The Salem News | Next Level college sports notebook: No shortage of locals helping out Curry football
Posted on: October 15, 2026
By Matt Williams | Assistant Sports Editor
The purple turf on Katz Field at Curry College makes for one of the most unique game day experiences in New England college football.
A quarter of North Shore standouts have more than made themselves at home on that uniquely-colored surface.
Peabody natives Colin Ridley and Gabe Santos as well as Salem’s Shane Field and Eli Vasquez-Bastardo are three of the big reasons the Colonels (3-2) find themselves on a two-game win streak coming out of this week’s bye. Curry is also a perfect 2-0 in Conference of New England play with eyes set on conference kingpin Endicott (5-0 and ranked in the Top 10 nationally), whom they host in their final regular game on November 14.
