Box Score There was cause for much celebration on Vendetti Field on Friday night as the Nichols College football team earned its first victory since Oct. 23, 2004, downing Framingham State 31-12 in the College's first-ever game under the lights. Freshman running back Chris Patterson (Stamford, CT) ran for 120 yards on the ground and two touchdowns while senior quarterback Michael Carven (Hanover, MA) threw for 222 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to junior Darren Zow (Newark, NJ) to lead the Bison the season-opening victory.

A 20 yard field goal, Nichols first since the 2004 season, by freshman Kyle Gilson (East Waterboro, ME) got the Bison on the scoreboard 4:50 into the first quarter. Framingham State then took its first and only lead of the game when senior Mark Peterson (Berkley, MA) went the distance on a 55 yard fumble recovery at the 6:53 mark of the first. The Rams two-point attempt fell short however.

Before the end of the quarter with 1:49 showing on the clock, Patterson gave the Bison their first touchdown of the season when he muscled his way into the end zone from two yards out. Nichols missed out on its extra point attempt, leaving the score at 9-6.

Under a minute later, Nichols struck again after sophomore David McLean (San Antonio, TX) forced a fumble on the Rams first play of their drive. With Nichols taking over possession at their own 26, sophomore Jon Snediker (Grafton, MA) connected with junior Nicholas Kane (Holyoke, MA) in the end zone on an end reverse, sending the Bison into the second quarter with a comfortable 15-6 advantage.

Carven showed no signs of any setbacks from his year-long injury in 2005 when he hooked up with Zow for a 26 yard touchdown play with 2:03 left until halftime. Gilson tacked on the extra point to give the Bison a commanding 22-6 lead with just over two minutes left to play until halftime.

In the third quarter, it was all Patterson as he rushed for 42 yards, including a 27 yard gain in Nichols first play of the half. His run from four yards out with 4:03 showing on the clock put Nichols up 29-6. A wild snap on a Rams punt attempt set them back 21 yards on the previous play, setting up the Patterson touchdown.

With just 16 seconds left in the third quarter, Framingham State cut the lead to 17 with a ten yard touchdown play by quarterback Eian Bain (Stafford Springs, CT) to Bill Meuse (Tewsbury, MA), cousin of Nichols tri-captain, senior Bryan Meuse (Billerica, MA).

Nichols put the icing on the cake when the Rams botched another punt snap, this time sending T.J. Kasuba (Pittsfield, MA) back into the end zone for the safety, giving the Bison a decisive 31-12 victory in front of a packed crowd at Vendetti Field.

Overall, Nichols accumulated 452 yards of offense to Framingham State's 206. Carven completed 13 of 19 pass attempts and also ran for 40 yards, including a long of 18. He now needs just 202 passing yards to break the all-time school record for career passing yardage. Patterson ran for his 120 yards on 27 attempts and also caught two passes.

In the air, sophomore John Costello (Tolland, CT), freshman Anthony Pillari (Westwood, NJ) and Kane led the Bison with three catches each. Costello totaled 103 yards, including a big 52 yard pick up from Carven in second quarter.

Defensively, Meuse and junior Matt Parkinson (Coventry, CT) posted 11 tackles each.

Nichols will play at Worcester State next Friday at 7 p.m.