SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 31, 2025) – The Western New England football team will look to get back on track, seeking its first win since October 4, when it welcomes New England College, one of two new institutions to join the Conference of New England this season, on Saturday afternoon at Golden Bear Stadium. This will be the first meeting all-time between the two programs, with New England College bringing back varsity football for the first time in over 50 years.

Last Time Out:
Western New England was stuffed at Curry College in Week Seven, giving up 52 points and falling by a final score of 52-31. No easy test this season, the Curry offense continued to explode, netting over 400 yards against the WNE defense. The Golden Bears saw their late second-quarter lead slip away and could not recover, as the Colonels defeated WNE for the first time since 2014 while recording their highest point total over the Golden Bears in program history.

Twenty-four points between the teams opened the first quarter, with Curry having the upper hand. WNE scored first on a 23-yard field goal before the special teams unit gave up another touchdown this season, an 89-yard kickoff return that put the Colonels on the board. The Golden Bears answered on their next drive, a nine-play, 68-yard series that ended in an eight-yard score for the blue and gold to retake the lead. Curry needed just 2:15 to respond, scoring on a 53-yard touchdown before the end of the quarter, its second score of the game, to lead 14-10 after 15 minutes.
WNE opened the second quarter with a quick four-play drive following a Curry turnover, as a 13-yard rushing touchdown put the Golden Bears back ahead in a spirited back-and-forth battle. With 2:34 left in the frame, Curry scored its third touchdown of the game to take the lead for the third time, 21-17. The Golden Bears would not lead again, as the Colonels added another touchdown just before halftime, scoring with 19 seconds remaining, to take a 28-17 lead into the break.

Western New England scored the only touchdown of the third quarter as the defense held Curry to just three points, cutting the deficit to four (28-24). A Curry field goal extended the lead to seven. Early in the fourth quarter, the Golden Bears tied the game with their third rushing touchdown of the afternoon, capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive. From there, it was all Colonels, as NCAA leading rusher Montie Quinn scored three rushing touchdowns, from 70, 55, and 15 yards, to close out the 52-31 win.

New England College earned its first win in over 50 years last week, defeating Maine Maritime Academy 14-10. The Pilgrims opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 31-yard touchdown run to cap a ten-play, 93-yard drive. The NEC defense held the Mariners scoreless in the quarter, taking a 7-0 lead. Maine Maritime responded in the second with ten unanswered points: a 20-yard field goal followed by a 98-yard touchdown run, its first lead of the season. The score remained 10-7 heading into the fourth quarter, where NEC finally broke through with a 14-play, 66-yard drive that ended in the game-winning touchdown with 3:22 remaining. Maine Maritime failed to convert on its final drive, giving New England College its first football victory since 1950.

Offensive Threats (WNE):
The Golden Bears were led by their run game last week, as junior running back Matt LaMontagne ran 21 times for 135 yards and three touchdowns. LaMontagne now has 538 rushing yards and a career-high ten touchdowns this season. Matthew McGuire added a career-high 106 rushing yards on 14 carries, averaging over seven yards per carry. The WNE ground game totaled 257 yards in the loss.

Through the air, quarterbacks Paul Gorry and Drew Caouette combined to complete 12 of 27 passes for 132 yards. Gorry threw the lone touchdown pass, connecting with James Burg for his first score of the year. De'Andre Harris was limited to a season-low two catches for 37 yards, while Kevin Acosta led the team with three receptions for 43 yards.

Offensive Threats (NEC):
Both touchdowns in last week's win came on the ground for the Pilgrims, led by Icean Taylor, who produced 110 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Aidan McDonald added 79 yards and the game-winning score on 17 carries. Taylor and Lukas Kottstorfer combined to complete 11 of 13 passes for 88 yards. Austin Normandin led all receivers with two catches for 42 yards. Through seven games this season, NEC has scored nine total touchdowns, seven rushing and two passing.

Lockdown Defenders (WNE):
DJ Gordon led the Golden Bears with four solo tackles and one assist against Curry. Johnny Ferrentino, Ryan Clark, and Nick Kolifrath each added four tackles. The WNE defense allowed six touchdowns, including four to NCAA rushing leader Montie Quinn, who scored three times in the fourth quarter. WNE gave up 425 total yards of offense and has now allowed 96 points over the last two weeks and 144 across four CNE games.

Lockdown Defenders (NEC):
Ethan Cenesca led the Pilgrims last week with ten tackles (four solo, six assisted) and three tackles for loss. Erik Menger also recorded three tackles for loss, including the team's lone sack. Menger leads NEC with 50 total tackles, eight for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He has hit opposing quarterbacks four times this season. Prior to the win over Maine Maritime, NEC had allowed 110 points in its previous two games, falling to Curry (62-7) and Husson (48-0). The Pilgrims have been shut out in three of seven games this season.

Special Teams Leaders (WNE):
WNE's Max LoGrasso hit a 23-yard field goal against Curry and remains perfect on field goal attempts this year. The Lynn, Massachusetts, native also converted all four PATs. Rhys Surprenant punted four times, averaging 43 yards per kick, including a career-long 54-yarder and one inside the 20-yard line.

Special Teams Leaders (NEC):
NEC did not attempt a field goal in last week's win and has yet to attempt one this season. Ben Roy has handled all 37 punts, averaging just under 35 yards per kick. The Pilgrims have yet to score on special teams, though Spencer Brien's 53-yard return was their longest of the season.

The Matchup:
Western New England and New England College meet for the first time in program history on Saturday, November 1, at 1:00 PM from Golden Bear Stadium. The Golden Bears aim to snap a two-game skid, while the Pilgrims look to build on last week's historic victory.

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* ...........................L, 45-24
10/25     at  Curry College*.................................L, 52-31
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 (New England College):
9/6         vs. Plymouth State University………..L, 49-21
9/13       vs. MIT………………………………….…L, 55-0
9/20       at   Fitchburg State University……....W, 48-0 
9/27       at   Nichols College………………..........L, 41-21
10/4       vs.  Curry College*……….....................L, 62-7
10/18     at   Husson University*……………......L, 48-0
10/25     vs. Maine Maritime Academy*….........W, 14-10
11/1       at   Western New England*….............1:00 PM
11/8       vs. Endicott College *.........................12:00 PM
11/15     at   University of New England*…......12:00 PM

*Conference of New England Game 
Home Games Noted in BOLD
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