Box Score Another stellar offensive outing propelled the Nichols football team to a 33-19 victory over MIT on Saturday afternoon. The Bison racked up 402 yards of total offense, led by senior Michael Carven's (Hanover, MA) 223 passing yards, which brings his career total to 3,934, a new school record. Sophomore Joshua Harris (Northbridge, MA) hooked up with Carven for two touchdown catches, one for 43 yards, the other 24 yards. Freshman Chris Patterson (Stamford, CT) ran for 103 yards on the ground and two touchdowns as well. With the win, Nichols improves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Boyd Division play while MIT drops to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in Boyd play.

MIT got on to board first, 6-0, 4:53 in when Thomas Scotton found his way into the end zone from four yards out, capping off a 12 play, 80 yard drive. Patterson answered early in the second quarter when he scored from two yards out following a 60 yard punt return by freshman Anthony Pillari (Westwood, NJ). The extra point by freshman Kyle Gilson (East Waterboro, ME) was good, giving the Bison a 7-6 edge.

Nichols struck again on its very next drive as Carven completed all four of his passes, including his 43 yard toss to Harris for the touchdown.

The Engineers made it a two point game, 14-12, when they scored on the ensuing drive. Looking to tie things up, MIT went for the two-point conversion but the Nichols defense was there to stop the rush attempt.

Harris and Carven gave the Bison some breathing room, 20-12, heading into halftime when they connected for another touchdown, this time from 24 yards out.

The momentum continued for Nichols as it scored just 1:33 into the second half when senior Shane West (Clinton, MA) recovered an MIT fumble and returned it 24 yards for another Bison touchdown.

Patterson made it a 33-12 ball game with his second rushing touchdown of the game at the 13:44 mark of the fourth quarter. His two-yard run capped off a six play, 41 yard drive for which he accounted for all but eight yards on the ground, including a big 23 yard gain

MIT scored with 7:29 left in the game but it was too little too late as Nichols defense was superb in the second half, allowing the Engineers just one first down not due to a penalty. Overall, MIT went 6-16 on third and fourth down conversions, and averaged just 1.8 yards per carry, including 39 yards lost.

Carven completed 13 of 24 pass attempts, including five for gains of 22 yards or more. He added 34 rushing yards for 257 yards of total offense. Harris led all receivers with four catches for 113 yards. Senior Darren Zow (Newark, NJ) made three catches for 32 yards.

On the ground, Patterson averaged 5.4 yards per carry. He leads the Bison this season with five touchdowns. Pillari added 47 yards on the ground along with two receptions for 31 yards.

Defensively, West led Nichols with ten total tackles, including one and half tackles for a loss along with an assisted sack and his 24 yard touchdown fumble recovery. Senior Bryan Meuse (Billerica, MA) added ten total tackles and one pass breakup. Junior Brendan Bonn (East Haven, CT) tallied five total tackles, three and a half for a loss of 17 yards total. He also made one interception and had one sack, which sent MIT back nine yards. Senior Rob McDonagh (Dorchester, MA) made three tackles, one and half for a loss of six total yards.

Nichols will return home next Saturday at 1 p.m. when it takes on Endicott.