Westfield, Mass.— Reigning MASCAC Regular Season Champion UMass Dartmouth has  been voted by the coaches around the league as the preseason favorite to win their fourth straight title during the 2025 season. 

 

The Corsairs earned nine first place votes after going a perfect 9-0 last season. Defensively, they will look to  lineman Kairis Codio who made 43 tackles, including 18 solo and 25 assisted plus 1.5 sacks for a loss of five yards. Four times last season, he tallied five or more tackles in a game with a season-high of 10 against Springfield.  

Grabbing the second spot with the final first place vote is Bridgewater State. The Bears were 5-4 during MASCAC action last season. Reigning MASCAC Offensive Rookie of the Year Zy’kie Askew returns after he finished his first season with 381 yards and a touchdown over 10 games. He averaged 5.4 yards per rush over his 71 chances. His best game of the season came in the win over Worcester State where he had 104 yards on two rushes with a score.  

Sitting in third is Massachusetts Maritime. The Buccaneers were also 5-4 in league play and bring back All-Conference defensive lineman Mac Kromenhoek who racked up 25 tackles in 2024 with a team-high four sacks and nine tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and had one pass break up.

Joining the MASCAC football teams this season along with Dean is Anna Maria who lands in the fourth spot. The AMCATS look to Tyler Garretson in their first year with the conference. Last season, he tallied 175 yards on 14 receptions for an average of 12.5 yards per catch with one touchdown as tight end for the squad.

Landing in fifth is Plymouth State. The Panthers finished 5-4 during the league campaign last season. Wide receiver Devin Connally returns for the team after catching 11 passes for 227 yards, averaging 20.6 yards per catch with two touchdowns on the year.

Framingham State comes in sixth after winning three games last season. In his first year with the Rams, defensive lineman Korrey Barron registered 39 tackles, 30 of which were solo and two fumble recoveries to earn a spot on the All-Conference squad.

Coming in seventh is Westfield State. The Owls collected four wins during the MASCAC clip in 2024. Returning is linebacker Justyn Gardener who  had 45 tackles, 20 solo with 1.5 sacks for 10 yards while averaging 4.5 tackles per contest.

Worcester State is next in eighth. Returning for the Lancers is quarterback Cam Ayotte who threw for 1,689 yards with 11 touchdowns, a 57.2 completion percentage, 131.7 pass efficiency and 123 completions.

Closing out the 2025 poll in ninth and 10th are Fitchburg State and Dean. For the Falcons, EZ McKnight notched his first All-Conference selection after collecting 51 tackles on 35 solo stops and 16 assisted tackles in addition to 2.5 tackles for loss, a team-leading three interceptions, nine passes defended and one blocked kick. Entering their first season in the MASCAC, Dean looks to Christian Donalson on defense after he made 41 tackles, 20 solo with two sacks for 11 yards and two quarterback hurries.
  

Nine of the 10 MASCAC football teams begin their 2025 season the weekend of September 5-6 with non-conference play while league play kicks off September 13.

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

 

1. UMass Dartmouth (9) - 81 points

2. Bridgewater State (1) - 68 points

3. Massachusetts Maritime - 56 points

4. Anna Maria - 54 points

5. Plymouth State - 47 points

6. Framingham State - 46 points

7. Westfield State - 38 points

8. Worcester State - 29 points

9. Fitchburg State - 17 points

10. Dean - 14 points