Union Leader: New England College, with an NH Heavy Roster, Headed Back to the Gridiron for First Time in over 50 Years
By Alex Hall, Union Leader Staff
August 22, 2025; Updated August 25, 2025
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 played high school football at NHIAA member schools.
Three of NEC’s four captains are from New Hampshire: defensive back Ethan Cenesca (Manchester, Manchester Central), running back Icean Taylor (Manchester, West) and defensive back Kaevryel Madison (Concord, Concord High). The other is Sebastian Coppola, a defensive lineman from Essex, Vermont.
Kelly said he visited about 90% of New Hampshire high schools while recruiting the team. Recruiting within the state is a focus for the program.
While Kelly would have liked to have attracted more transfers and older players, one of his selling points during recruitment was having an opportunity to play earlier than they would at bigger programs. The other pitch was to be part of a legacy.
“We’re building a football program here and some guys are really interested in doing that,” Kelly said. “And the opportunity to play earlier. You could be at one these other programs (with) 120, 130 kids and you might be fourth or fifth team. …These guys are going to start varsity games.”
NEC is Taylor’s third program. The junior started at Division II Post University and then transferred to Plymouth State before joining NEC last year. Taylor said he felt like he could grow both as a football player and a person by learning from Kelly and his staff.
The program has also provided an opportunity for players like Taylor’s younger brother, CJ, a sophomore defensive back, to attend college.
“It’s fun because a lot of these guys wouldn’t have (gone) to college,” Taylor said. “I think that’s the best part about it is a lot of kids that could have been in other situations took the chance, went to college — a lot of them first-generation college students, kind of like myself, and it’s a good feeling.”
Kelly is building the culture of the program around respect. He wants the NEC campus, alumni and Henniker community to be proud of the team.
His players are working toward that goal.
“We just want to make sure that everybody around here, they like the football team — that we’re good, growing men and we want to be good people,” said Gavin Auger, a sophomore wide receiver from Derry.
Kelly said the Pilgrims have “a good nucleus of everything” but lack depth and will be younger than their opponents. NEC will try to overcome those shortcomings with its athleticism, work ethic, speed and team chemistry.
“We have some older guys, returners, some younger guys and you’re starting to see the leaders among each position group,” said running back Aidan McDonald, a junior from Salem. “I think it’s really starting to come together as a whole.”
The Pilgrims’ on-field aspirations for their first season back are a step-by-step process: win the program’s first varsity game, have a winning season and win the conference. Kelly also wants the team to have a grade point average above 3.2.
The quest starts against Plymouth State, one of New England’s storied Division III football programs.
“Play hard, fast, be respectful but just let them know we’re coming,” Taylor said.
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