SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 17, 2025) – The Western New England football team will return to the field this coming Saturday after a bye week last week, coming off a Golden Bear Weekend win two weeks ago against Husson University. The Golden Bears take on rival Endicott College this Saturday, looking to stay above the .500 mark in the Conference of New England standings and seeking their first win over the Gulls since 2019.

Last Time Out:
Western New England football had no problems their last time out, sinking the Eagles from Husson University by a final score of 35-10. Husson was able to get on the scoreboard first with a 35-yard field goal, but three straight rushing touchdowns before the half came to a close brought the Golden Bears ahead 21-3, before the Eagles scored with five seconds remaining in the half to cut the score to 21-10 at the break. The WNE defense held its own in the second half, holding the Eagles to no points while the blue and gold picked up a pair of passing touchdowns to close out Husson by 25 points.

Endicott, also coming off a bye week, recorded a resounding 53-14 victory at home over the University of New England. The Gulls opened the scoring in the first quarter, leading 7-0 after the first 15 minutes of play before taking it to the Nor'easters in the second quarter, outscoring UNE 20-0 in the frame and 27-0 in the first half to quickly put the game away. Endicott led 34-0 before UNE picked up its first points of the afternoon, but it would be too little, too late, as the Gulls poured on 531 total yards of offense and held the Nor'easters to the aforementioned 14 points to come up with the big victory. Endicott has held UNE to 17 points or less in six of its seven meetings all-time, while the Gulls' offense has scored at least 39 points in six of seven meetings.

Offensive Production (WNE):
In their win over Husson, two Golden Bears combined for five touchdowns. Matt LaMontagne scored the first three touchdowns of the afternoon for the Blue and Gold, rushing 11 times for 46 yards, piling up three scores into the end zone. LaMontagne has run the ball 74 times this season, netting 315 yards and has scored seven touchdowns, at least one touchdown in every game this season. Wide receiver De'Andre Harris caught the other two Western New England touchdowns in the win over the Eagles two weeks ago, totaling four grabs for 84 yards. Harris has made 27 catches for 431 yards this season, averaging over 85 yards per game, grabbing four scores for the blue and gold.

Additional offensive production in the win over Husson came from Matthew McGuire, who added eight rushes for 73 yards. Through the air, John De'Camps caught two passes for 41 yards, Jova'n Hill collected five catches for 39 yards, and Kevin Acosta collected three catches for 37 yards. Paul Gorry led the quarterback duo with Kellan Cornell, throwing 18 completions on 26 attempts, tossing for 238 yards and the two touchdowns.

Offensive Production (Endicott):
The Gulls ran the ball for 342 yards in their week five victory over the University of New England. Markys Bridgewater rushed 11 times for 130 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns for the Gulls. Teammate Bryan Ferreira touched the ball 16 times, gaining 109 yards on offense and also punched home two touchdowns in the blowout victory. Endicott completed 11 passes on 17 attempts two weeks ago, led by Shea Lynch, who was 9/15 for 87 yards, tossing one touchdown pass, while Ryan Boyce threw one pass, an effective one, throwing 57 yards for a touchdown, while wide receiver Adam Goodfellow ran a trick play on UNE, tossing a 45-yard completion.

Goodfellow and Bridgewater led Endicott with three catches each, totaling 59 yards between the six catches. Nick Stinson caught Boyce's lone throw in the game, the 57-yard touchdown, while Jayson Little had Endicott's other score.

Lockdown Defenders (WNE):
WNE's Nick Kolifrath continues to make an impact on defense for the Golden Bears, after recording his third double-digit tackle game of the season against Husson, picking up three solo tackles and seven assisted tackles while also coming away with one pass breakup. Senior Johnny Ferrentino has been a consistent defender for the Blue and Gold all season, notching three solo tackles and three assisted tackles two weekends ago against Husson while also coming away with his first tackle for a loss in the win. Both Bryson Smith and Gavin Russo combined for a half sack for the Golden Bears against Husson, combining for a loss of 11 yards in the victory. Smith ended the afternoon with four assisted tackles while Russo had three. DJ Gordon notched his first interception of the season against the Eagles, while also recording three solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and a pass breakup. The Western New England defense has held opponents to just 20 total second-half points across four games this season (vs. Springfield College, @ Salve Regina, vs. Worcester State, vs. Husson University).

