KEVIN KELLY was especially enthusiastic at Wednesday’s football practice.
“I had too much coffee today. Let’s go,” the head coach shouted to his New England College football players, about 85 strong, as the team changed drills.
The Pilgrims practiced that day on the Henniker college’s sun-scorched baseball field, adjacent to their still-under-construction varsity field. The field’s scoreboard was in pieces and the stands still needed to be installed.
Defensive teammates cheered when freshman Brady Haynes made an interception during 11-on-11 drills. Punt returners jokingly chirped at each other while the team practiced punt protection.
The scenes were all part of the master plan, Kelly’s final steps in a two-year journey to resurrect the program.
The NCAA Division III Pilgrims will play their first varsity football game in over 50 years when they host Plymouth State University at Laurie Cox Memorial Fields on Saturday, Sept. 6 (noon).
NEC had varsity football for two seasons, 1971 and 1972, before the program was shuttered due to budget cuts.
In 2025, NEC will play as a member of the Conference of New England.
Kelly, a 40-year college coaching veteran with stops including Georgetown, Navy and Dartmouth, became the Pilgrims’ head coach in August of 2023. The team played a junior varsity season last year, going 4-3.
“Two years ago, I had a small office in the administration building and they handed me a laptop and said, ‘Alright, here you go. Start,’” Kelly said between drills — he instructs the defensive backs. “I’ve done a little bit of everything and this is something I’ve never done before — starting from scratch and building it — so it’s challenging and rewarding at the same time.”
The Pilgrims’ roster is heavy on youth and Granite Staters. Most players are underclassmen and many…
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Publish date : 2025-08-22 22:45:00
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