Niccolo Mastromatteo has gone from being a standout at Walpole High to being one of the best players in the Big South Conference for the Coastal Carolina University football team.

That's why Coastal Carolina can't wait to get him back in their lineup as the slot receiver and returner. He missed his second straight game with a rib injury as his team lost to Appalachian State, 55-14, last Saturday. Coastal Carolina has a bye week this week, allowing the 5'9'',180-pound Mastromatteo to be ready against Stony Brook, Oct. 13.

“Niccolo should be fine,” said Coastal Carolina head coach Joe Moglia on myrtlebeachonline.com. “He probably could have played today, but we didn’t want to take a chance, and especially with the off week [coming up] that’s going to give him like three or four weeks to rest up.That’s going to be good rather than fool around with that today. His safety was the priority.”

In three games, Mastromatteo already has 20 catches for 214-yards and is one of the top punt and kickoff returners. The junior was preseason all conference pick as a returner.

Against Western Kentucky University, he tied a school record with 10 catches in a single game.

Mastromatteo, who transferred for Southern Methodist University as a freshman, is also a standout in the classroom with a 4.0 grade point average and was on the Big South Presidential Honor Roll last year.

As a side note, Moglia is featured in a book, "4th Goal." As he has gone from being the CEO of Ameritrade to being a head college football coach.

Elsewhere, it will be a Walpole reunion Saturday when Worcester State hosts Mass. Maritime Academy in a 1:30 p.m. Joe Sweet is having a big year on the defensive line for Worcester State as the 6'4'', 250-pound senior has 14 solo tackles and assisted on 11 others and he also has a sacks. Kyle Morris is a 6'5'', 280-pound junior offensive line for Worcester.
On the other side of the ball, Bryan Norberg is a six-foot, 245-pound senior offensive line for Mass. Maritime.

Adam Riegel, a senior defensive tackle at Harvard University, had a solo tackle in a 52-3 win over Holy Cross last Friday night. Harvard is now 3-0 on the season.

Vincent Lee is a senior defensive back for Tufts University and has an interception and seven tackles for the Jumbos, who lost to Bates, 31-23, Saturday.

Dan King is making an immediate impact at Springfield College as a freshman defensive tackle with seven tackles and nine assists for the 3-2 Pride. King also has two and half sacks. Springfield will be at Hobart College Saturday.

At Bentley University, junior linebacker Nick Romaine has three tackles, while Craig Hanley is a freshman linebacker and defensive back.

Chris Cameron is a 6'3'', 210-pound senior linebacker for Williams College. In two games, he has 12 tackles and assisted on four others. Williams (1-1) will be at Bates Saturday.

After playing at Williston-Northampton in prep school, Christopher Norberg is a freshman defensive back for Middlebury College.

David Conroy is a freshman linebacker at Fordham University. Conroy played at Bridgeton Academy in 2011 after playing at Walpole High.

Shane Blass is a freshman running back at Mount Ida. College.