Dominant Defense Propels Gulls Past TCNJ, 28-7

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott football team defeated The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), 28-7, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Hempstead Stadium.

Trailing 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Gulls' defense responded by putting the clamps on TCNJ over the next two quarters to run away with the win.

During that span, Endicott limited the Lions to a dismal 20 yards of total offense (33 plays) and just one first down.

Anthony Bracamonte (Saco, Maine) eventually evened up the score at the 1:47 mark of the second with a 30-yard TD scamper before the Gulls took the lead for good (14-7) at the 10:16 mark of the third. 

Everett Knowlton III (Mansfield, Mass.) had the go-ahead TD honors as the sophomore tight end out-jumped his defender to haul in a pass inside the red zone and turn it into a 26-yard score.

Yavier Cosme-Diaz (Stratford, Conn.) also scooped up a fumble on a mishandled punt for a 9-yard TD in the third (8:28), while Zachariah Twardosky (Merrimack, N.H.) put the exclamation point on the victory with a 36-yard house call in the fourth (3:00).

Overall, as a defensive unit, Endicott recorded seven sacks, nine tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles (all recovered), compiled three interceptions, a school record 14 pass breakups, and hurried the quarterback twice.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott is 1-0 all-time against TCNJ.
• First 3-0 start to a season since the Gulls' 2011 campaign.
• The Lions were held to a season-low 202 yards of total offense despite coming off a 63-7 loss last week to No. 15 nationally ranked Cortland.
• Twardosky, Jackson DeAngelo (North Reading, Mass.), and Matthew Licciardi (East Greenwich, R.I.) all tied for the team lead in tackles with eight apiece, which marks the second straight contest the Gulls have had three student-athletes break even for the team lead in the category.
• Tyler Bridge (Westford, Mass.) posted career-highs for rush attempts (31) and yards (117).

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (3-0) hosts Norwich next Saturday at 12 PM. TCNJ (1-2) visits Rowan on Friday, October 7 at 6 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - Chris Lyons '22)