Box Score

Dudley, MA- The Worcester State football team spoiled Nichols Homecoming by defeating the Bison 17-10 for its first win of the season. A one-yard run into the end zone by freshman Aaron McCraine (West Newbury, MA) with 10:47 left to play helped clinch the win for Worcester State, now 1-2 on the year. The Lancers red zone defense stopped Nichols, now 1-1, on three of its four chances, including one with under five minutes to play. Junior quarterback Pat Good (Hull, MA) threw for 181 yards on 19-33 attempts, including a 38 yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Scott Pollard (Taunton, MA).

Worcester State got the ball back when Nichols fumbled the Lancers punt on the first drive of the game, quickly setting up Good's 38 yard toss to Pollard in the end zone with 13:26 left in the first quarter.

Neither team generated much offense until the Lancers got down to the Nichols two yard line with a 19 yard pass from Good to sophomore wide receiver Jordan Howe (Amherst,MA) with under three minutes left in the first quarter. The Bison forced Worcester State to settle for the field goal, however, keeping them out of the end zone.

Nichols had a chance to get on the board early in the second quarter, getting to the Worcester State 15 yard line with a quick five play, 25 yard drive, but fell short with a 38 yard field goal attempt.

The Bison finally got on the board when Morris blocked senior Tim Bartucca's (North Attleboro, MA) punt in the end zone, to make it a 10-7 game by halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Nichols tied the game with 10:47 left to play with a 21 yard field goal by freshman Mark Capitanio (Mansfield, MA). Morris began that drive with a 48 yard burst to the Worcester State 22 yard line.

The Lancers responded to the field goal with the winning touchdown on the ensuing drive as McCraine capped off a five play, 62 yard drive with his one yard run. Freshman running back Garrett Jones (Stow, MA) accounted for 36 yards on the drive, including a big gain of 35 yards on one play.

One its last drive of the game, Nichols got down to the Lancer 15 yard line but was stopped there as junior defensive end Chris Grautski (Lunenburg, MA) batted down freshman quarterback Justin Nelson's (Oceanside, CA) pass on fourth down and three.

Nichols was led offensively by Morris, who rushed for 150 yards on 23 attempts. Nelson went 9-24 for 120 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Anthony Pillari (Lamberton, NJ) made three catches for 43 yards.

Sophomore Craig Hill (Milford, MA), freshman Matthew Goode (Foxboro, MA), and freshman Michael Chamberlain (Athol, MA) all recorded three catches for Worcester State. Jones rushed for a team-high 42 yards on 13 carries.

Defensively, senior co-captain Matthew Parkinson (Coventry, CT) led Nichols with 13 total tackles, including 4.5 for losses. Freshman Curtis Smith (New Haven, CT) added 11 tackles. Sophomore Bill Hassett (Oxford, MA) posted nine tackles, two sacks with another tackle for loss and one forced fumble.

Worcester State senior Pat Savage (Worcester, MA) had a team-high 12 tackles along with one sack, one fumble recovery and one pass break-up.