Author: Kevin Stone

Cardinals 30, Patriots 17 – Putrid effort coming off the bye leads to another loss

December 15, 2024
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Image courtesy of the Arizona Cardinals  Rock bottom appears to be wherever the Patriots decide it is at this point. New England hit a new low again on Sunday, getting manhandled by the Cardinals despite the somewhat respectable 30-17 final score. The Patriots were never really in the game and even started pointing the finger postgame when it comes to continued offensive struggles, particularly in the red zone. Drake Maye…

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CIAC Class M State Championship: (4) St. Joseph 21, (2) Brookfield 20 – Cadets hold on with late two-point stop for thrilling title win

December 14, 2024
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By Craig Boland NEFJ Staff EAST HARTFORD, CT – With 3:00 remaining in the fourth quarter of the CIAC Class M state title game on Saturday and second-seeded Brookfield down by seven to fourth-seeded St. Joseph, wide receiver Daniel Ciriello  tossed a first down to tight end John Lopes to keep Brookfield alive on a crucial fourth down conversion. Ciriello snagged another sideline fourth-down conversion on the same drive and……

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CIAC Class S State Championship: (2) Ansonia 58, (5) Bloomfield 12 – Chargers roll to program’s 22nd title

December 14, 2024
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By Craig Boland NEFJ Staff EAST HARTFORD, CT – The CIAC Class S state championship game on Saturday was clearly going to Ansonia before many fans even had a chance to sit down. Jazhari Lawson of Ansonia intercepted a Cameron White pass early in the first quarter and fumbled on the return, but the ball bounced into star lineman Jacob Romanowski’s hands. He took it the rest of the way…

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CIAC Class Class SS State Championship: (1) Killingly 48, (3) Sheehan 33 – Killingly finishes perfect with program’s fifth state title

December 14, 2024
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By Matt Spalding NEFJ Correspondent EAST HARTFORD, CT – The opening game at Rentschler Field in the 2024 CIAC State Championships was one that will not soon be forgotten. Undefeated Killingly entered Friday looking to defeat Sheehan and win yet another state championship. Sheehan was prepared, and what ensued was a classic, topsy turvy Class SS state championship game that ultimately ended with the top seed taking home a 48-33…

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Harasymiak adds first few coaches to new UMass staff

December 13, 2024
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New UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak announced a trio of staff additions on Thursday in a statement released by the program. Joe Castellitto (Special Teams Coordinator), Tre Bell (Cornerbacks) and Kayon Whitaker (Defensive Analyst) are all joining this new era of Minuteman football. Castellitto spent the previous two seasons at Dartmouth  under the late Buddy Teevens. Castelitto joined the Big Green as the special teams coordinator and nickels coach initially….

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BC players weigh-in on Belichick joining the ACC

December 12, 2024
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Image courtesy of BC Athletics  While BC and North Carolina don’t technically play against each other again until 2028, this is going to be fun. Bill Belichick is of course joining the ACC as the new head coach at North Carolina, meaning Bill O’Brien is now back in indirect competition with his former boss and mentor. The prospect of the two of them squaring off in the ACC title game…

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Needham’s Kopcso named Patriots Coach of the Year

December 11, 2024
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What does two straight wins on Thanksgiving in the country’s oldest public school rivalry and the program’s first Super Bowl appearance in 13 years get you? Just recognition from the New England Patriots as the high school Coach of the Year, no biggie. Andre Tippett – as he’s done for many years now each week – presented Kopcso with the award at Needham High School on Tuesday with a few…

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UNH announces six new recruits in 2025 class

Photo: UNH Twitter
December 10, 2024
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Last Wednesday was the first National Signing Day for the 2025 season and while UNH didn’t make anything official on the actual day, the program did finally do so on Monday. The No. 19-ranked Wildcats – yes, UNH is still in the Top 20 despite the playoffs still going on – announced the addition of six recruits in a statement Monday afternoon. The players are listed below: Seven Bullock, (WR),…

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Jones hoping to show he belongs in New England

December 9, 2024
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The day after Thanksgiving, Truman Jones was like most people, just sitting at home not doing much of anything after the holiday. That quickly changed when he learned he’d have to hop on a flight back to some very familiar territory. After being released from the Chiefs practice squad on November 26th, the Patriots decided to bring the former star Harvard big man in for a workout last Monday. Things…

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CIAC Class LL state semifinal: Greenwich 14, Staples 0 – Cardinals shut down Wreckers to reach state final

December 8, 2024
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By Craig Boland NEFJ Staff WESTPORT – Leading by two touchdowns with 3:00 left in the fourth quarter of a Class LL state semifinal against Staples on Sunday, Greenwich defensive back Jack Carroll intercepted a Nick Weil pass that seemed to seal the deal. But, on the very next play, Justin Halky of Staples recovered a fumble to give the Wreckers one more chance. The Greenwich defense stifled Staples though…

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