New England College’s football team will play its first official game on Saturday, more than 50 years since the Pilgrims last fielded a gridiron squad.

The school briefly organized a team for two seasons in the 1970s, according to Coach Kevin Kelly, and lost every game. The aim is to do better.

“New England College has never won a varsity football game. So that’s our first goal,” Kelly said.

Last year, the team played an exhibition season, picking up a few wins. This season’s slate of official games kicks off Saturday at 12 p.m. against Plymouth State University in a Division III clash.

“This is the big boy league,” said Kelly.

Nearly 40% of the Pilgrim roster are graduates of New Hampshire high schools, but they’ll be led Saturday by quarterback Lukas Kottstorfer, a 6’2” 210 lb. tran

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