, Mass.) led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles (4 solo, 1 TFL).
• Alfino Davis (Cranston, R.I.) nearly had a pick-6 late in the second quarter when he corralled his fifth career interception at Endicott's own 5-yard line and darted back to Misericordia's 45-yard line before being tripped up with the end zone in his sight lines.
• Chase Duncan (Queens, N.Y.) compiled a career-high seven tackles (2 solo, 0.5 sacks, 0.5 TFL, 1 QBH).
• The Gulls notched four sacks total on the day, as Brian Daly (Franklin Square, N.Y.) and Jake McKerley (Boscawen, N.H.) had one apiece, while Nick Ferguson (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and Caleb Luz (Hudson, Mass.) collected half sacks, each.
• Daly also logged a team-high two quarterback hurries (4 total for the Gulls).
• Endicott tallied 102 yards after the catch (Goodfellow, team-high 53).
• Bridgewater punched home his seventh career rushing TD, while Metayer produced his sixth career rushing TD.
• Goodfellow hauled in his 15th career receiving TD (tied for 5th all-time) and recorded his third career 100-yard receiving game.
• Lynch registered his first career rushing touchdown and went 20-for-28 passing (71.4%) alongside 213 yards and one TD through the air.
• Stan Pierre (Arlington, Mass.) recovered a pivotal onside kick midway through the fourth quarter with Endicott leading 24-14, at the time.
• Brandon Alfaro Mateo (Marlborough, Mass.) went 4-for-4 on his extra point attempts (first career appearance as place kicker).

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (1-0) hosts Muhlenberg on Saturday, September 13 at 12 PM. Misericordia (0-1) welcomes Albright to its campus next Saturday at 12 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - Jonah Bean '28)