Venue & Game Details
Location: Don Melander Field at New England College – Henniker, New Hampshire
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: NEC Athletics Network (video), Plymouth State Panthers Radio (audio), live stats via both schools’ athletics sites
Capacity: ~3,000
Weather Forecast (Henniker, NH – Kickoff)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, warm
Temperature: ~77°F (25°C) at kickoff, cooling into the upper 60s by the fourth quarter
Wind: SW at 6–10 mph
Precipitation: <15%
Impact: Ideal early‑season football weather; light wind unlikely to significantly affect passing or kicking
Injury Report
Plymouth State
No major preseason injuries reported; starting QB and RB rotations intact.
Defensive secondary returns healthy after late‑season knocks in 2024.
New England College
No significant absences; QB Icean Taylor and RB Aidan McDonald — who combined for both NEC touchdowns in last year’s win — are available.
WR Aiden O’Shaughnessy (39‑yard reception in 2024 opener) healthy.
Team Records & 2024 Recap
Plymouth State: 5‑5 overall, 3‑5 MASCAC; averaged 23.4 PPG, allowed 21.7 PPG.
New England College: 1‑9 overall, 0‑6 CCC; first varsity football season since 1973, averaging 12.6 PPG, allowing 33.8 PPG.
Recent Form (Last 5 Games – 2024 Season)
Plymouth State
L vs. UMass Dartmouth 47‑42
W vs. Fitchburg State 26‑21
W @ Framingham State 41‑20
W vs. Westfield State 35‑7
L @ Bridgewater State 28‑14
New England College
L @ Univ. of New England 49‑14
L vs. Curry 35‑7
L @ Husson 56‑0
L vs. Western New England 48‑6
L @ Endicott 62‑0
Key Player Matchups
QB Icean Taylor (NEC) vs. Plymouth State Secondary
Taylor’s mobility and short‑passing game vs. a veteran defensive backfield.
RB Aidan McDonald (NEC) vs. Plymouth State Front Seven
McDonald’s power running against a Panthers defense that allowed under 110 rush yds/game in 2024.
Plymouth State QB vs. NEC Pass Rush
Panthers’ balanced offense will test NEC’s ability to generate pressure without blitzing.
WR Aiden O’Shaughnessy (NEC) vs. Plymouth State CB2
Deep‑threat potential; had a key 39‑yard catch in last year’s upset.
Special Teams
Field position could be decisive; Plymouth State’s return units vs. NEC’s coverage teams.
Series History
All-Time: New England College leads 1‑0
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2024 — NEC 20, Plymouth State 14 in Plymouth, NH
NEC’s first football game in 51 years; Taylor scored on a QB sneak, McDonald added the game‑winner, and the defense made a late 4th‑down stop inside their own 15 to seal the upset.
Betting Trends
Plymouth State: 3‑2 ATS in last 5 games; UNDER in 3 of last 4.
NEC: 1‑9 SU in 2024; 3‑7 ATS; OVER in 6 of last 10.
Head-to-Head: Only one meeting — NEC covered as a double‑digit underdog in 2024.
If Plymouth State leads by 10+ at halftime, consider live Under on adjusted total (defensive control).
If NEC scores first, hedge with Plymouth State live ML — Panthers have rallied in multiple recent wins.
Game Odds
Plymouth State Panthers – 10.5
New England Pilgrims 47
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
