RFC Summer Semester: New England Football Conference (NEFC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

New England Football Conference (NEFC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

Website

2013 Final Standings

Looking back: Endicott cruised to an unbeaten season in New England Football Conference (NEFC) action for 2013, finishing 7-0 in league games.  The Gulls season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, as they were shut out by Rowan, 24-0.  The only other team to advance to postseason play from the NEFC was Salve Regina, whose Seahawks fell to Western Connecticut State, 48-35, in the ECAC Northeast Bowl.


Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the Gulls and Seahawks do battle with each other for the NEFC title again in 2014.

  
Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):

1. Salve Regina (7-4):  The Seahawks look to take the next step towards a conference crown after finishing 6-1 in NEFC play last season.

2. Endicott (8-3):  With the loss of 18 seniors to graduation, the Gulls might be hard pressed for a return trip to the D-III playoffs in 2014.

3. Curry (4-5):  A season-ending two-game winning streak to close out 2013 gives the Colonels and their faithful a glimmer hope going into 2014.

4. MIT (6-3):  The Engineers hope to make some noise after posting back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in ,modern program history, which dates back to 1988.

5. Coast Guard (3-7): Bears 2014 slate includes a trip south to Virginia to face perennial power Hampden-Sydney on September 20.

6. Western New England (4-6):  The Golden Bears look to bounce back after a disappointing 2013 season. 

7. Maine Maritime (1-8):  Capturing the D-III rushing title was the big bright spot in an otherwise dismal 2013 season for the Mariners, who have managed just one win over the last two years.

8. Nichols (1-8): The Bison will look to snap a season-ending eight-game losing streak under new head coach Dale Olmsted.
 
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.