• UMass defense gelling quickly in camp
  • Patriots begin Philly prep with 17th training camp practice
  • Former Harvard standout Rizy relishing opportunity with Patriots
  • Patriots could face tough decision in 2nd preseason game
  • 5 observations from our camp visit with New Haven

Patriots players share favorite Thanksgiving high school & college memories

It’s that time of year again. For as long as NEFJ has been lucky enough to cover the Patriots daily (year five now), we always try to ask a bunch of players for their favorite high school or college memories centered around Thanksgiving. This year, I was able to get a good mix of guys that have experienced playing on the actual day, while others were shocked to learn that…

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Bowling Green 45, UMass 14 – Minutemen close out historic winless season

By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff AMHERST – As the rain came down at McGuirk Alumni Stadium while the clock ticked away to zero, a most unwelcome reality drenched the UMass football program. With their 45-14 loss to the Bowling Green Falcons, the Minutemen (0-12, 0-8) finished the season winless for the first time in history. The loss added UMass to a list of 19 other schools in the FBS era…

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Wakefield 20, Melrose 9 – Warriors beat Red Hawks at Fenway in 65th Thanksgiving meeting

Image courtesy of Wakefield Athletics  By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent BOSTON – High school football returned to Fenway Park on Tuesday for the first of four Thanksgiving rivalries, with Wakefield winning for a fifth straight year over Melrose. “It’s a fantastic environment, it’s just beautiful,” Wakefield coach John Rafferty said. “It’s a great venue, and it’s a great opportunity and I’m glad we made the most of it.” With the…

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URI shifts focus towards making a national championship run

Image courtesy of URI Athletics  Somewhat stunningly, Rhode Island didn’t get a bye in the FCS postseason despite a 10-win season and repeating as CAA champs, winning the title outright for the first time in 40 years. Now that it’s been decided, the Rams face a familiar foe in Central Connecticut State, the NEC champs that Rhody hosted and beat in the first round of the FCS playoffs a year…

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UMass Four Down Preview: Bowling Green Falcons (3-8, 1-6) at UMass Minutemen (0-11, 0-7)

Image courtesy of ESPN By Ryan Barry NEFJ Staff Kickoff: The UMass Minutemen host the Bowling Green Falcons at McGuirk Alumni Stadium with one final opportunity to salvage a win in their 2025 campaign. The Minutemen have never gone winless in a season since joining the FBS in 2012, and have never not won a game in a season that had three or more total games, making the importance of securing…

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Patriots breathe sigh of relief on Will Campbell’s knee injury, but loss still stings

The Patriots received a significant, albeit mixed, injury update regarding rookie left tackle Will Campbell, who was carted off the field in the third quarter of Sunday’s 26-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Initial fears of a season-ending injury, heightened by the rookie’s visible distress as he was helped off, appear to have been avoided. According to reports, Campbell is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain, which an MRI…

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Connecticut Top 25 – Week 11

CIAC Sports By Andy Close and Rob Gullo NEFJ Correspondents The last week of the regular season has finally arrived in Connecticut. Most teams were on a bye last week, as they prepare for Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day games across the state. The quarterfinal round of the CIAC playoffs in all six classifications begins on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Here are this week’s rankings: 1. New Canaan (9-0): New Canaan was ranked…

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