Champions Q&A: West Boylston coach Mike Ross

January 25, 2024

It has been a dream stretch for West Boylston. In 2002, the Lions won the D7 state title. Then, after dropping down to D8, West Boylston took that state title with a win over Carver at Gillette Stadium. West Boylston was utterly dominant this season. The Lions went 13-0 and did not really have a close game. We caught up with Ross this week, and talked on the phone about……

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Trevor Knight to take over at Dracut

January 25, 2024

Following a report by Alex Agrella of RecruitingBoard.net, Trevor Knight confirmed on Twitter that he will be the next coach at Dracut. Knight takes over for Jermaine McKenzie, who stepped down after three years with the program. It has been a rough go of it lately for the Middies, who needed a co-op with Innovation Academy to have enough players to field a team. In Knight, Dracut finds someone who……

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Champions Q&A: Uxbridge coach Matt Blood

January 18, 2024

It was a dream season for the Uxbridge Spartans. Without so much as a single close game, Uxbridge rolled through its schedule with a 13-0 record. It culminated in a D7 state title with a 42-16 win over Amesbury at Gillette. We spoke with Uxbridge coach Matt Blood on how this all came about. Here is an edited version of that conversation. Adam Kurkjian: I guess the first question I……

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Michigan’s title reminds us what New England talent is capable of

January 14, 2024

Sixteen players. Those are the 16 players on the University of Michigan who either are from Massachusetts or Connecticut, or played some portion of their high school careers in those states. That New England nucleus helped set the table for Michigan to win the national championship last Monday, when the Wolverines earned a 34-13 victory over Washington. Those players were: defensive back Mike Sainristil, edge rusher Josaiah Stewart, wide receiver……

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Lowell hires Scott Boyle

January 12, 2024

For its new coach, Lowell hired a familiar face, and a proven winner. That man was Scott Boyle. Boyle coached at Lowell from 1997 to 2006, where he compiled a 68-37-2 record. That is the most successful tenure at Lowell in recent memory. If Boyle brings those winning ways back to his alma mater, consider this hire a home run. Boyle takes over for Shyheim Cullen, who went 3-8 in……

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Champions Q&A: Fairhaven coach Derek Almeida

January 11, 2024

Although we did a Q&A earlier this season with Derek Almeida, we wanted to follow up with the Fairhaven coach. The Blue Devils went 12-1 this season, and beat Salem in the D6 state title game at Gillette Stadium. We caught up with Almeida for a phone interview this week. Here is an edited version of that conversation. Adam Kurkjian: You’ve won state titles now at Falmouth and Fairhaven. What……

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Bill Belichick leaves Patriots as the best to ever do it

January 11, 2024

You can pick any number of words to describe Bill Belichick. He is gruff, cantankerous, moody, sarcastic, and stubborn. On the other end of it, the now-former Patriots coach is brilliant, creative, strong, adaptable, and innovative. Those all fit. In his years with the Patriots, Belichick earned a spot in the pantheon of football coaches. He led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins, and what could best be known…

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Transfer portal hurting high school recruits

January 9, 2024

The transfer portal has unequivocally changed college football. But what many local coaches are talking about now, is how the portal, which facilitates the transfer of college players to new schools, is now impacting the recruitment of high school players. And, right now, the effects are negative, and hurting that high school player’s prospects, whether it is at the FBS, FCS, Division 2, or Division 3 level. Just quickly, to……

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The NEFJ 2023 MIAA All-State Team

January 7, 2024

What a year. It was highlighted by some amazing players. This is our attempt to honor the best ones, as we did three full teams and an honorable mention. As is always the case, we can’t highlight every single player. There will be some we leave out. Please do not take that as disrespect. We respect every player who suits up. So without further ado, here is our NEFJ 2023…

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Champions Q&A: Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli

January 4, 2024

You talk to Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli, you can hear the love in his voice that he has for the 2023 Warriors. The team went 12-1 and won the D5 state title, but the fact that the team was so good was only part of the equation. In a season in which Martinelli also won his 300th game, there was so much to make him smile. We spoke to him……

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