DUDLEY, Mass. (Oct. 30) – The Nichols College Bison defeated visiting Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 17-14, Saturday afternoon in an NEFC Boyd Division game at  Michael J. Vendetti Field. With the win, the Bison earned their first victory of the season and snap a 10-game skid. Nichols was led by 121 yards on 22 carries from junior RB Matthew Bryson (Pawtucket, R.I.) and two rushing touchdowns from freshman RB Irie Perry (West Palm Beach, Fla.).

As a team, the Bison (1-8, 1-5 NEFC Boyd) finished with a season high in total offense with 343 yards, with a season-best 261 coming on the ground.

MIT (1-0-6 NEFC Boyd) was led by first year QB John Wenzel, who completed 19 of 28 passes for 246 yards with the Engineers' first passing touchdown of the season and a pair of interceptions.

The scoring began with 4:27 remaining in the first quarter. On MIT's second drive of the game, freshman Wenzel went 4-of-4 for 35 yards, leading the Engineers all the way to the one yard line. Junior RB Marcel Sanchez would cap off the drive with a one yard touchdown run. MIT took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.

MIT looked to extend its lead on the first play of the second quarter when Wenzel found senior WR Mike Fitzgerald for a deep completion. After taking a few steps with the ball Fitzgerald fumbled, and Nichols junior DB Christopher Kerrigan (Hyde Park, Mass.) came up with it. Kerrigan led Nichols with 11 total tackles on the day.

The Bison's next drive started off promising when senior QB Justin Nelson (Oceanside, Calif.) connected with freshman RB Antonio Thurston (West Palm Beach, Fla.) for a 36 yard gain, but MIT's defense pushed Nichols back three yards on the next four plays, forcing a turnover on downs.

Perry completed an impressive 98 yard, 13 play drive that lasted 6:43 with a three yard rush to get the Bison on the board in the second quarter. Junior Bill Crory (Townsend, Mass.) put the extra point through the uprights, and the score was tied, 7-7 heading into halftime.

The story of the first two quarters was defense. MIT freshman LB Jake Laux had 13 tackles in the first half finishing with a game-high 20, and Nichols senior DE Patrick Gregory (Webster, N.Y.) led the team with six tackles in the first half and had a total of eight in the game.

Nichols' first drive of the third quarter looked very similar to their last drive of the first half. Perry's 13 yard run and second touchdown of the day ended an 11 play, 76 yard drive that lasted 5:36 seconds.

The ensuing MIT possession came to an abrupt halt. MIT was threatening to score having moved the ball to the Nichols 12 yard line. Gregory continued to have a solid defensive performance when he picked off his second pass in as many games and returned it to the Nichols 28 yard line.

Nichols could not capitalize off of the turnover, but the next MIT drive ended with a Nichols interception as well. This is time it was junior SS Mike Rubalcaba (Barre, Vt.) intercepting the Wenzel pass and returning it to the MIT 24 yard line, setting up a Cody Jankins (West Brookfield, Mass.) 24-yard field goal to give Nichols a two-possession lead at 17-7.

MIT kept things interesting as a four yard touchdown pass from Wenzel to Fitzgerald got the Engineers within three points at 17-14 with 4:10 remaining. Wenzel finished the day with an impressive 246 yards on 19-of-28 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions.

After a Nichols fake field goal attempt went awry with 54 seconds left in the game, the Engineers got the ball back at their own 19 yard line with a chance to tie the game or take the lead. The Engineers marched 62 yards on eight plays, but they came up short on time.

The game marked the final home game for nine Nichols College seniors including Nelson, Gregory, LB Evan Greathead (Pepperell, Mass.), DE Jonathan Merjuste (Norwich, Conn.), DB Matt Philbrick (Kennebunkport, Maine), OL Aaron Roszkowicz (Lakeville, Mass.), CB Brandon Wallace (Windsor, Conn.), DB Jeramie White (New Haven, Conn.), and OL Derek Woolaver (Tewksbury, Mass.).

With the win Nichols continues a five game home winning streak against MIT. The Bison will travel to Salve Regina on Saturday, November 6 for the season finale starting at noon, while the Engineers will be heading to Endicott for a 5 p.m. start. 

Box Score