Konopka dons Gold Helmet Award after Endicott’s record-breaking win
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior quarterback Phil Konopka (Shelton, Conn.) became the first player in Endicott history to earn the Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, given to a New England Division I FCS and a Division II/III player with the most outstanding performance each week.
Konopka's record-breaking 385 yard, five touchdown performance in a 55-7 Gulls victory over Curry to remain undefeated at 5-0 (2-0 NEFC Boyd) earned him this week's coveted award. The senior, along with head coach JB Wells, was in attendance to receive the award at Harvard's Hall of History at Dillon Field House (footage above, courtesy of Harvard Athletic Communications).
Konopka shattered his own Endicott records for passing yards and touchdown passes in a single game against the Colonels this week. On a 55-yard, first half touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Mike Murphy (Chelmsford, Mass.), Konopka eclipsed his previous mark of 297 passing yards set back on October 2, 2010 against Curry. Konopka finished the first half with 350 yards passing, including 246 yards on 8-of-9 pass completions in the opening quarter.
Endicott's signal caller had touchdown passes of 41, 59, 2, 55 and 10 yards against the Colonels in that order. The first four came in the first half and three came in first quarter. Konopka's final touchdown pass, a 10-yard score to senior receiver Ryan Carino (Stratford, Conn.) broke the Gulls football record for touchdown passes in a game which he had set in week three this season at home against Fitchburg State.
Konopka was also named NEFC Offensive Player of the Week and ECAC DIII North Player of the Week. He leads the NEFC in nearly all statistical categories for a quarterback.
University of Maine's Pushaun Brown (North Brunswick, N.J.) won the New England Division I Gold Helmet for the 193-yard, three touchdown rushing effort in a 31-17 Black Bears win over #5 ranked Delaware last Saturday.
Endicott returns to action on Saturday, October 8th with a road game at Nichols starting at 1:00 pm.
