Kevin Stone

UMass 35, Sacramento State 6 – Minutemen roll to 4-0 for first time since 2007

September 27, 2026

Image courtesy of UMass Athletics By Ryan Barry & Kevin Stone SACRAMENTO — Four games in and the momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon for UMass. Even on the West Coast. Making the 3,000-mile trip out west to Hornet Stadium on Saturday night couldn’t stop the runaway freight train that is this program. Behind smothering defense in the second half and a three-touchdown first half for William ‘Pop’ Watson III,……

Virginia Tech 21, Boston College 14 – Eagles blow 4th quarter lead in frustrating loss

September 26, 2026

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CHESTNUT HILL – This one should have gone their way. But, like so many other games in the last two decades, BC was on the wrong end of a Nor-easter slugfest at Alumni Stadium on Saturday. Leading by eight in the fourth quarter, the Eagles couldn’t close against Virginia Tech, eventually losing 21-14 in front of a near-empty stadium. The announced attendance was 22,624, but there may have been a…

Merrimack 17, New Haven 10 – Warriors get it done with ground game & defense

September 26, 2026

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By Mukala Kabongo NEFJ Correspondent NORTH ANDOVER – Leading 17-10 with New Haven on the verge of finding the end zone on Saturday, Merrimack needed a play. Luckily, they got one with a little bit of help from Mother Nature. Chargers quarterback Jake Tripptree got into his throwing motion, but the ball slipped out of his hand, ending up in the possession of Warriors linemen Trent Taylor, sealing win No….

Shawsheen 7, Bishop Feehan 0 – Defense leads Rams to 30th consecutive win

September 26, 2026

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By Tyler Amaral NEFJ Correspondent ATTLEBORO – Coming in to Saturday afternoon’s matchup, Shawsheen had not lost a game in 1,043 days. On the back of an all-time defensive performance and an opportunistic score, the Rams extended the state’s longest active winning streak to 30 games, with a 7-0 victory over Bishop Feehan. Shawsheen (3-0) held the Shamrocks to an almost-unfathomable -10 yards and one first down in the game….

Boston College Four Down Preview: Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0) vs. Boston College Eagles (2-1)

September 25, 2026

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Image courtesy of ESPN Kickoff: ACC play opens this weekend for the Eagles. BC hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in what is expected to be a monsoon with some heavy winds at times. BC enters this one as 14.5-point underdogs (at least at the time of this being published). The game will broadcast live on ACC Network. 1st Down: V-Tech leads the all-time series against BC 22-11, with the…

UMass Four Down Preview: UMass Minutemen (3-0) vs. Sacramento State Hornets (1-3)

September 25, 2026

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Image courtesy of ESPN By Ryan Barry NEFJ Correspondent Kickoff: The UMass Minutemen head to California for the first time ever on Saturday night to take on the Sacramento State Hornets. In what’s now a conference game, the Minutemen have a tremendous opportunity to cement arguably their best month of September ever.. 1st Down: Despite winning 36-14 this past Saturday against Stonehill, it felt like the first time the Minutemen…

No. 25 Harvard 14, Brown 10 – Benson’s big night gets it done for Crimson

September 25, 2026

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Image courtesy of Harvard Athletics By Mike Sidhly NEFJ Correspondent PAWTUCKET – As the rain fell in the 125th meeting between No. 25 Harvard and Brown on Friday night, Crimson defensive back Xaden Benson put on one of the best defensive performances in school history. The junior accounted for four total turnovers and became the first Harvard player since 2008 to corral three interceptions. Benson’s defensive fortitude along with an…

Springfield Central 21, Xaverian 14 – In matchup of Super Bowl contenders, Golden Eagles beat Hawks

September 25, 2026

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By Dante Iafrate NEFJ Correspondent SPRINGFIELD – A year after Xaverian ended its season in the Division 1 semifinals, Springfield Central got a small measure of revenge on Friday night. The Golden Eagles held off the three-time defending champs 21-14 behind another big night from Isaiah Rogers. Both defenses set the tone early, trading three-and-outs and stalled drives for most of the first quarter before Central finally broke through. Jahir…

Duxbury 15, Barnstable 6 – Dragons hand Redhawks first loss

September 25, 2026

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By Garrett Lynch NEFJ Correspondent BARNSTABLE – When the weather is bad, it always comes down to the running game and defense. That was the theme Friday night as Duxbury handed Barnstable its first loss of the season with a gritty 15-6 road win. “Really, the defense all week was dialed in,” said Duxbury head coach Matt Landolfi. “We really focused on the fundamentals, hands-on. Really trying to move (Barnstable)…

Plainville 21, Newington 6 – Blue Devils storm past Nor’Easters

September 25, 2026

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Image courtesy of Dan Heary By Rob Gullo NEFJ Correspondent NEWINGTON — Last week, Plainville sophomore standout wide receiver Christian Hairston had a breakout game, recording 10 receptions for 230 yards and three receiving touchdowns in the team’s blowout win over Barlow. A week later, Hairston had another productive performance, recording three receptions, 154 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns in the Blue Devils’ 21-6 road win against the Newington…