SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior quarterback Justin Walz (Groton, CT) ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score as Western New England College held on for a 27-20 victory over visiting Endicott in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division contest Saturday afternoon (Oct. 25) during Family & Friends Weekend.

The Golden Bears have won two of their last three outings to improve to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in the division. The Gulls fall to 2-6 and 1-4 in the division.

Walz scored on a one-yard run in the opening period and ran 12 yards in the second quarter to give WNEC an early 14-0 lead.

Endicott got on the board with a 12-yard scoring pass from sophomore backup quarterback Matt DeOliveira (Malden, MA) to junior tight end Tim Viall (Sandwich, MA) with 1:12 left before halftime.

Western New England College extended its margin to 27-6 with two long scoring passes in the third quarter.

The first came on an end around when freshman receiver Jake Hoffman (Weare, NH) hit junior wide out Cliff Carpluk (Long Valley, NJ) with a 37-yard pass on the second play of the period. A former quarterback at John Stark High School, Hoffman  was playing in only his second game.

Walz connected with junior receiver Rob Chiaccio (Groton, CT) on a 78-yard strike on the next possession at the 10:19 mark. It was his longest play of the season and 10th touchdown pass. Chiaccio (3 catches, 117 yards) and Walz were teammates at Fitch High School.

Endicott rallied when DeOliveira tossed a 47-yard touchdown to freshman running back Mike Lane (Medfield, MA) with 7:43 remaining in the third stanza.

WNEC freshman defensive back Daniel Darragh (Northford, CT) came up with a key play with an interception in the end zone that thwarted a Gulls' scoring drive on their next possession.

DeOliveira (10-for-20, 141 yards, 3 TDs) then hit Viall with a 21-yard score with 4:19 left in the fourth quarter.

Western New England College recovered the onsides kick and ran out the clock.

Walz completed 10-of-14 passes for 188 yards and rushed for 66 yards on 18 carries.

Senior running back Jordan Capitanio (Torrington, CT) had a fine performance with 97 yards on 16 carries as the Golden Bears racked up 416 yards in total offense. Sophomore linebacker Dylan Chandler (Durham, ME) compiled eight tackles.

Endicott finished with 296 yards as Lane ran for a game high 128 yards on 19 attempts. He also caught two passes for 57 yards.

Freshman defensive end Kevin Eagan (West Hartford, CT) and sophomore defensive back Eli Olsen (East Falmouth, MA) led Endicott with 14 and 12 tackles, respectively.