The Western New England University football team is off to a 1-2 start this season.
The Golden Bears are looking to get back on track Saturday at home against Salisbury University, and they hope for more contributions from a pair of former Bristol standouts. Nate Rosa, a senior wide receiver, played at Bristol Central. Jake Dauphinee, a junior offensive lineman, played at Bristol Eastern.
Rosa has five catches for 70 yards so far this season. His best game was the most recent one against Utica College, when he pulled in four passes for 65 yards. Rosa has started all three games.
Dauphinee has also started all three games on the offensive line. He helps give quarterbacks Tyler Millerick, Bryce Karstetter and Conrad Swanson time to find receivers like Rosa. Dauphinee also helps set up running lanes for former Southington standout and junior running back Dillon Kohl. Kohl had a very productive game against Utica. Kohl, whom I covered while working for The Southington Observer, carried nine times for 52 yards and a touchdown. He also had 65 yards receiving on three catches with a touchdown.
Ironically, when WNEU took on Springfield, Kohl played against former Southington teammate Billy Carr, a junior linebacker. Carr had two tackles, including 1.5 for a total of two yards lost. Carr didn’t have a tackle against Kohl in the game.
