Recap
Senior Jake Wood caught three touchdown passes and junior Joshua Pierre-Charles broke off a 51-yard touchdown run as the Nichols College football team opened the 2019 campaign with a commanding 37-12 win at Dean College Friday night in non-conference action at Franklin High School.
 
Senior signal caller Michael Pina tossed for 242 yards and a career-high four scores as the Bison (1-0) racked up 422 yards of total offense. The Brockton, Mass. native who transferred from Mount Ida last summer hit nine different receivers, led by Wood (6-111) and sophomore Hunter Ferreira (4-63).
 
Pierre-Charles, meanwhile, finished with 96 rushing yards while catching four passes out of the backfield. Senior Chris Lawrence led the defense with nine tackles while classmates Jared Abbruzzese and Michael Spraulding collected seven and six tackles, respectively. Lawrence and Abbruzzese also recorded an interception.
 
The Bulldogs committed over 100 yards in penalties and committed five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles). Senior Keanu Cummings and sophomore Christian Tovar each scooped up a fumble while junior Derek Rousso notched an interception to backstop a defense which pitched a second-half shutout.
 
Three things you need to know...
            -Tonight's contest marked the 12th all-time meeting between Dean College and Nichols College. The win is just the second-ever against the Bulldogs, the first being a 28-16 triumph in Franklin on October 17, 1964.
            -The 37 points scored by the Bison is the highest total in a season opener in program history. The previous record of 34 points came in a shutout of Fitchburg State on September 14, 1991.
            -Pina's four touchdown passes tied the third-best single game mark in program history. The feat was accomplished by Chris Mullins twice during the 2016 campaign, the last coming against Maine Maritime on November 5.
 
Next game
Friday, September 13 vs Coast Guard, 7:00 p.m.