BEVERLY, Mass. — With 2024 presenting many great moments in the CNE when it came to the gridiron, 2025 looks poised to top it with many returning standout players among multiple programs. In addition, the CNE grows by two with the addition of New England College and Maine Maritime Academy to the league, leaving eight teams to vie for the league championship this season.
 
Curry College
After playing one of the hardest schedules in the country last year, Todd Parson’s Colonels will look to prove they are battle tested, and are poised to post the program’s first winning season since 2017. As has been the case for the past three seasons, the Colonels will get on running back Montie Quinn’s back, and let him carry them. The All-American is already the program’s career rushing leader with 4,435 yards, and leads the nation for active players. As for this year, he has his eyes set on a 2,000 yard season, after coming off back-to-back 1,600+ years. After being named a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy last year, he is one of the favorites to take the award this season as the best player in the country.
 
While still a run first team, the Colonels will be able to attack defenses through the air this year behind newcomer Anthony Santino. Transferring from DII school Saint Anselm, the grad student will man the Curry offense, and add a pass threat to an already potent rushing attack.
 
On the defensive side of things, Pete Jurovich III will look to continue to wreck havoc in the backfield. With 15 career sacks, he ranks third in program history, and with a strong season could break the school record of 25.
 
The Colonels will also be solid in the kicking game, behind All-CNE first teamer Omar Aboutoui. A sophomore, Aboutoui had a stellar first season in Milton, and will take aim at climbing up the record books with another strong season. 
 
Additions: Michael Albano, Dylan Ali, Samuel Asare-Anti, Conway Bradshaw, Michael Burke, Kareem Chaplin II, Brayden Clifford, Jacob Dermody, Matthew Germain, Dennis Glidden, Nick Golden, Gabriel Grein, David Henry, Trachen Johnson, Ason Jones, Dason Jones, Josh Kwayke, Jeremiah Lambert, Jayden Lamour, Griffin Landry, Mekhi Lumsden, Joshua Masuwa, Lukas Maynard, Lygend Menard, Ethan Motyl, Enzo Pansini, Josh Penta, Lentz Polycarpe, Javien Ramos, Jaden Roman, Emanuel Sampel, Gabe Santo, Alex Smith, Tyler Sullivan, Linbert Thomas III, Joshua Turner, Jaiden Williams, Anthony Santino, Zachary Wilson
 
Graduates: Nathan Simmonds, Michael Sims, Max Ackerman, Chris Connolly, Tyler David, Darien Edwards, Adem Kica, Rocco MacNeil, Gavin Morrison, Trey Noble, Evan Szynal, Edison Thompson
 
Endicott College
Endicott will look to win its fifth straight conference championship this fall, matching recent historic title runs by Western New England (2015-19) and Curry (2003-07). 
 
The Gulls' championship quest will be led by captains Danny Fleming (Tewksbury, Mass.), Adam Goodfellow (Wayland, Mass.), Jayson Little (Natick, Mass.), Bryan Metayer (Norwood, Mass.), and Joe Tirell (Franklin, Mass.).  
 
Returning All-Conference selections Mike Bartley (North Caldwell, N.J.), Kennedy Charles (Portland, Maine), Alfino Davis (Cranston, R.I.), Goodfellow, Davenche Sydney (Malden, Mass.), and Tirell will also be looked upon to make major contributions to the team this season.
 
Endicott enters the 2025 campaign receiving votes in the AFCA and D3football.com Preseason Polls. The Gulls will have home field advantage for most of the fall, as the Blue and Green will play in a program record seven regular season home contests (previous high: 6 in 2018 & 2019).
 
Additions: 43
Graduates: 40
 
Husson University
Following an appearance in the first-ever Fusion Bowl last season, Nat Clark and the Husson University football team are looking to build off of last year’s postseason appearance. The Eagles are looking to secure their fourth winning-season since the COVID-19 Pandemic, while also returning their entire coaching staff from last year’s squad.
 
Husson will be led by its four captains, senior quarterback Max Clark (Bangor, Maine), senior running back Jed Lober (Westminster, Vt.), senior defensive lineman James Boyd (Corinna, Maine) and sophomore defensive back Brayden Trombly (Hartford, Vt.)
 
The Eagles return four all-conference selections from the 2024 season in Lober (First Team Running Back), junior Jahmye Tyson (Camden, N.J. - Second Team Defensive Line), senior Bryce Bussell (Harmony, Maine - Second Team Defensive Line) and Trombly (Second Team Defensive Back & CNE Rookie of the Year).
 
Maine Maritime Academy 
The Mariners welcome 43 incoming freshmen to the program during their first year back on the gridiron since the 2019 season. Under first-year head coach Nick Sheehan, MMA returned 18 players from the 2024 roster that competed in four games last season. 
 
