Box Score Box Score
Dudley, Mass.- The Nichols College football team remains atop the Boyd Division standings with a 33-8 victory over visiting Salve Regina on Saturday at Vendetti Field. The Bison remain undefeated with a 3-0 record in the division (4-1 overall) while the Seahawks drop to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in Boyd play. Nichols defense allowed just 77 total yards while the offense racked up 326 yards. Junior Robert Morris (Melbourne, FL) ran for 122 yards and one touchdown while freshman Kevin Oberg (New Milford, CT), making his first start, completed 13-26 passes for 138 yards.
With 6:17 left in the second quarter, Morris twisted his way into the end zone from eight yards back to give Nichols the lead for good. Junior David McLean (San Antonio, TX) made it a 13-0 game when he broke free for a 73 yard punt return touchdown with 1:50 left until halftime. Salve Regina was limited to just 38 yards of total offense and two first downs in the half.
Freshman Mark Capitanio's (Mansfield, MA) 23 yard field goal midway through the third quarter extended Nichols lead to 16-0. The Seahawks finally got on the board with 50 seconds left in the third quarter as sophomore Matt Wierzbicki (Wethersfield, CT) connected with freshman Rob LaRiviere-Tougas (Easthampton, MA) from 11 yards out. Wierzbicki found freshman Mitch Jenness (Harrisville, RI) in the end zone for the two-point conversation to make it a 16-8 game.
The Bison broke the game open in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns while Capitanio booted through a 29 yard field goal as well. Freshman Jonathan Merjuste (Norwich, CT) recovered a fumble at Salve's 18 yard line and ran it in for his first collegiate touchdown with 11:44 to play. Sophomore Lawrence Scott (Oxford, MA) capped things off with a six yard run into the end zone with 1:40 left.
Overall, the Seahawks were held to just 77 net yards of total offense, including 29 yards rushing. Wierzbicki finished the game 6-17 for 76 yards while Tougas was their top rusher with 37 yards.
Scott added 42 yards on the ground off five carries for an 8.4 average. Freshman Justin Nelson (Oceanside, FL) and sophomore Michael Seiger (Pittsfield, MA) each made three catches for the Bison. Defensively, freshman Curtis Smith (New Haven, CT) led the way with ten tackles, one sack and one pass break-up. Junior Timothy Quagliarello (North Haven, CT) led Salve Regina with 14 tackles.
Nichols will play a crucial game at Plymouth State next Saturday, Oct. 13th while Salve Regina will host UMass-Dartmouth.
