Box Score NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. (Oct. 15) -- The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's football team defeated visiting Nichols, 21-6, in a New England Football Conference Boyd Division game on Homecoming Day at Cressy Field Saturday afternoon.

On their opening possession, UMass Dartmouth drove 73 yards in five plays. On second down, Corsair junior quarterback Patrick Orlando connected with junior wide receiver Lonnie Page on a 63-yard touchdown, giving UMD a 7-0 lead with 10:58 to play in the first quarter. The Corsair defense forced three three-and-outs for the Nichols offense, and didn't allow the Bison to pass the Corsair 33-yard line in the first half.

With Nichols driving in the third quarter, UMD senior linebacker John Cordasco intercepted a pass from Bison junior quarterback Dan Snyder and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown, giving the Corsairs a 14-0 lead with 8:25 remaining. This was the third consecutive week Cordasco has scored a touchdown on defense.

After an eight-play drive that took over seven minutes off the clock, UMD set up for a field goal, but the attempt by junior kicker Edgar Osols was blocked by Bison freshman Aaron Perez-Griffith, preserving the 14-0 score.

Nichols' lone scoring drive came with 7:49 to play. The Bison executed a nine-play, 54-yard series punctuated by a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacob Shoup to senior wide receiver Reggie Belizaire, cutting the UMD lead to 14-6 with 5:03remaining. The extra point by senior kicker Bill Crorywas wide right.

The Corsair defense stepped up once again late in the fourth quarter. The Bison drove down to the Corsair 40-yard line, but on first-and-15, UMD junior defensive back Mike Perry intercepted a pass from Shoup at the 38-yard line and took the ball 62 yards for a score, securing the 21-6 victory for the Corsairs.

Orlando rushed 19 times for 47 yards to lead UMass Dartmouth while junior wide receiver Brendan McNeish caught four passes for 60 yards. 

For Nichols, Shoup completed 11-of-32 attempts for 131 yards with an interception, while Snyder threw for 102 yards on 7-of-12 passes with an interception.
Cordasco led the Corsairs defensively with 12 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss, with a pass breakup and an interception. Sophomore linebacker Joe Teixera added 11 stops.

For Nichols, freshman linebacker Alex DiNardo made a game-high 17 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of 14 yards with a forced fumble. Senior linebacker Mike Mainiero and junior linebacker Peter Curto each recorded 11 and 10 stops, respectively.

UMass Dartmouth improved  to 4-3 and 3-1 in the Boyd Division with the victory, while Nichols dropped to 0-7 and 0-4 in divisional play. The Corsairs will return to action when they visit Endicott next Saturday. Nichols will host Curry next Saturday in a 1 p.m. divisional game.

Story courtesy UMass Dartmouth Sports Information

Box Score