BEVERLY, Mass. — Thirteen members of the Endicott football program have earned Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) postseason honors, as announced by the league earlier today.
Headlining the group of award winners were Tim Russell (Stoneham, Mass.), Shane Aylward (Tewksbury, Mass.), Colin Meropoulos (Monroe, Conn.), and head coach Paul McGonagle.
Russell was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Aylward and Meropoulos claimed Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year accolades, respectively. McGonagle rounded out the Gulls’ major award winners with Coach of the Year honors.
Along with their major awards, Russell and Aylward were tabbed to the CCC Football All-Conference First Team, while Meropoulos was chosen to the Second Team.
SHANE AYLWARD | OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR | FIRST TEAM
Aylward notched 59 receptions for 669 yards and five touchdowns in his debut season (10 games played).
He is the third student-athlete in program history to earn Offensive Rookie of the Year accolades joining Ryan Mrozek (offensive lineman) and Endicott Hall of Fame running back Michael Lane ’12 on the list.
Aylward also is the first wide receiver in the conference to haul in Offensive Rookie of the Year honors since 2016 (all running backs selected between then and now).
His overall conference ranks include: receptions (1st), yards (3rd), yards per game (4th, 66.9), yards per catch (8th, 11.3), touchdowns (6th). Meanwhile, his conference-only games rank as follows: receptions (1st, 42), yards (3rd, 424), yards per game (3rd, 70.7), yards per catch (11th, 10.1), touchdowns (9th, 2).
