WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore quarterback Kevin Oberg (New Milford, Conn.) threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more as the Nichols College football team scored 26 second-half points to defeat Worcester State, 33-25, Friday night in a NEFC cross-divisional matchup. Oberg completed nine of 13 passes for 131 yards after taking over the throwing duties early in the third quarter.

The Bison racked up a season-high 445 yards of total offense, led by 268 passing yards combined from Oberg and starter Justin Nelson (Oceanside, Calif.), who connected with Colton Langdon (Middletown, R.I.) at the end of the first quarter with an 18-yard pass for a 7-0 lead. Nelson, who played into the third quarter, finished the night 12-for-25 for 137 yards with the score and an interception.

Worcester State (0-3) picked up a pair of scores in the second quarter to hold a 14-7 lead at the half on a pair of short Will Earley rushes.

The Bison (2-1) exploded for 20 third-quarter points, the first on an Oberg one-yard rush. Junior Bill Hassett (Oxford, Mass.) forced a fumble on the Lancers' very first play of the next drive, setting up Nichols' next score. Oberg connected with junior running back Anthony Pillari (Lumberton, N.J.) with a 16-yard pass to put the Bison up, 21-14 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.

Another Hassett forced fumble set up the Bison's next scoring drive, this time advanced by senior running back Robert Morris (Melbourne, Fla.) to the one-yard line where Oberg carried it in for the touchdown to give Nichols a 27-14 advantage. Morris finished with 130 yards on 25 carries,

A 27-yard field goal by Worcester State's Patrick Skelton closed out the third quarter, edging the Lancers closer at 27-17.

Nichols was successful on its first drive of the fourth quarter, capping the 10-play drive with a seven-yard pass from Oberg to Chris Vallee (Fitchburg, Mass.) for a 33-17 lead.

Worcester State added another score, a three-yard run by David Thorng, with 9:44 left, and then went for two, for the final 33-25 score.

Hassett led the Nichols defense with five tackles, two forced fumbles and 3.5 tackles for a loss of eight yards. David McLean (San Antonio, Texas) and Evan Greathead (Pepperell, Mass.) also posted five tackles.

Nichols is back on the road next Saturday when the Bison open NEFC Boyd Division play in a 1 p.m. game at MIT. 

Box Score