Adam Kurkjian

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…

Transfer portal hurting high school recruits

January 9, 2024

0 comment

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……

The NEFJ 2023 MIAA All-State Team

January 7, 2024

0 comment

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…

Champions Q&A: Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli

January 4, 2024

0 comment

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……

Tabor players continue to gain offers

December 30, 2023

0 comment

Something is brewing down on the South Coast with Tabor Academy. The Marion, Mass. program is starting to really take off with players earning FBS offers. And coach Jeff Moore and the Seawolves are just getting started. Currently, Tabor has seven offensive starters coming back for next season who have FBS offers. They are: offensive linemen Will Smith, Amahn Williams, Jacob Burns, and Botond Varga; wide receivers Kaiden Drinkwater and……

Champions Q&A: Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi

December 28, 2023

0 comment

Another football season has passed, and another great Duxbury team has won a D4 state title. The Dragons went 11-1 this fall, and earned a championship with a 62-33 victory over a very good Scituate team. That makes at least a Gillette Stadium appearance in each of the last four MIAA postseasons. We wanted to talk to Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi, on what makes this program so special. Here is……

Fenway Bowl: Boston College 23, No. 24 Southern Methodist 14 — Eagles win first bowl since 2016

December 28, 2023

0 comment

By Ryan Barry NEFJ Correspondent BOSTON — Bowl season typically warrants travel plans for schools that sometimes take them to the farthest reaches of the United States. For the Boston College Eagles, a 45-minute train ride on the Green Line was about all the travel time it took to take down the No. 24 Southern Methodist Mustangs, 23-14, at Fenway Park on Thursday afternoon. Fans who braved the whipping rain……

Jermaine Wiggins speaks on Brockton departure

December 27, 2023

0 comment

Since his dismissal as the coach of Brockton High, it has been radio silence from Jermaine Wiggins. Until now. On WEEI, Wiggins spoke for the first time about leaving Brockton. Although he did not go too much in depth, Wiggins spoke about the school wanting a union member to be coach of the team. After a WEEI caller broached the subject, this is what Wiggins said. “No, coming in, it……

Champions Q&A: Milton coach Steve Dembowski

December 21, 2023

0 comment

A little over a year ago, Milton lost in the D3 state title game to Wakefield. The Wildcats lost a good chunk of those players to graduation. But Milton reloaded as well as anyone could have hoped, and this season earned a D3 state title over Walpole. It was a terrific coaching job by Milton’s Steve Dembowski, so we wanted to connect with him on how he was able to……

Jermaine Wiggins out at Brockton

December 20, 2023

0 comment

Almost as soon as it began, the Jermaine Wiggins Era at Brockton High has come to a close. Wiggins, tagged in the spring to succeed coach Peter Colombo, has resigned after one season leading the Boxers. The Boxers went 3-8 in Wiggins’ only season, a year after the team went 9-2. This fall’s team started 1-5, and had blowout losses to Barnstable, Andover, and Pinkerton Academy (NH). Word began to……