UMass senior quarterback William “Pop” Watson, III and Framingham State University senior wide receiver Mathias Fowler 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.
Watson, a native of Springfield, Mass., a graduate of Springfield Central High School and a transfer from Virginia Tech, completed 19 of 22 (.863) passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 season-opening upset win over Rutgers Sept. 3. Watson’s scoring strikes covered 21, 2 and 31 yards. Watson also rushed for 40 yards on six carries (6.7 ypc).
Fowler, from Lynn, Mass., and a graduate of Lynn English High School, averaged 32.2 yards per catch on three receptions for 193 yards in the Rams 33-21 victory at Husson University. Fowler had a long reception of 63 yards and added the game clinching 38-yard score late in the fourth quarter.
For the twelfth straight 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.
For more information on the Gold Helmet Awards and the New England Football Writers Association, please visit www.newenglandfootballwriters.com, and 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 6 William “Pop” Watson, III - UMass
Division II/III
Mathias Fowler - Framingham
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