ST. JOHNSBURY- Maddox McFarland took the reins of the St. Johnsbury Academy offense as a sophomore last season, an honor carrying immense weight under head coach Rich Alercio and the program’s rich tradition of signal-callers. Stepping into that leadership role as an underclassman presented a steep learning curve, but McFarland turned the inherent pressure into the foundation of his growth.
By Mike Sidhly NEFJ Correspondent WESTWOOD – For the last few seasons, Xaverian football has owned MIAA Division 1 winning three consecutive state titles after its 41-35 victory against St. John’s last year. Now gunning for their fourth in a row, Xaverian kicks their season off on September 11th against Bishop Feehan. Focusing On The Present – For coach Al Fornaro and his staff, the focus remains in the here……
It is the first day of the 2026 MIAA football season and with that comes the first batch of New England Football Journal rankings. There are no surprises at the top. There is a clear top four in Xaverian, St. John’s Prep, Springfield Central and Catholic Memorial heading into the fall. What other teams cracked the preseason edition of the MIAA top 25?
The 2026 Maine high school football season is shaping up to be an action-packed campaign. Class A features dynamic shifts at the top, while standard powerhouses across Class B, C, and D reload for deep postseason runs.
In a landmark decision that promises to fundamentally reshape the landscape of high school sports across Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Board of Directors has passed a major overhaul of the statewide football postseason structure.
For any high school football program looking to build a championship line, everything begins in the trenches with an anchor who sets the tone. For Milton High School, that pillar is senior offensive lineman Matt Wagner. Standing at a towering 6-foot-6 and weighing nearly 285 pounds, the Villanova commit brings both imposing physical traits and years of high-stakes big-game experience to a program aiming for another run to Gillette Stadium.
Dante Casdia is used to being busy on Friday nights in the fall. One of the top returning running back in the state of Connecticut, Casdia is the focal point of an offense that goes as he goes. He is the epitome of a bell cow back, something Casdia embraces.
Norwell quarterback Jack Luccarelli has literally been a one man gang for the Norwell High School football team the past two seasons, leading the team in rushing and passing both seasons. Last season, Luccarelli led the Clippers to a Division 6 Super Bowl appearance.
Pingree wide receiver, defensive back Colt Downey knows a thing or two about UNH Football. After all, his dad and the current head coach at Pingree, Pat Downey played at UNH and his brother Jackson is currently a Wildcat himself.
was a busy off-season of coaching hires in New England as several high profile jobs opened up. We take a look at some of the top openings in the region and who filled them.