CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Bates junior captain running back Ryan Lynskey is the winner of 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.

Lynskey (Cranford, N.J.) rushed for 221 yards and a career-high four touchdowns as the Bates football team scored twice in the fourth quarter to rally for a 35-28 win over Tufts University Saturday under the lights at Ellis Oval.

It's the most points Bates has ever scored against Tufts in a football game, and is the most points Bates has scored in one contest since tallying 38 against Hamilton in 2013.

Lynskey ran the ball a career-high 32 times in the win, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. His 221 rushing yards are the second-most for Lynskey in one game in his Bates career, trailing only his NESCAC-record 344 rushing yards last season against Bowdoin. His four rushing touchdowns are the most by a Bobcat in one game since Sean Atkins '03 rushed for a NESCAC-record seven touchdowns against Bowdoin in 2002.

Lynskey's 24-yard touchdown run up the gut with 58 seconds left in regulation proved to be the game-winner for the Bobcats on Saturday against Tufts.

Sacred Heart University first-year running back Mitchell Summers won the University Division Gold Helmet for Division I (FBS/FCS) teams. 

This is the second Gold Helmet Award of Lynskey's career. He also earned the honor last season following his record-breaking performance against Bowdoin.

For the eleventh straight year, the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation is the presenting sponsor for both the weekly and end-of-year Gold Helmet Awards presented to student-athletes from FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III institutions throughout New England. The awards will be presented at the NEFW Captains and Awards Banquet on December 11, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center.

For more information on the Gold Helmet Awards and the New England Football Writers Association, please visit www.newenglandfootballwriters.com, and for more information on the Grinold Chapter, please visit www.grinoldchapter.com.