New Haven’s Duffy, Post’s Hiraldo Named 2025 Week 3 Recipients of NEFW/Grinold Chapter Gold Helmet Awards

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – University of New Haven junior quarterback AJ Duffy and Post University freshman wide receiver Israel Hiraldo 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.

Duffy, a native of St. Augustine, Fla., and a graduate of Rancho Verde High School, helped lead the Chargers to their first win as a member of Division 1 FCS by leading the Chargers to a 24-17 win at Albany on Saturday.  The win was also the first for head coach Mark Powell. Duffy completed 23-35 passes for 180 yards while throwing for three TD's and no interceptions to lead the Chargers to victory over the Great Danes.

Hiraldo, from Providence, R.I., and a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, recorded the third-most all-purpose yards for a single game in program history, going off for 255 yards against Southern Connecticut State in a 39-30 win, helping lead Post to its first 2-0 start in program history. Hiraldo took back-to-back kickoff returns to the house for 80 yards and 84 yards in the third quarter, only four minutes apart, while also earning 75 yards on six receptions.

For the eleventh consecutive 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 Grinold Chapter, please visit www.grinoldchapter.com. 

2025 NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION

WEEKLY GRINOLD CHAPTER GOLD HELMET AWARD RECIPIENTS

Division I (FBS/FCS)  

September 7   Dylan Lonergan, Boston College

September 14 AJ Duffy, New Haven 

Division II/III

September 7   Harrison Hensley, Coast Guard

September 14 Israel Hiraldo, Post