Pushaun Brown and Phil Konopka Earn Gold Helmet Awards

Endicott quarterback Phil Konopka completed 17 passes for 385 yards and five touchdowns to help lead the Gulls to a 55-7 victory against Curry. (Photo courtesy of Harvard Athletic Communications)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Maine running back Pushaun Brown and Endicott quarterback Phil Konopka received the New England Football Writers’ Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Gold Helmet Awards for week five of the 2011 college football season.

Brown was one of the Black Bears’ main offensive contributors Saturday, in the teams’ 31-17 victory over No. 5 Delaware. Brown recorded 193 rushing yards and found the endzone three times in the process. The North Brunswick, N.J., native opened the scoring for Maine 6:13 minutes into the first quarter, scoring from 26 yards out. Delaware would head to the fourth quarter with a slim 17-14 advantage over Maine, but Brown sparked a run of 17 unanswered points, with touchdown runs of 18 and five yards to seal the victory. This honor marks the second time this season that Brown has received Gold Helmet accolades.

Konopka ended his Saturday against Curry breaking his own school record for passing yards, compiling 385 yards through the air with five scores. The Shelton, Conn., native shattered his previous best of 295 yards with his performance, and also surpassed his previous personal record of four touchdowns. Konopka and the Endicott starting offense wasted no time, scoring three touchdowns in just under nine minutes in the first quarter. The senior quarterback would find the endzone both in the second and third quarters as well, as the Gulls would roll to their fifth victory of the season and second in conference play.