New England College 
New England College football makes its official return to the gridiron after a 51-year hiatus, combining a large recruiting class with a returning core of largely local New Hampshire players that have set the foundation for the continued growth of the program.  
Sophomore Lukas Koettstorfer (Bruckmühl, Germany), who made a previous stop at Bryant University, steps in at quarterback to lead the Pilgrims’ offense. He will be aided by a dynamic duo out of the backfield in captain Icean Taylor (Manchester, N.H.) and former New Hampshire Offensive Player of the Year, Aidan McDonald (Salem, N.H.). Dontrell White (Weare, N.H.) and Austin Normandin (Gilford, N.H.) provide the offense with some weapons downfield at wide receiver and tight end. Up front in the trenches, captain Sebastian Coppola (Essex, Vt.) and Mene Adumene (Manchester, N.H.) are set to anchor the offensive line. Defensively, the Pilgrims are highlighted by more local kids, with Erik Menger (Stratham, N.H.) leading the pass rush and captain Ethan Cenesca (Manchester, N.H.) commanding the linebacker corps. Captain Kaevryl Madison (Concord, N.H.) and CJ Taylor (Manchester, N.H.), will both be patrolling the secondary for the Grims.  
The 2025 season will be a historic season, marked by many firsts, as the Grims look to compete in the CNE and continue to build the program brick by brick.  
Additions: 39
Graduates: N/A 

Nichols College
The Nichols College football program will be looking to make their presence known in the 2025 regular season as they continue to build under second-year head coach Vinny Marino. The Bison, who went 3-7 in the 2024 season, will have an eager and optimistic squad leading them into the new campaign, which includes a 28-man recruiting class. The Hill will see a number of notable returners on the gridiron this fall, including sophomore quarterback Will Migliaccio. Last season, Migliaccio threw for 1,255 yards and 12 total touchdowns through eight games played, completing 90-of-143 (62.9%) passes. Joining him on the offensive front is graduate student wide receiver Jack Morvan, who led the conference in 2024 with 967 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, including a team-best 82-yard-long reception and a 107.44 yards per game average.

University of New England
The University of New England and 10th-year head coach Mike Lichten enter the program's seventh competitive season as a varsity campaign while returning the likes of seven all-conference performers from 2024. Leading that group is junior running back and return specialist Damien Jones, who was a first team selection as well as a D3football.com All-America third team honoree last season. Senior defensive back Chris Winslow is ready to go again, coming off back-to-back seasons as a first team all-league pick. Others recognized by the CNE coaches a year ago include senior special teams all-purpose Tommy McGuire, junior linebacker Tyron Gomes, junior defensive back Spencer Sherck, junior defensive lineman Ashton Wonson, and sophomore punter Cam Durkin. Senior kicker Jack Niland and junior defensive lineman Spencer LaBrecque also have CNE recognition to their credit from 2023.
Additions: 30
Graduates: 20, including Andrew Berube, AJ DeFilio, Brady Feola, Evan Hazard, Jarrett Henault, Shane LaPorte, Nate Reid

Western New England University
Western New England University football will look to reach the top of the conference in 2025 following a season that saw the blue and gold play to a 6-4 record, with a 3-2 mark in conference play. The Golden Bears will return key additions to both their offense and defense in hopes of winning the conference title for the first time since 2019. 
The offensive side of the football returns important pieces from a season ago, including all-conference selection Brady Lafferty (Southington, Conn.) to hold down the quarterback position for the blue and gold. Lafferty will look to heavily target his top receiver from last year in De’Andre Harris (Weymouth, Mass.), who was also an all-conference selection with 36 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. Harris will lead a receiving core that will look different for eighth-year head coach Jason Lebeau, relying on his senior leadership to get the job done on offense. Matt Lamontagne (Wolcott, Conn.) is expected to lead the Golden Bears in the run game after his sophomore campaign saw the rising junior pick up 96 touches for 616 net yards and a team-high six rushing touchdowns. 
The Golden Bears return key players on defense this season, including DJ Gordon (Freeport, N.Y.), who picked up 25 tackles in his first year with Western New England while picking up a pair of interceptions and four breakup passes as a defensive back. Additionally, Ben Caulfield (Wethersfield, Conn.), Nick Kolifrath (Millbury, Mass.), and Michael Canavachel (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.) are all expected to make a significant impact for the Golden Bears on defense.
Western New England football opens the season on Saturday, September 6, at Golden Bear Stadium when they take on cross-town rival Springfield College in the annual SAW Pynchon Game at 1:00 PM.

Additions: 61
Graduates: 45
 
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE OF NEW ENGLAND
Originally founded in 1984 as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), and reconstituted as the Conference of New England (CNE) in 2024, the CNE is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of 11 full member and five associate member institutions throughout the New England region. Its membership aims to provide student-athletes with a positive experience in their pursuit of excellence through high academic standards, quality competition and a meaningful student life. The Conference administers championships in 21 intercollegiate sports.