A look at our final 2024 MIAA top 25 as we put a bow on the season. As is custom, we put a premium on team accomplishments. It is not simply the 25 teams for who would beat whom. That is the case In some of these placements, but not all. We like to get all eight division champions in. It was another great season, so let’s look back and remember…
Needham’s Kopcso named Patriots Coach of the Year
What does two straight wins on Thanksgiving in the country’s oldest public school rivalry and the program’s first Super Bowl appearance in 13 years get you? Just recognition from the New England Patriots as the high school Coach of the Year, no biggie. Andre Tippett – as he’s done for many years now each week – presented Kopcso with the award at Needham High School on Tuesday with a few…
Harasymiak can be the right guy but he will need time to turn the UMass program around
Courtesy of UMass Athletics UMass hired Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak as the school’s new head football coach last week. The hiring was universally applauded as the 38 year old Harasymiak has the perfect blend of local ties and experience on his resume. Harasymiak played at Springfield College and has coached locally at Maine Maritime and the University of Maine where he eventually became head coach in 2016. Harasymiak led…
Patriots part ways with wide receiver K.J Osborn
The Patriots have released veteran wide receiver K.J Osborn. Osborn signed a one-year, $4 million dollar contract this past off-season. According to sources, Osborn and the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways. Osborn was signed to add veteran leadership and depth to the receiving corp but unfortunately a lack of production led to him being a healthy scratch the past few weeks. With the Patriots trying to find more…
UNH announces six new recruits in 2025 class
Last Wednesday was the first National Signing Day for the 2025 season and while UNH didn’t make anything official on the actual day, the program did finally do so on Monday. The No. 19-ranked Wildcats – yes, UNH is still in the Top 20 despite the playoffs still going on – announced the addition of six recruits in a statement Monday afternoon. The players are listed below: Seven Bullock, (WR),…
5 Areas the Patriots need to show improvement in the final quarter of the season
Maddie Meyer/GettyImages The Patriots had their bye week this week. With four games left in the regular season, it is imperative that the team shows improvement. Simply being competitive isn’t enough. Jerod Mayo and his staff have to show that they evaluated the team during the bye and fixed many of the issues that ail the team. Here are five areas that the Patriots need to improve in during the…
Jones hoping to show he belongs in New England
The day after Thanksgiving, Truman Jones was like most people, just sitting at home not doing much of anything after the holiday. That quickly changed when he learned he’d have to hop on a flight back to some very familiar territory. After being released from the Chiefs practice squad on November 26th, the Patriots decided to bring the former star Harvard big man in for a workout last Monday. Things…
CIAC Class MM semifinal: (1) Windsor 50, (4) Newington 0 — John Manning goes off for Warriors
Photo by Dan Heary By Rob Gullo NEFJ Staff WINDSOR — On Sunday, the No. 1 football team in the state of Connecticut, the Windsor Warriors, showed why they are the best team in Connecticut. The No. 1 seed Warriors shut out the No. 4 Newington Nor’Easters 50-0 in the semifinal round of the class MM playoffs, to reach their second state title game in the last five years. “I…
CIAC Class LL state semifinal: Greenwich 14, Staples 0 – Cardinals shut down Wreckers to reach state final
By Craig Boland NEFJ Staff WESTPORT – Leading by two touchdowns with 3:00 left in the fourth quarter of a Class LL state semifinal against Staples on Sunday, Greenwich defensive back Jack Carroll intercepted a Nick Weil pass that seemed to seal the deal. But, on the very next play, Justin Halky of Staples recovered a fumble to give the Wreckers one more chance. The Greenwich defense stifled Staples though…
Closing the book on the MIAA Super Bowls with 10 Thoughts
The 2024 season is in the books. We just witnessed eight terrific games at Gillette Stadium. Here are some thoughts on the games and a look ahead to next season. Uxbridge running Camden LaChappelle is only a junior. Think about that? He will be one of the best returning players in the state in 2025 as the Spartans will look to three peat. Hudson was impressive in a 21-14 win…