NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS RELEASE
New Haven with League-High Three Selections.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Seven football players from the Northeast-10 Conference were selected to the Division II/Division III All-New England Team on Monday afternoon - the most among any conference - among the 31 players recognized by the New England Football Writers Association (NEFWA). The team, selected by a committee of representatives from the six conferences, honors the best Division II and III players by position in New England from the 2023 season.
All seven players were voted to the NE10 All-Conference First Team last week by the league's head coaches - including five major award winners led by Bentley's Salvatore Lupoli Jr., the NE10's Most Valuable Player. On Tuesday, Lupoli was also named the recipient of the New Engand Football Writers College Division 2023 Season Gold Helmet Award, presented annually to the most valuable player in Divisions II and III.
Lupoli Jr. led the Falcons to a 6-4 record and a second-place finish in the NE10 under first year head coach Saj Thakkar. He set the Bentley record for tackles in a single season (123), as he tallied 47 solo stops and 76 assisted tackles - including six sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. He ranked first in Division II nationally in total tackles and tackles per game (12.3). As a team, Bentley ranked in the top-10 nationally in scoring defense (13.8 points per game) and yards allowed (232.7 per game). Lupoli was the first defensive player to earn NE10 MVP since 2000 and is the fourth Bentley player all-time to win the Season Gold Helmet Award.
Joining Lupoli Jr. on the All-New England Team was a pair of New Haven defenders - Jack Quander and Giye Jenkins - who earned NE10 Defensive Lineman and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. On the offensive side of the ball, Southern Connecticut's E'Lijah Gray earned a spot at running back, while Assumption's Tom MacDonald - the NE10 Offensive Lineman of the Year - was also recognized. On special teams, New Haven's Dev Holmes - the NE10 Offensive Player of the Year - and Bentley's Tajon Vassar were named All-New England as kick returners.
New Haven led all NE10 teams with three selections to the All-New England Team. Bentley had two selections, while Assumption and Southern Connecticut each added one.
The Season Gold Helmet Award and All-New England Team players will be honored at the New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, December 7, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center. Reservations must be made no later than Friday, December 1, and may be made by clicking HERE. Tickets are $70/person and reservations are available online only.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
