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| After missing most of last season with an injury, Tyler Calitri is making big plays for the Gulls defense. Photo by David Le |
Steven Hauschka's path to the NFL and Super Bowl included kicking for Middlebury College. Pierre Garҫon's itinerary had him catching passes for Norwich and Mount Union.
They are the exceptions, part of a tiny percentage of Division III players who play in pro football's glamorous arena.
Classrooms and internships are the preparation for the small college football player. It is a refreshing world where guys play for the love of the game between going to class and getting ready for a world that does not include playing the game they love.
The seconds on Tyler Calitri's football playing days are ticking toward the end. And he is making them count. Calitri tied an Endicott single-game record with five pass break-ups including one in the end zone on the last play of the fourth overtime to preserve the Gulls' 27-21 victory over Curry on Saturday evening.
He's also making his time as a student count. Endicott has some outstanding internship opportunities owing to its proximity to Boston and so many other schools.
Calitri did an internship with Harvard University's Department of Athletics as a graphic design specialist. He helped design game programs, schedules and posters. He has learned the intricacies of graphic design through gaining experience in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and iMovie.
He spent his freshman year as a student at the University of Rhode Island.
"When I got out of high school I was pretty unsure of playing football. I went to URI. I like the Shore area," he said.
When he decided he wanted to pursue the area of graphic design, URI was not an option. Endicott had that program and so with a Division III school in his future, football again became viable.
J.B. Wells was still the Endicott coach.
"He checked out my highlight tape and gave me a go," Calitri said.
Wells is in his first year at Bowdoin and Kevin DeWall has become the new head coach at Endicott. He appreciates what he has in Calitri.
"He's a good young man," DeWall said.
When DeWall was on the Hobart staff the Statesmen played against Endicott last year.
"I remember from the scouting report that he was a very athletic corner," DeWall said.
Unfortunately, Calitri was injured in that game against Hobart, only the second game of the season, and he missed the rest of the year.
"He has really worked hard to come back through rehab," DeWall said. "He has been our best corner all year long. He's a great leader.
"His forte is coverage. He is a pretty explosive guy and a pretty sure tackler. But his strength is coverage. We leave him out there on an island a lot. He understands the defense and he has great body control."
Missing so much of last season has given Calitri a deepened appreciation of football and he is cherishing every play of this final season.
"Watching my friends play and standing on the sideline was hard," Calitri said. "You learn to appreciate it and not take it for granted."
Calitri's portfolio includes his own version of the Gull logo.
"I have done two internships and they were both heaviliy rooted in sports. I have always liked sports," Calitri said.
There is the possibility of remaining in that area.
Last year on national television, MIT coach Chad Martinovich was asked about the chances of any of his players going on and playing in the NFL.
He quickly replied that they were much more likely to own a team.
Calitri won't have an opportunity to play in a Super Bowl like Hauschka or Garҫon. But he just might design the logo for one someday.
Cadets march in
Norwich won its showdown with Husson in a battle of teams that were unbeaten in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference.
But the day was even better than that for the Cadets. They also received the news that state rival Castleton was beaten by Becker.
Becker's 35-21 win over Castleton and Norwich's 20-17 victory over Husson means that the Cadets have clinched the title and will be going into the NCAA playoffs.
Norwich's Wes Medeiros made good on both of his field goal attempts for the Cadets, one coming from 40 yards.
Norwich coach Mark Murnyack had said earlier in the week that he was sure many people had crossed his team off the list of contenders after an 0-3 start, but it has reeled off six straight wins. When Murnyack delivered the news to his players there was whooping and hollering that could be heard in all corners of the campus.
Rams also in
Matt Silva fired three touchdown passes as Framingham State won its battle for the top spot in the MASCAC with Bridgewater State.
Being left out of the NCAA playoffs last year was tough to swallow, but now that's ancient history for the Rams.
Still perfect
Reece Foy threw a touchdown pass and was Amherst's leading rusher with 43 yards as the Lord Jeffs went to 7-0 by beating previously unbeaten Trinity 16-7. Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn keyed the great defensive effort with two interceptions.
Western New England also remained unbeaten. The Golden Bears went to 9-0 by whipping Coast Guard 51-0. Tyler Ward threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 21 of his 25 passes with no interceptions. Nick Connell ran for 109 yards.
Can't keep up with this Jones
Worcester State's Kemani Jones won't forget the day he had in the 53-27 win over Westfield State. He rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns.
Trevor Vasey complemented that ground game by throwing for 303 yards and three scores.
Brad Skeffington and Kenny Pierce had equally big days for Mass. Maritime in a 48-27 win over Plymouth State. Skeffington threw for two touchdowns and ran for 186 yards and three more scores. Kenny Pierce rushed for 240 yards and a touchdown.
Marshall McCarthy led the defense for the Bucs with 14 tackles and an interception.
Quick kicks
Garrett Dellechiaie had himself a day for Fitchburg State in a 33-14 win over UMass-Dartmouth. He threw a TD pass and ran for 95 yards and two more scores. ... Brandan Basil continued his prolific season as the Salve Regina quarterback. He threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns and Sam Pascale added three rushing touchdowns as the Seahawks rolled to a 49-14 win over Maine Maritime. ... Michael Scherer's TD toss to Jake Pelletier gave Endicott the win in the fourth overtime. Pelletier had 11 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns. ... Adis Ojeda had two fourth-quarter touchdowns to fuel MIT's 21-11 comeback win over Nichols. ... This will be known as the season Becker turned the corner. The Hawks' win over Castleton means they can finish 7-3 with a win over rival Anna Maria in the finale. Becker QB Nas Sinkfield-Shelton threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns. DeJahn Hawkins was his hot receiver with 161 yards and two touchdowns. Keying the Becker defense were Shane Padeni with 13 tackles and Davin Collins with 10 tackles and two pass break-ups. ... Anna Maria broke through for its first win by scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter in a 24-20 win over Gallaudet. Chris Bettano ran for two touchdowns and Michadel Sinto made 15 tackles. ... Brett McKinney ran for 138 yards and two scores and linebacker Kameron Knight spearheaded the defense with 11 tackles, a fumble recovery and two pass break-ups as SUNY-Maritime topped Mount Ida 42-16. ... Middlebury edged Hamilton 21-16 as Matt Milano threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers picked off four passes including two by Nate Leedy. ... Chance Brady rushed for 212 yards and two scores as Tufts beat Colby 28-10 to push its record to 5-2. ... Wesleyan beat Williams 27-7 with Jordan Stone and Jon Spivey leading the defensive effort with eight tackles each. ... Bates dominated Bowdoin 31-0 in its CBB rivalry game. Patrick Dugan ran and threw for a score. Leading the defense to the shutout was Brandon Williams with eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
The big games
Amherst travels to Williams for the Biggest Little Game in America and a chance at an undefeated season. the crowd will be huge and alumni will be watching at parties throughout the world.
Colby and Bowdoin have endured miserable seasons. But it will be one great celebration for the team winning this CBB series game between the Maine rivals in Brunswick.
Bridgewater State and Mass. Maritime meet in the 37th Cranberry Bowl in what promises to be a very competitive game.
The Maple Sap Bucket between Norwich and Castleton would have been much bigger with a Castleton win over Becker. That would have made it a game for the ECFC title and the automatic playoff spot. Make no mistake, this is still very big. Norwich wants the Bucket back after losing it last year. Castleton has only been playing football since 2009 but this feels like a rivalry with a long and storied tradition, partly because it replaces the 100-year rivalry between Middlebury and Norwich that ceased play after 1991.
It is all on the line as 7-1 Salve Regina travels to 9-0 Western New England.
