BEVERLY, Mass. – The Husson University football team dropped a Conference of New England contest to No. 11/12 Endicott College on Saturday afternoon at Hempstead Stadium in Beverly, Massachusetts by a final score of 32-6.

Husson (6-3, 3-1 CNE) set themselves up nicely after kicking off to begin Saturday's showdown of CNE unbeatens. On the first play from scrimmage for Endicott (8-1, 4-0 CNE), senior Isaac Bergeron stripped the ball out of the hands of the Endicott ball carrier and freshman Kane Smith scooped up the loose ball and returned it 10 yards to set the Eagles up at the 17-yard line of the Gulls.

Husson managed to get first and goal from the Endicott four-yard line, but two rushes and an incomplete pass later, the Eagles were forced into a field goal attempt. The Gulls kept Husson off the scoreboard on the drive, as senior Cason Markevich had his field goal try blocked, putting the ball back into the hands of Endicott.

The Gulls found the end zone on a 14-play, 88-yard drive that chewed up nearly 6:30 of the clock and culminated with a five-yard rushing touchdown, after a fourth-down conversion set them up at the Husson 12-yard line.

Following a punt from the Eagles on their next drive, a 24-yard pass and a 35-yard rush put Endicott back in prime scoring position and a two-yard rushing touchdown on second and goal put the Gulls up 14-0 late in the first quarter.

After a three-and-out from Husson, Endicott found the end zone for a third-consecutive drive, as an 18-yard rush put the Gulls in Eagle territory and a 43-yard touchdown pass one play later, in addition to a two-point conversion had Endicott up 22-0 on Husson.

Both defenses stepped up for the majority of the second quarter, as five-straight possessions ended in punts, before the Gulls posted one more touchdown in the first half on a 22-yard touchdown pass, sending the game into halftime at 29-0.

Endicott forced Husson into a turnover on its opening drive of the second half and converted on a 19-yard field goal to extend its lead to 32-0 early on in the second half.

Following back-to-back scoreless drives, the Eagles found the scoring column after being set up with good field position, as a 15-yard rush by junior Jed Lober put Husson into Endicott territory, as well as a 19-yard rush from Lober, which set the Eagles up with first and goal. 

Junior Max Clark capped off the drive with a touchdown, as he found senior Dom Wilson on fourth and goal from six yards away, cutting the lead down to 32-6.

Husson was unable to get another drive going, as a punt from Endicott on its next drive pinned the Eagles at their own three yard line and Husson was forced to punt, allowing the Gulls to run out the clock.

Clark finished 14-28 through the air on the day for 98 yards and a touchdown, in addition to two rushes for five yards on the ground.

Lober posted a 100-yard rushing performance to lead the Husson backs, as he rushed 18 times for 112 yards, while senior Nason Berthelette led the Husson receivers with six catches for 45 yards.

Sophomore Jahmye Tyson led the Eagle defense with 10 total tackles, including six solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Bergeron and senior Bode DayCoombs forced fumbles during the game, while the Eagles posted eight tackles for loss as a team in the contest.

Smith and freshman Brayden Trombly recorded pass breakups, while senior Ryan Banister and DayCoombs contributed quarterback hurries.

Husson is back in action on Saturday when it hosts the University of New England in the fourth annual Lobster Trap game on senior day at the Winkin Complex with kickoff set for 1 p.m.