By Tom O’Brien NEFJ Correspondent WESTWOOD – The 48th annual Shriners North/South All Star Classic took place on Friday night at Xaverian Brothers in Westwood and it was a defensive struggle throughout. The Shriners All Star Classic is an Eastern Mass senior All Star game put on by the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association and sponsored by the Aleppo Shriners Organization, with all proceeds going to the Shriners Hospital…
Fitchburg & Leominster capture girls flag football state titles
By Mukala Kabongo NEFJ Correspondent NORTH ANDOVER – Fitchburg upset Peabody 15-14 in the Division 2 girls flag football state championship on Thursday night behind Bianelis Pena’s two touchdown passes. “I’m proud of my girls, they battled through adversity and got it done,” said head coach Anthony Oquendo Trailing 14-7 in the second half, Fitchburg’s defense forced a safety off an errant snap to make it 14-9. Needing a stop…
June surge bolsters 2027 recruiting class for Boston College
Head coach Bill O’Brien and his staff have had a June recruiting surge that has propelled the 2027 recruiting class into one of the top classes in the ACC. The Eagles recently went on a massive tear, securing six commitments in a single week alone following a critical official visit weekend on campus.
Eagles landing Bala is a coup
Boston College pulled off a massive recruiting coup on Wednesday by flipping standout 2027 running back Xavier Bala, who had previously been committed to Syracuse. The flip marked a major statement win for head coach Bill O’Brien’s program.
New Patriots facility increasing efficiency
FOXBOROUGH – While you can make the argument that the Patriots simply caught up to many NFL teams and most Division 1 programs with the New Balance Athletics Center, it’s better late than never. And the building is paying off. With new technology, indoor field spaces, various extra meeting rooms and basically everything anyone needs as a professional football player, it’s allowing the coaching staff and players to be more…
DePalma finally settling in as his third season begins
FOXBOROUGH – Former Boston College linebacker Vinny DePalma had a pretty brutal first season as a coach in the NFL. While the opportunity was obviously a dream come true, being part of that forgettable Jerod Mayo year wasn’t easy for anyone. Fast forward to the hiring of Mike Vrabel and the uncertainty that came with not knowing if he’d have a job or not. He did, excelled at it, received…
Patriots ramp up intensity & dodge a bullet on final day of minicamp
FOXBOROUGH – Trash talking, big plays and a brief scare for like, 30 seconds. By design, the final day of minicamp in June isn’t supposed to be as exciting and entertaining as it was in Foxborough on Thursday. In fact, more often than not over the last 25 years, the organization frequently cancels the final day. Instead, the Patriots used it as an opportunity to ramp up the competition and…
Holy Cross makes strong recruiting statement with early 2027 commits
The Holy Cross Crusaders are continuing to build momentum on the recruiting trail, pulling together a highly balanced and incredibly athletic group of verbal commits. Known for their physical brand of football and a knack for identifying under-the-radar talent that fits their high-execution system, the Crusaders have addressed key needs on both sides of the ball.
Where are the Pats at heading into the final day of minicamp?
FOXBOROUGH – If it weren’t for the breeze down in Foxborough on Wednesday, it would have felt like training camp heat had already arrived. On the field, it certainly didn’t look like training camp, though. After a pretty uptempo, intense mandatory minicamp practice on Tuesday (by June standards with no pads of course), Wednesday was a walkthrough day. The most competitive and entertaining thing – aside from Maye-to-Brown during early…
Boston College lands a commitment from Brunswick quarterback Ben Rolapp
Image courtesy of 24/7 Sports Boston College football has secured its quarterback for the class of 2027, as three-star prospect Ben Rolapp announced his commitment to the Eagles. The Brunswick School signal-caller finalized his decision shortly after concluding an official visit to Chestnut Hill, marking a major addition to head coach Bill O’Brien’s building recruiting class. The recruiting process between Boston College and Rolapp moved at a rapid pace. The……