Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 17) – The Nichols College Bison and the Worcester State Lancers finished off their non-division schedules at Michael J. Vendetti Field as the Lancers came out on top, 32-29, behind 254 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-41 passing from junior quarterback Tony Tokarz.
For the second straight week, it came down to a late-game Nichols drive to tie or take the lead. Nichols' final drive of the game began with 3:28 remaining. With a three-point lead, the Lancers held Nichols to a field goal attempt, which sophomore Cody Jankins (West Brookfield, Mass.) kicked through the uprights to tie the game, but a personal foul was called on the Lancers. Nichols accepted the penalty and continued the drive, but again Nichols' offense was contained and it was up to Jankins to make another field goal to tie the game with just five seconds remaining. Worcester State senior safety Paul Lewis blocked the 22-yard attempt and the Lancers came away with the narrow victory.
The defensive leader for the Lancers again was senior linebacker Tyler Russell. After a 20 tackle game last week against WPI, Russell had an even more impressive follow-up performance with a career high 22 tackles this week, giving him 53 in three games on the year.
It was Nichols getting off to the hot start this week, though. The Bison had not allowed a first quarter touchdown coming into the game and the stellar early game defense continued when senior Evan Greathead (Pepperell, Mass.) intercepted a Tokarz pass on Worcester State's first possession, returning it to the Worcester State 10 yard line. Just three plays later Nichols lined up in the “Wildcat” formation and freshman Joe Lambert (New Haven, Conn.) completed a leaping two yard touchdown pass to freshman Antonio Thurston (West Palm Beach, Fla.), giving Nichols an early 7-0 lead.
On Worcester State's next possession, Tokarz was intercepted again, this time by sophomore Alec Tavares (Boston, Mass.). Jankins capped off the drive and the first quarter scoring with a 22 yard field goal, making the score 10-0 Nichols after one quarter of play. Tavares also forced and recovered a fumble on the night and had a pair of pass breakups to go with five tackles.
Worcester State opened up the second quarter scoring with a 90 yard, five play drive that lasted only 1:20. Tokarz connected with Cliff Oratakhai for a 31 yard touchdown pass with 8:17 remaining in the second quarter, cutting the Nichols lead down to three. Oratakhai had a game high 99 yards on seven catches including the one touchdown.
Nichols responded quickly when freshman Irie Perry (West Palm Beach, Fla.) finished off a seven play drive with a nine yard touchdown run. The score was briefly 17-7, but Worcester State would respond even quicker. Just minutes later, Tokarz found Kenny Russell for a seven yard score to make it 17-14.
The scoring continued on Nichols' next drive. Junior Sean Vaughan (Cumberland, Maine) completed a 10 yard pass to freshman tight end Brandon Richard (Feeding Hills, Mass.). Worcester State's Cameron Jones blocked the point-after attempt, but Nichols still had a 23-14 lead heading into the half.
Tokarz continued to make up for his early game woes with another touchdown strike to Russell. The drive only took 1:18, but that would be the only score of the quarter. Defense was the story of the 3rd quarter. Russell had eight tackles in the quarter and finished the night with a career-high 22 stops.
Nichols College penalties helped Worcester State complete a short 24 yard drive. A pair of pass interference penalties helped the Lancers into the end zone early in the fourth quarter. A third pass interference call gave the Lancers a second chance to complete the ensuing two-point conversion, giving Worcester State its first lead of the game at 29-23.
After a Lancers field goal by Erich Perfetti Nichols' offense awoke for the first time in the second half. Freshman Mark Parker (Natick, Mass.) found himself on the receiving end of a 39 yard touchdown pass from Vaughan. Junior Bill Crory (Townsend, Mass) missed his first extra point of the season making the score 32-29. Parker finished with five catches for 92 yards, while Vaughan threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 14 of 35 passing with an interception.
Nichols College falls to 0-3 on the season, while Worcester State improves to 2-1. The Bison will celebrate homecoming and kickoff Boyd Division play next weekend with a matchup against Western New England College at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 25. Worcester State will also be at home next Saturday, taking on Westfield State to open Bogan Division action at 1:30 p.m.
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