Clayton Marengi fell in love with football in second grade. Following his brother’s footsteps, and wanting to become a part of a tight-knit culture, the former Lynnfield Pioneer couldn’t have imagined what was in store for him.
The 195 pound, 6’3” quarterback now wears the blue and green of Endicott College. This season, he’s thrown for 922 yards and six touchdowns in just six games – also adding five touchdowns on the ground.
But it was Lynnfield High where Marengi grew as a football player. Like most wide-eyed freshmen, he didn’t know many people, and admits his confidence wasn’t where it is today. His approach was just to be a high school student-athlete, and stresses that a particular comfort level comes with time.
“As the years go on, you become more and more comfortable with yourself, more confident. For me at least, it affects the way I play and how I am as a person,” Marengi said.
Lynnfield Coach Ted Flaherty played a major role in Marengi’s development, especially his senior year when Marengi was given more responsibility.
“He made it easy for me to be comfortable and know that I was the guy in high school, and that everyone was going to come to me. So, him putting me in that spot really made me more comfortable and more confident in myself,” Marengi said. “And that’s something I try to bring, still to this day, to Endicott.”
His love for Lynnfield football certainly travels with him today, and Marengi still remembers games in detail. His favorite: a back and forth affair on the road against Ipswich where he threw a touchdown to friend and teammate Bakari Mitchell.
After he put the graduation cap on, it was time for college ball. He wound up just a few towns over in Beverly – suiting up for Endicott. Three years after his decision, he sighted the team’s contagious, uplifting culture as the reason why he loves sporting the Gull logo.
“I feel like the coaching staff has created an amazing culture for us, and I’m not just saying that to pat them on the back, or sound cliche, but I’m just saying that the proof of our culture is on the field – and I think it speaks for itself,” Marengi said. “Endicott, I feel like, was the perfect spot for me, and I’m so glad I chose this.”
His sophomore year, Marengi played in a handful of games and started once – throwing for 243 yards and a touchdown that season. This season, he’s started all six games, leading the offense to an average of nearly 30 points per game. The Marengi-led offense has yet to score fewer than 20 points in a game, also.
Despite his success through the air, Marengi credits the defense, special teams, and run game as reasons they’re undefeated heading into late October.
Arriving from Merrimack, it’s Luke Bakanowsky’s first season as the Gulls’ offensive coordinator – and similarly to his Lynnfield coaches – Marengi says it’s all about being comfortable and having people trust him.
“It’s definitely been a little nerve-racking, playing your first college snap,” Marengi said. “He’s [Bakanowsky] put me in a great spot to be more comfortable and confident in myself and I can’t thank him enough for that, along with the rest of the coaches.”
His favorite part about football, however, are the off-the-field moments he can cherish with his teammates in blue and green.
“I think it’s very, very important in the game of football, or just any game in general, to spend time with your teammates off the field,” Marengi said. “It builds so many bonds.”
Outside of Hempstead Stadium, Marengi is a business management major. He’s interned with Impact Sports Lab, and has taken courses from the likes of marketing, business analytics, and finance – or, what Marengi refers to as “all that good stuff.”
The Gulls have four games remaining this season – three on the road – where Marengi and the team look to replicate the success of the first two months.
Joey Barrett can be reached at [email protected]
