Beverly, Mass. (9/21/13) – The Kean University football team sprinted out to a 16-0 lead in the first half and held on for the first win of the season by topping Endicott College, 24-17.
Endicott (1-2), after falling behind 16-0 after one half of play, mounted a second half comeback behind a stingy defensive effort and timely offensive drives to pull within a touchdown with 2:45 remaining the game. The Gulls, despite crossing into Kean territory, faltered due to two false start penalties and a game-ending sack on fourth down. This is the first time the teams have matched up in program history, including the first NJAC opponent for the Gulls.
After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, Endicott quickly found themselves in a hole as Gulls junior quarter Drew Frenette's third pass of the game was intercepted by Kean defensive back Hank Limardo and returned 50 yards for the pick-six.
Later in the first quarter with Endicott senior Dylan Rushe on the field to punt on 4th-and-14, a botched snap recovered by the Cougars gave Kean outstanding field position on the Gulls 25-yard line. Sean McKee's (pictured left) five-yard rush was followed by a 20-yard sprint up the middle of the field by Cougars senior quarterback Christian Bailoni to put the visitors on top 13-0. The extra-point, however, was blocked by Endicott's Andrew Lawson.
Kean got a field goal from senior Bill Cullen at the 5:25 mark of the second quarter, connecting from 36 yards out. Cullen had an opportunity to put the Cougars on top 19-0 with six seconds left in the half, but his attempt from 37 sailed wide left of the upright.
Endicott finally got on the board midway through the third quarter on a Rushe 26-yard field goal. With only seconds remaining before the start of the fourth quarter, Frenette rushed into the end zone from three yards out to make it a 16-10 game. Endicott had been placed on the Kean 46-yard line after Gulls senior Curtis Manuel blocked a Kean punt and Michael Maldonado recovered. Frenette then connected with Alec Matys down the middle of the field on a one-handed grab to set up the touchdown.
Kean responded on their very next drive, taking 5:29 off the clock on a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended in Bailoni getting his own rushing touchdown. Bailoni helped tack on two more points with a conversion pass to senior Prince Stewart, putting the Cougars ahead, 24-10.
Endicott's ensuing drive following the Kean touchdown was 12 plays for 80 yards as Frenette went 7-of-10 with 55 passing yards. He brought Endicott down to the Kean one-yard line where sophomore tailback Trevon Offley barreled through for the score to make it a 24-17 game.
The Gulls, however, would come up short in their final possession of the game as a combined sack from Cougars linebacker Matt Clerk and Limardo (pictured right) on 4th-and-11 ended the game for Endicott.
For the Cougars, McKee finished with a game-high 90 yards rushing on 17 attempts with Kevin O'Connor and Will Ingram adding 54 and 35 yards, respectively. Bailoni threw for 147 yards and two interceptions, both to Endicott safety Jason Silva, but used his legs for two touchdowns. Tight end Jim Dennis led the team with 37 yards on four receptions.
Defensively, Kean's Bob Klecha and Endicott's Nick Kozlowski and Holfinger all had a game-high 11 tackles.
The Cougars head into the bye week and will open up NJAC play on Saturday, October 5th when they travel to SUNY Cortland.
