Kevin Stone

Recapping Jim Mora’s UConn-UMass game week press conference

November 26, 2024

By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff UConn head coach Jim Mora took to the podium for his usual Tuesday press conference to discuss the Huskies’ 31-24 loss to Syracuse as well as the upcoming road match-up against the UMass Minutemen on Saturday afternoon to close out the regular season. A win will give UConn eight wins ahead of a second bowl appearance in three years.Here’s everything Mora had to say… Mora……

Thanksgiving football: Stoneham 42, Reading 14 – Spartans hammer Rockets at Fenway

November 26, 2024

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By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff BOSTON – Stoneham and Reading renewed their 125-year-old rivalry on Tuesday night, finishing the first of two nights full of Thanksgiving football at Fenway Park. The Spartans suffocated the Rockets and dominated early en route to a 42-14 win. Both teams looked to end the season on a high note after disappointing upset losses in playoffs and the rivalry got back underway with a hectic…

Thanksgiving football: Nantucket 22, Martha’s Vineyard 14 (OT) – Whalers win 44th meeting for Island Cup at Fenway

November 26, 2024

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By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff BOSTON – “This is amazing, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Nantucket head coach Reese Everett said. “These kids are never going to forget this moment.” The 44th Island Cup between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket kicked off a two-night Thanksgiving feast of football at Fenway Park and the first-ever off-island meeting between the teams was a thriller, with the Whalers evening the all-time series at 22 apiece thanks to…

Is the ‘rookie wall’ a real thing? Mayo, Pats players share their thoughts

November 26, 2024

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If there was ever going to be a ‘rookie wall’ for younger players on the Patriots, it’s this season. Sitting at 3-9 and clearly limping to the finish line, most of the rookies on the Patriots will have had their seasons winding down by this point or within the next couple of weeks as college players just 10 or 11 months ago. Even those that could be on teams making…

CCSU’s quick turnaround not surprising to Lechtenberg

November 26, 2024

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Image courtesy of NCAA FCS In 2019, you could make an argument that CCSU was the best college football team in New England. Actually, there probably wasn’t even much debate. The Blue Devils were 11-2 and the Northeast Conference champions. The next two seasons (excluding the pandemic), CCSU went 4-7 in 2021 and 2-9 in 2022. Enter Adam Lechtenberg. After going 3-8 a year ago in his first season, Lechtenberg…

UNH’s remarkable run of consistency continues

November 26, 2024

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For the 16th time in the last 20 seasons, UNH is heading to the FCS postseason. The Wildcats brought the Brice-Cowell Musket back to Durham with a convincing win over Maine on Saturday and were the first at-large team called on Sunday during the selection show. The 16th-seeded Wildcats even got a home game this Saturday against UT Martin. During Monday’s CAA call, head coach Rick Santos – who has…

NFL reinstates Jabrill Peppers

November 25, 2024

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In a bit of a surprise on Monday around 4:00 p.m., the NFL announced the reinstatement of Jabrill Peppers from the Commissioner Exempt List. This means that Peppers – who as of this past Friday had a jury trial date set for January 22nd – can participate in team activities, including practices and games. It remains to be seen whether the Patriots will welcome him back when the team practices…

With playoff drought officially over, URI turns its attention to CCSU

November 25, 2024

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Image courtesy of URI Athletics The 39-year wait is finally over. Rhode Island alumni, fans, supporters and the entire state will see playoff football this Saturday at Meade Stadium for the first time in a long time when the Rams host Central Connecticut State in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Before looking ahead to the Blue Devils, Rhody head coach Jim Fleming spoke about just how special this…

Recapping Shane Montgomery’s UMass-UConn game week press conference

November 25, 2024

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By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff UMass interim head coach Shane Montgomery took to the podium on Monday for the final game week press conference of the season to discuss Saturday’s loss at Georgia, as well as the final game of the season against UConn. Montgomery opening thoughts “Looking back at the Georgia game, from what I said after the press conference to the team, I was really proud of the…

Rhode Island Div. III State Championship: (3) Ponaganset 28, (1) Classical 13 – Chieftains get it done for D3 title

November 24, 2024

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By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff CRANSTON – On Oct. 26, Classical defeated Ponaganset by 21 points. Four weeks later, the No. 3 Chieftains had a chance to learn from mistakes that night with a lot more on the line in the Division 3 championship against No. 1 Classical. Ponaganset did what many have tried and failed to do this season, contain Jordan Duke, en route to a 28-13 win. Ponaganset moves…