MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Junior quarterback Phil Konopka (Shelton, Conn.) threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Mike Murphy (Chelmsford, Mass.) with 51 seconds remaining to cap a 19-point, fourth-quarter comeback as Endicott College stunned Salve Regina University 29-28 in New England Football Conference (NEFC) action Saturday afternoon on Fall Festival Weekend at Gaudet Field.

Konopka finished the fourth quarter 15-of-20 for 142 yards and three touchdowns as the Gulls picked up 190 of their 335 total yards on the afternoon in the final stanza. Overall, Konopka was 24-of-40 for 208 yards and those three scoring strikes. The win improved the Gulls to 3-1 on the season (1-0 NEFC) and snapped their two-game losing skid to Salve Regina. The Seahawks dropped their third-straight to fall to 1-3 on the season (0-1 NEFC).

Salve Regina sophomore Trey Scales (Boston, Mass.) put the Seahawks in front 28-9 with 9:39 remaining in the fourth with a two-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing possession, Konopka led the Gulls down the field and capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Taylor Allen (Westboro, Mass.) that made is 28-15 following a failed two-point conversion.

The Gulls then recovered their on-sides kick attempt and quickly moved the ball down into Seahawk territory. Facing a fourth-and-one from the SRU 16-yard line, Konopka found senior Neil Powers (Westford, Mass.) in the endzone for a touchdown that made it a 28-22 contest with 4:28 remaining.

On the next series, Endicott's defense forced the Seahawk offense to a three-and-out, and their offense began what proved to be the game-winning drive with 3:11 on the clock at its own 36-yard line. The drive nearly stalled at the Gulls 49-yard line, but they converted a fourth-and-seven with a 14-yard completion to Powers to move the chains. Two plays later, Murphy hauled in his fifth reception of the contest in the right corner of the endzone to tie the game at 28. Freshman Dylan Rushe (Palos Verdes, Calif.) knocked the extra point through the uprights to give the visitors their first lead of the afternoon, 29-28.

Salve Regina freshman Alexander Lord (Sherman, Conn.) returned the ensuing kickoff 33 yards to the Endicott 45, but failed to earn a first down and move into field goal range. Endicott went into victory formation and kneeled down twice to run out the clock.

"We totally fell apart," said Seahawks head coach Bob Chesney. "It's not that they beat us or were the better team. They're a great team, but the thing is, it speaks volumes of our team for what we were able to do for three-and-a-half quarters. We're a pretty good team when we play well, but in the end, we have to be able to smell the blood in the water and finish. We can't let them back in it. It's borderline unacceptable. The bottom line is that we know how to lose right now, and we have to start winning."

Junior Mike Lane (Medfield, Mass.) rushed for a game-high 124 yards for the Gulls, including 50 in the final 15 minutes. Salve Regina also moved the ball efficiently on the ground, pounding out 162 yards of offense via the run game. Scales led the way with 83 yards while senior Rob LaRiviere-Tougas (Easthampton, Mass.) tallied 79 yards on 15 carries, including a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. LaRiviere-Tougas also caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from junior Jimmy Connelly (Berlin, Conn.) - the first of his collegiate career - in the first quarter to open the scoring. The play capped a 10-play, 57-yard drive that put SRU in front 7-0. The Gulls only points of the first quarter came on a 21-yard by Rushe with 1:07 to go.

A terrific individual effort by Seahawk junior defensive end Shane Lange (Branford, Conn.) put the Seahawks in front 14-7 late in the second half. On a first-and-10 play from Endicott's own 40-yard line, Konopka threw a pass that was batted into the air by Lange, who then caught the deflection and scampered 35 yards for his first collegiate touchdown. The Gulls added a late 33-yard field goal to make it a 14-6 Salve Regina lead heading into halftime.

In the third, LaRiviere-Tougas capped a six-play, 76-yard drive with his second touchdown of the season at 10:43 of the third that made is 21-6. Rushe kicked his third field goal of the afternoon with 2:59 left in the third to bring Endicott to within 12 at 21-9 before Scales second touchdown run of 2010 at 9:39 of the fourth made it 28-9 in favor of the home team.

Lange finished with five tackles (three solo), five quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss (one sack), and one pass breakup. Senior Nick Jentz (Little Ferry, N.J.) led SRU with 11 stops (eight solo) while junior A.J. Albert (Franklin Park, N.J.) tallied 10 (seven solo) of his own. For Endicott, sophomore Craig Lussier (Dracut, Mass.) notched a team-high nine tackles while junior Nick Scozzaro (Wellington, Fla.) had a pair of sacks.

Connelly finished 10-of-20 for 113 yards and one touchdown. His favorite target was junior Patrick Keenan (Harrisville, R.I.), who hauled in three receptions for 50 yards, including a 34-yarder in the fourth. Allan finished with six receptions for 69 yards and a score for Endicott.

The Seahawks return to action on Saturday when they travel to Springfield for a 1 p.m. contest with Western New England. Endicott hosts Curry at 1 p.m.