Author: Adam Kurkjian

FCS Playoffs: (10) Rhode Island 21, Central Connecticut State 17 — Rams move on

November 30, 2024
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  By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff KINGSTON — Rhode Island’s historic season is not over yet. After a 39-year wait, the Rams returned to the FCS playoffs on Saturday and proved they belonged. No. 10 URI defeated the NEC champion Central Connecticut State in the first round of the FCS playoffs, 21-17. “It’s a historic deal,” Rhode Island head coach Jim Fleming said. “Out of 129 years of playing football……

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Thanksgiving football: Cranston West 47, Cranston East 0 — Falcons roll to victory

November 27, 2024
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By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff CRANSTON — “It was a good day for Falcon football tonight,” Cranston West head coach Tom Milewski said. In its 51st edition, the Cranston Thanksgiving Classic between crosstown rivals Cranston East and Cranston West produced a historic result. The Falcons dominated its way to the largest margin of victory ever in the series with a 47-0 win. “Our goal was to come out and have……

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Week 12 MIAA Top 25

November 24, 2024
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Some real changes after this weekend’s semifinals. More on the way, and the battle for No. 1 going forward could go a number of different directions. We leaned toward teams that made it to this weekend’s round. Let’s get to it. Week 12 MIAA Top 25 1. Catholic Memorial (10-1) — John DiBiaso will be in his 23rd Super Bowl. That’s . . . a whole heckuva lot. 2. King……

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Q&A with Needham coach Doug Kopcso

November 24, 2024
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The smile on Needham coach Doug Kopcso’s face right now is pretty wide. His Rockets beat St. John’s Prep Friday night, 22-14, in a Division 1 state semifinal. The Rockets will now play Xaverian in the D1 state final. Of course, first Needham will play Wellesley on Thanksgiving in one of the most historic rivalries in the country. We spoke briefly with Kopcso Sunday. Here is an edited version of……

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MIAA D6 State Semifinal: (1) Hudson 21, (4) Norwell 14 — Hawks hold off Clippers

November 23, 2024
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By Tyler Amaral NEFJ Staff MANSFIELD — Like so many teams before it, Norwell found out how hard it is to defend Hudson quarterback Jake Attaway. Despite throwing for only 47 yards, the senior star signal caller gashed the Norwell defense to the tune of 139 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, sending the Hawks to the Division 6 state title game, with a 21-14 win. Though Attaway had……

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MIAA D6 State Semifinal: (3) Fairhaven 42, (7) Swampscott 13 — Justin Marques, Blue Devils book another Gillette trip

November 23, 2024
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By Tom O’Brien NEFJ Staff MILFORD — Fairhaven workhorse running back Justin Marques was borderline unstoppable in Fairhaven’s 42-13 Division 6 Final Four win over Swampscott. The Blue Devils star back was responsible for all six of Fairhaven’s touchdowns. “Justin’s a great kid. He’s really done a lot in his four years with the program. He established himself as one of the premier kids in the state,” said Fairhaven head……

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MIAA D4 State Semifinal: (2) Scituate 14, (3) Grafton 3 — Defense shines for Sailors

November 23, 2024
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By Tyler Amaral NEFJ Staff WALPOLE — On an afternoon where Scituate didn’t have its A-game offensively, the Foley brothers stepped up to guide the Sailors back to the Division 4 state title game with a 14-3 win over third-seeded Grafton. No. 2 Scituate is known for its potent offense, but with the offense floundering through the first 17-plus minutes, senior Lawson Foley came up with a big play on……

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Rhode Island Div. IV Championship: Davies 28, Narragansett 25 — First title for Patriots in program history

November 23, 2024
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By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff CRANSTON — The 2019 season marked the first year that Davies had a football program, and the team went 0-7. Coach Henry Cabral flipped the script with last year’s undefeated campaign that was spoiled by North Providence in the Division IV championship. This season was redemption for the Patriots. “This means the world to our school, our community, our players,” Cabral said. “We lost last……

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Yale 34, Havard 29 — Bulldogs play spoiler, beat Crimson in “The Game”

November 23, 2024
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By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff CAMBRIDGE — There’s nothing like beating your rival to end the season. For the Yale Bulldogs (7-3), their 34-29 victory over the Harvard Crimson (9-2) wasn’t just an opportunity to win their third straight game over their oldest foes, it was a chance to ruin the Crimson’s shot at clinching the Ivy League title outright for the first time since 2014. Instead, a relentless Bulldogs……

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MIAA D1 State Semifinal: (3) Xaverian 31, (2) BC High 14 — Luke Bell’s big day boosts Hawks

November 23, 2024
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BROCKTON — As a starting fullback, linebacker, and kicker, Xaverian senior Luke Bell impacts each Hawks game. In Saturday’s D1 state semifinal against BC High, Bell’s influence was monumental. He made two interceptions returned for touchdowns, booted a critical field goal, hit two PATs, and was a key piece in blocking for a running game that took off in the second half of a 31-14 victory. With the win, No…….

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