BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bates senior quarterback Brendan Costa was awarded the College Division Gold Helmet Award for the top performance by a New England Division II or III football player this week, announced Sunday by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Costa (Westport, Mass.) accounted for 367 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in Saturday's 33-10 win at Tufts, the Bobcats' first victory over the Jumbos since 2013. He completed 19-29 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns, all to senior WR Sean Bryant (Falmouth, Mass.); he also rushed 18 times for 113 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown. 

Bates' last Gold Helmet Award is believed to date to the 1995 season, when P.J. McGrail received the honor after the Bobcats defeated Bowdoin to snap a historic 37-game losing streak.

Sacred Heart running back Malik Grant won the University Division Gold Helmet for Division I (FBS/FCS) teams. The weekly Gold Helmet Awards will be presented at the Annual NEFW Captains and Awards Banquet, scheduled for Thursday, December 9.