NEWPORT, R.I. – Junior quarterback Jeff St. Onge (Kingston, N.H.) rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another to lead Salve Regina University to a 28-12 win over Nichols College in New England Football Conference (NEFC) action Saturday afternoon at Toppa Field.

St. Onge rushed for 59 yards on 11 carries and completed 15-of-21 passes for 218 yards, including a 21-yard scoring strike to junior wide receiver Ben Hall (Conway, N.H.). The win lifts the Seahawks to 3-2 (2-1 NEFC) on the season while the Bison fall to 2-3 (0-3 NEFC).  

Senior LB Erik Valentine (West Lebanon, N.H.) had a game- and career-high 13 tackles (10 solo) in the setback for the Bison, including a tackle for a loss of three yards. Nichols recorded two sacks for a combined loss of 12 yards. Senior DB David McLean (San Antonio, Texas) recorded his first interception of the season before the close of the first half.

The Seahawks built a 20-0 lead before Nichols was able to get on the board with 4:56 remaining in the first half as sophomore quarterback Justin Nelson (Oceanside, Calif.) hooked up with graduate student wide receiver Chris Vallee (Fitchburg, Mass.) for an eight-yard touchdown pass (missed PAT), making it 20-6.

Hall's fourth touchdown reception of the season at 8:02 of the third quarter gave the Seahawks a 26-6 lead (missed PAT) and was the only scoring in the quarter. Nichols sophomore quarterback Charles Samples (Deming, N.M.) replaced Nelson in the fourth and capped a five-play, 55-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. On the two-point conversion attempt, Samples' pass was intercepted by freshman safety Zach Szymanski (Dracut, Mass.) and returned 98 yards for two points, making the score 28-12.

Nelson finished the afternoon 12-of-28 for 83 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Samples led the Bison with 80 yards rushing while senior tailback Robert Morris (Melbourne, Fla.) recorded 66 yards on the ground.

Salve Regina sophomore back Rob LaRiviere-Tougas (Easthampton, Mass.) carries 29 times for a career-high 133 yards as the Seahawk offense piled up 403 yards of total offense. Salve Regina was able to overcome a season-high 10 penalties, including several false start infractions on offense.

Nichols returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Vendetti Field when the Bison host Plymouth St. (5-1, 3-0 NEFC) at 1:00 p.m. Plymouth St. downed Endicott on Saturday afternoon 36-14.

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