North Arlington, New Jersey, junior running back honored at New England Football Writers weekly luncheon at Harvard
New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award
Kearns, Jr. was presented with his second career Gold Helmet by head coach Eli Gardner today. (PHOTO COURTESY Harvard University) |
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (September 12, 2018) – Stonehill College junior running back Brian Kearns, Jr. received the New England Football Writers Weekly Gold Helmet Award for Divisions II and III, sponsored by the Jack Grinold Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, at the New England Football Writers weekly luncheon at Dillon Fieldhouse on the campus of Harvard University today.
Kearns, Jr. earns the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award for the second time in his career after his record-breaking performance in Saturday night's wild 57-54 triple-overtime victory at Saint Anselm College in the 14th "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk." Kearns, Jr. is just the second student-athlete in program history to earn the weekly Gold Helmet Award multiple times over their career, joining former teammate Matt Foltz, '18, who was also a two-time recipient on September 30, 2016 and September 28, 2016. Kearns, Jr. earned the award for the first time following his career-high 243-yard and two touchdown performance against rival Bentley University last season.
Kearns, Jr.'s second Gold Helmet comes after rushing the ball a program-record 44 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns at Saint Anselm on Saturday night. He led a Stonehill offense that posted 517 yards of total offense, including 318 on the ground. His second touchdown was a two-yard run on third down with 22-seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that knotted the score and eventually forced overtime as Stonehill came from behind five times on the night, including a ten-point deficit midway through the third quarter.
Kearns, Jr. lifted Stonehill to victory with a three-yard score in the third overtime after the defense held the Saint Anselm to three field goals, which was matched by the Skyhawks over the first two extra sessions, before Kearns, Jr. lifted the visitors to their 15th-straight win over the Hawks. He also added a 17-yard score in the second quarter than ended a run of 17-straight Saint Anselm points after Stonehill had held a 14-0 lead after a quarter of play.
Kearns, Jr.'s 44 rush attempts surpasses the previous program single-game record of 43 by Michael McSharry '98 against Sacred Heart University in 1995, while his three touchdowns fell just one shy of the program mark accomplished four times in program history, most recently by Jermetrius Troy, '13 against Pace University in 2011. Kearns, Jr.'s 180 rushing yards is the second-highest single-game total in his Stonehill career and marks the fourth time he has surpassed 100-yards.
Kearns, Jr. currently ranks second on the team and third among Northeast-10 Conference leaders with his 92.0 rushing yards per game, while ranking third with his three touchdowns. He is also fourth among NE10 scoring leaders with 18 points, ranking 35th nationally with 9.0 points per game and 16th in rushing touchdowns.
Kearns, Jr. enters week three on the Stonehill schedule 94 rushing yards shy of cracking the program's career top ten list with 1,205 yards on 258 career rush attempts in 20 games. His 15 career rushing touchdowns are tied for fifth all-time, nine shy of the program record. Kearns, Jr.'s career-high 243 rushing yards against Bentley last season are the second-highest single-game total in program history. Kearns, Jr. has been named to the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll for his efforts in the classroom three-straight semesters.
Stonehill New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award Winners
Brian Kearns, Jr., Jr, RB – September 12, 2018
Andrew Jamiel, So, WR – November 8, 2017
Brian Kearns, Jr., So, RB – October 25, 2017
Matt Foltz, Jr, QB - September 28, 2016
Matt Foltz, So, QB - September 30, 2015
Donovan Phanor, So, CB - September 9, 2015
Logan Meyer, Sr, QB - September 25, 2013
Cruz Parsons, Fr, QB - October 5, 2005
Tyrone Jefferson, RB - 2000
Dan Field, QB - 1995
Tony Dello Iacono, QB - 1994
Mike McLucas, RB - 1994
Stonehill (1-1, 1-0 NE10) returns to action on Saturday night, when it hosts LIU Post for an NE10 matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium as part of Family Weekend at the College at 6 p.m.
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