SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 1, 2025) – The Western New England football team returned to Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and improved to a perfect 4-0 on home turf, defeating the Pilgrims of New England College 55-0, recording a shutout for the first time since 2023. 

Records:

• Western New England: 4-4, 2-3 CNE
• New England College 1-7, 1-4 CNE

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• The Golden Bears opened the frame with a kickoff return for a touchdown, their first of the season after Christian Delgado sent a lateral pass back to Isaiah Jolly, who took the ball 76-yards for a touchdown. Following an extra-point make from Max LoGrasso, WNE took a 7-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game. That touchdown set the tone for Saturday's game as the Golden Bears poured it on the Pilgrims from the get-go and never let up. 
• The WNE defense got NEC off the field in a quick three-and-out while the offense, led by quarterback Drew Caouette, completed an 11-play, 73-yard drive ending in seven points, after Matt LaMontagne rushed home his 11^th touchdown of the season, giving the Golden Bears a 14-0 lead. LaMontagne's 23-yard rush to start the drive paced the blue and gold right away. The Pilgrims were forced to punt again on their next drive, as Maurice Henlon made a pair of tackles to keep NEC from moving the chains. 
• The Golden Bears offense was clicking on all cylinders in the opening quarter, seeing another touchdown come before the end of the quarter as a nine-yard pass from Caouette to De'Andre Harris gave WNE a 21-0 lead at the end of the quarter. 

Second Quarter:

• The Pilgrims opened with possession to begin the second quarter, but Johnny Ferrentino made a pass breakup on third down to send the Golden Bears back to work on offense. The third straight offensive possession for WNE ended up in another score as LaMontagne rushed home a 10-yard score, capping off a seven-play, 80-yard drive for Western New England, giving the home team a 27-0 lead. Corey Kilroy helped the run game on the drive for WNE, collecting 28 yards early. 
• The Western New England defense continued to play strong, keeping the 'Grims from even picking up a first down in the half as NEC collected just a pair of first downs through the first 30 minutes of action. 
• Western New England capped off the half with their fifth touchdown of the afternoon as Drew Caouette found John De Camps in the end zone from 20 yards out, giving the Golden Bears a 35-0 halftime lead. WNE ran 22 plays in the quarter, collecting 168 total yards of offense. 

Third Quarter:

• The Golden Bears continued their dominance with yet another score of their first drive of the second half, capping off a six-play, 42-yard drive with seven points as Caouette continued to be efficient in his first career start, this time finding Kevin Acosta from six yards out, giving the blue and gold a 41-0 lead. The Pilgrims then put up their best offensive drive of the afternoon, running a 14-play, 48-yard drive, but the Pilgrims made an error just 14 yards away from their first score, throwing an interception to Johnny Ferrentino, giving the ball back to the Golden Bears. 
• The ensuing Western New England drive lasted the rest of the quarter, a frame that saw New England College collect just 34 yards of offense on 16 plays, while Western New England picked up 95 yards on 13 plays. 

Fourth Quarter:

• Western New England finished the drive from the end of the third quarter into the fourth quarter with seven more points, as Corey Kilroy rushed for a 12-yard score up the middle of the field, giving the blue and gold a commanding 48-0 lead. NEC had just two offensive drives in the fourth quarter, resulting in no points, being shut out for the fourth time this season. 
• WNE's final offensive drive lasted 7:23 and took 13 plays and 93 yards, resulting in the final score of the game as Drew Caouette found Brandon Makoyi for his first career collegiate touchdown, giving Western New England a 55-0 lead, a score that held final. 
• The Pilgrims ran seven plays in the quarter, gaining just three yards overall. WNE finished the frame with 18 plays and 97 yards, collecting the massive 55-point victory. 

Inside the Lines:

• Drew Caouette tossed nine completions for 142 yards, throwing four touchdowns for the Golden Bears in the win. Caouette found four different receivers, including John De Camps, De'Andre Harris, Kevin Acosta, and Brandon Makoyi.
• The Golden Bears rushed for 364 yards in the win, averaging just under seven yards per carry. Matt LaMontagne ran ten times for 94 yards and scored a touchdown, Corey Kilroy rushed nine times for 83 yards and a score, and Matthew McGuire ran 13 times for 63 yards, also picking up six points for Western New England. 
• Michael Canavatchel led WNE in tackles with seven, picking up one solo and six assisted stops. The WNE junior also had a break up pass in the game. 
• Western New England recorded three sacks in the game, Nathaniel Mathis and Bryson Smith with a full sack each, and Logan Watts and Ben Mann with a half sack each. 
• Both Johnny Ferrentino and Ben Caulfield had interceptions for the blue and gold in the win. 
• This was the first-ever meeting between the two schools. 
• Western New England is now a perfect 4-0 at Golden Bear Stadium this season, with wins over Springfield College, Worcester State, Husson University, and now New England College. The Golden Bears have been snakebitten on the road, looking for their first road win in their final road game of the season next week. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears trek to Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, for a Conference of New England game against the Mariners on Saturday, November 8, at 12:00 PM. This will be the first meeting between the teams since 2016.