Lockdown Defenders (Endicott):
Joe Tirrell has led Endicott this season, including leading the Gulls with seven total tackles two weeks ago against UNE, picking up four solo tackles and three assisted tackles while also totaling three tackles for loss for a loss of 11 yards. Tirrell's stat line included a sack, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry. Endicott senior linebacker Danny Flemming leads the Gulls with 32 total tackles on the season, 12 solo and 20 assisted. Flemming also has a sack and four tackles for loss this season.

The Endicott defense has allowed just 14 points in each of its last two games and has allowed fewer than 30 points in all five of its games this season. The defense ranks 30th nationally through five weeks (out of 241 teams). Endicott's defense has picked up 14 total sacks this season and has four interceptions.

Special Teams Leaders (WNE):
WNE punter John Moss was forced to punt just one time against Husson, collecting a career-high 45-yard kick, placing it inside the 20-yard line. Max LoGrasso did not attempt any field goals in week five, remaining 6-for-6 in field goal attempts this season. The Lynn, Massachusetts, native was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra point attempts against Husson. Isaiah Jolly returned two kickoffs for the Golden Bears, collecting 56 return yards, the most this season by a Golden Bear.

Special Teams Leaders (Endicott):
The Gulls' kickers have struggled this season, one of their only downfalls. Endicott is just 1-for-4 on field goal attempts this season, with first-year Garoid Stones making the lone kick for Endicott. Brandon Alfaro Mateo has made 20 of 25 extra points for the Gulls this season, while the team is 20-for-27 overall. Garoid Stones has punted 17 times for Endicott this season, averaging 39 yards per kick, placing seven kicks inside the 20-yard line, three fair catches, and two touchbacks. Stones recorded a 56-yard boot for a career high against Muhlenberg, Endicott's lone loss of the season.

The Matchup:
This is the 21st matchup between the two teams since 2004, with Endicott holding the upper hand in the last four meetings and having won three straight home games. Western New England hasn't won a road game against Endicott since 2016, a 20-7 win. The last WNE victory in the series came back in 2019, a 42-31 victory at Golden Bear Stadium.

2025 Schedule (WNE):
9/6         vs. No. 13 Springfield College..........W, 23-22
9/13       at  Salve Regina University.................. L, 34-28 (OT)
9/20       vs. Worcester State University..........W, 48-13
9/27       at  University of New England*............L, 37-31
10/4       vs. Husson University* .....................W, 35-10
10/18     at  Endicott College* ...........................5:00 PM
10/25     at  Curry College*.................................12:00 PM
11/1       vs. New England College*..................1:00 PM
11/8       at  Maine Maritime Academy*...............12:00 PM
11/15     vs. Nichols College* ...........................1:00 PM

*Conference of New England Game 
Home Games Noted in BOLD
 
2025 Schedule (Endicott College):
9/6         vs. Misericordia University………………...W, 31-21
9/13       vs. Muhlenberg College………….…...…L, 28-20
9/20       vs. Maritime (N.Y.)……………..………......W, 41-7 
9/27       at  Husson University*…………………….......W, 48-14
10/4       vs. University of New England *………….W, 53-14
10/18     vs. Western New England*…………….......5:00 PM
10/25     at  Nichols College*……………………………..……12:00 PM
11/1       vs. Maine Maritime Academy*….......…….12:00 PM
11/8       at  New England College*…………………….......12:00 PM
11/15     vs. Curry College*…………………..……………..12:00 PM

*Conference of New England Game 
Home Games Noted in BOLD
 
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