By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff CAMBRIDGE — There’s nothing like beating your rival to end the season. For the Yale Bulldogs (7-3), their 34-29 victory over the Harvard Crimson (9-2) wasn’t just an opportunity to win their third straight game over their oldest foes, it was a chance to ruin the Crimson’s shot at clinching the Ivy League title outright for the first time since 2014. Instead, a relentless Bulldogs……
MIAA D1 State Semifinal: (3) Xaverian 31, (2) BC High 14 — Luke Bell’s big day boosts Hawks
BROCKTON — As a starting fullback, linebacker, and kicker, Xaverian senior Luke Bell impacts each Hawks game. In Saturday’s D1 state semifinal against BC High, Bell’s influence was monumental. He made two interceptions returned for touchdowns, booted a critical field goal, hit two PATs, and was a key piece in blocking for a running game that took off in the second half of a 31-14 victory. With the win, No…….
UConn 4 down preview: UConn Huskies (7-3) at Syracuse Orange (7-3)
Kickoff: The Huskies are coming off of a bye week as they hit the Carrier Dome to take on Syracuse. The Orange are coming in off of a 33-25 win at Cal. The Huskies earned their seventh win of the season with the victory at UAB two weeks ago, guaranteeing the program’s first winning season since the 2010 campaign. Here are four keys to the game. 1st Down: Start Fast……
Boston College 4 down preview: UNC Tarheels (6-4) at BC Eagles (5-5)
Image courtesy of ESPN Kickoff: Pretty simple. Win and BC gets a bowl bid. Lose and the Eagles are in a must-win game at home next Saturday against a very good Pitt team. Do the Eagles have what it takes to get the job done on the first try with the most historic team in program history in the house? 1st Down: BC absolutely has to contain Omarion Hampton. You…
UMass 4 down preview: UMass Minutemen (2-8) at No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs (8-2)
By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff Kickoff: A turbulent week off the field finally comes to a close for the UMass Minutemen who travel to Athens, Georgia to take on the Bulldogs. Interim head coach Shane Montgomery will do his best to lead a team against a powerhouse Georgia program looking for style points to add to their College Football Playoff resume. 1st Down: Minutemen true freshman quarterback AJ Hairston may not have…
MIAA D1 State Semifinal: (4) Needham 22, (1) St. John’s Prep 14 – Williams, Schreiber take Rockets to Gillette
BURLINGTON – This was a year in the making. In 2023, Needham made an incredible and unexpected run to the Division 1 state semifinals before losing to Xaverian, one game shy of Gillette. The Rockets – particularly the returning seniors – weren’t going to let the opportunity pass them by twice. Behind 144 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown from Aidan Williams and a game-sealing interception from Ben Schreiber,…
MIAA D5 State Semifinal: (1) Shawsheen Valley Tech 28, (4) Old Rochester Regional 7 – Rams roll to Gillette
Paul Vozzella NEFJ Staff SCITUATE – For the third year in a row, No. 1 Shawsheen Valley Tech topped No. 4 Old Rochester Regional in the playoffs, this time with a dominant 28-7 victory in the MIAA Division 5 state semifinals. Shawsheen (11-0) advances to the D5 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium against Foxborough. The Rams established a presence early on, scoring on the first drive of the game when…
MIAA D3 State Semifinal (4) North Attleborough 42, (1) Reading 20 – Frisoli leads Rocketeers to upset & Super Bowl
Andrew Guindon NEFJ Staff ASSABET VALLEY – North Attleborough quarterback Chase Frisoli had a career day, rushing for 311 yards and four touchdowns—with one passing touchdown—as the No. 4 Rocketeers defeated No. 1 Reading 42-20 in the D3 MIAA state semifinals on Friday night. Frisoli attributed his success to his offensive line that controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the entirety of the night. “I got all of the stats,…
MIAA D3 State Semifinal: (3) Mansfield 42, (10) Walpole 28 — Hornets book Gillette trip
By Jared Keene NEFJ Staff TAUNTON — Victory tasted sweet, but on Friday night, redemption — not necessarily revenge — tasted even sweeter for Mansfield. Last year, the Hornets came oh so close to beating Walpole and advancing to the Division 3 semifinals. But the Timberwolves had other ideas, scoring a touchdown in the final 30 seconds to emerge victorious and end Mansfield’s postseason. Fast forward a year. The way……
Rhode Island D1 State Championship: Bishop Hendricken 24, La Salle 21 — It’s the Hawks’ state again
By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff CRANSTON — You’d think watching the same two teams compete for the state championship for the 11th time in 14 years would be stale. Friday’s game showed that this rivalry has far from run its course. No. 1 Bishop Hendricken appeared in its 16th straight state championship, defeating No. 2 La Salle for the ninth time. A late field goal earned the Hawks its 19th……