Box Score

Dudley, Mass.- Junior running back Robert Morris (Melbourne, FL) ran for 193 yards, including a 90 yard run, and two touchdowns to lead the Nichols football team past MIT, 31-28, on Saturday at Vendetti Field. The Bison improve to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the NEFC Boyd Division while the Engineers slip to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in divisional play. Sophomore Anthony Pillari (Lamberton, NJ) ran in what proved to be the winning touchdown from 20 yards with 12:41 left to play.

MIT capitalized on its very first drive of the game, marching down the field 66 yards on ten plays. Freshman Brian Doyle (Hopkinton, MA) connected with senior Ulzie Rea (Fort Washington, MD) from five yards out to give the Engineers the early lead.

Doyle then gave MIT a big 14-0 lead late in the quarter with his run from six yards out. Nichols quickly responded, however, finding the end zone on a seven play, 54 yard drive. Morris ran in his first touchdown of the day from six yards out.

The Bison went on to tie things up at 14 all just 3:36 after their first touchdown thanks to Morris' 90 yard rush. After Morris was finally tracked down at the MIT two yard line, freshman Chris Stewart (New Haven, CT) punched it into the end zone on the next play. Freshman Justin Nelson (Oceanside, CA) and freshman Joshua Padilla (Hartford, CT) connected on the two-point conversion to make it a 14-14 game with 12:12 left in the second quarter.

MIT broke a 16 minute scoring drought for both teams when sophomore DeRon Brown (Galax, VA) scampered into the end zone from 78 yards out with 11:30 left in the third quarter. Freshman Mark Capitanio (Mansfield, MA) got Nichols to within four, 21-17, with a 35 yard field goal midway through the quarter.

Morris then capped off a 13 play, 65 yard drive for Nichols early in the fourth to make it a 24-21 game. Morris pounded his way into the end zone from one yard out after picking up 13 yards on the drive.

Starting from their own 25 yard line off the ensuing kick-off, Doyle fumbled the ball on second and ten while sophomore Bill Hassett (Oxford, MA) recovered the ball to give the Bison the ball back. Nelson completed a six yard pass to Pillari to get down to the MIT 20. Pillari then broke a few tackles on the next play and marched into the end zone to give Nichols a key 31-21 lead with 12:41 left.

The Bison would end up needing Pillari's touchdown as MIT's Tyler Liechty (Mt. Pleasant, IA) made an 88 yard interception return just three minutes later to get the Engineers to within three, 31-28.

MIT had a chance to tie the game with 1:38 left to play but sophomore Corey Garvey (Garden City, NY) had his 34 yard field goal attempt blocked by freshman Jonathan Merjuste (Norwich, CT).

Pillari and Padilla led all receivers with five catches each while Nelson finished the day 13-22 for 135 yards. Pillari added 47 yards on the ground while Nelson added 42 as well.

Doyle finished 8-21 for 106 yards with one touchdown pass. Junior Ben Grannan (Greenland, NH) ran for 105 yards for MIT while Brown added 98. Doyle had 33 yards rushing, including his one touchdown.

Defensively, Nichols was led by senior Matthew Parkinson (Coventry, CT) with 14 tackled, two sacks and an interception. Hassett added nine tackles as did senior Brendan Bonn (East Haven, CT).

Liechty led MIT with 13 tackles, including two for losses, one forced fumble and one interception. Junior Kevin Foley (Libertyville, IL) posted ten tackles for the Engineers as well.

The Bison will travel to Endicott next Saturday, Sept. 29, for a 12 p.m. game.