Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter
National Football Foundation
UConn’s Fagnano, Assumption’s Touze Named 2025 Week 13 Recipients of NEFW/Grinold Chapter Gold Helmet Awards
University of Connecticut graduate student quarterback Joe Fagnano and Assumption University junior defensive lineman Jhensen Touze are this week’s recipients of the New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Awards presented by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Fagnano, a native of Williamsport, Pa., and a graduate of Williamsport High School, threw for a career high of 446 yards and three TD passes to propel UNH to a last minute come from behind 48-45 victory at Florida Atlantic. Fagnano was 33 for 46 through the air with scoring strikes of 24, 56 and 32 yards. Trailing by four with 2:11 remaining, Fagnano guided the Huskies on a 75-yard drive connecting on five passes accounting for 43 of the yards with the winning score coming with 22 seconds remaining.
Touze, from West Orange, N.J., and a graduate of West Orange High School, led the Greyhounds with 11 tackles including seven solo stops to help lead Assumption to a 23-20 upset of Super Region 1 fourth ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship. Included in Touze’s total was 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Assumption held IUP scoreless in the second half as the Greyhounds rallied from a 20-10 halftime deficit.
For the eleventh straight year, the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation is the presenting sponsor for both the weekly and end-of-year Gold Helmet Awards presented to student-athletes from FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III institutions throughout New England. The awards will be presented at the NEFW Captains and Awards Banquet on December 11, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center.
For more information on the Gold Helmet Awards and the New England Football Writers Association, please visit www.newenglandfootballwriters.com.
FINAL 2025 GRINOLD CHAPTER NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III FOOTBALL WEEKLY RANKINGS RELEASED
The final Grinold Chapter New England Division III Football Coaches poll of the 2025 season has been released, and Endicott College retains the spot at the top of the rankings. The Gulls hold the #1 position for the eighth consecutive week. The Conference of New England and Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference lead the way with three teams each in the top 10. All four football playing conferences in New England have three teams receiving votes in the final poll.
Endicott received nine of 12 first place votes to top second place Springfield College, which received one first-place vote, by six points. Wesleyan University is in third place followed by Curry College and the University of New England. The poll is rounded out by Trinity College, Framingham State University, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Plymouth State University, and Anna Maria College. Colby and MIT also received votes.
The New England Division III Football Poll is presented by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation, which also serves as the title sponsor of the weekly Gold Helmet Awards presented by the New England Football Writers Association throughout the season.
A panel representing four New England Division III playing conferences serve as voters in this year’s poll, and rankings will be released each week through November 18th. Members of this year’s voting panel are Nat Clark (Husson), Jason Lebeau (Western New England), Mike Lichten (University of New England), Jeremy Cameron (Massachusetts Maritime), Tom Kelley (Framingham), and Joe Verria (Bridgewater), Jack Cosgrove (Colby), Jeff Devanney (Trinity), Jay Civetti (Tufts), Kevin Gilmartin (Salve Regina), C.C. Grant (Coast Guard) and Chris Robertson (WPI),
GRINOLD CHAPTER NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III FOOTBALL POLL
Final Poll – November 25, 2025 (All teams that have received votes)
Rank School (First Place Votes), Record, Points, Previous Rank
1 Endicott (9), 9-1, 117, 1
2 Springfield (3), 9-2, 111, 2
3 Wesleyan, 7-2, 92, 3
4 Curry, 8-3, 73, 4
5 University of New England, 8-2, 71, 5
6 Trinity, 7-2, 61, 6
7 Framingham, 7-4, 38, 9
8 Coast Guard, 7-3, 37, 6
9 Plymouth, 8-2, 34, 9
10 Anna Maria, 7-3, 13, 10
11 Colby, 6-3, 12, receiving votes
12 MIT, 6-3, 1, receiving votes