Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College football team was defeated by Dean College 10-3 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Vendetti Field on Homecoming Weekend.
Senior captain Brett McEvoy (Wrentham, Mass.) led the Bison with 13 tackles (two tackles for loss) while both senior Zackary Gorczynski (Sutton, Mass.) and freshman DeJante Starks (Braintree, Mass.) notched 11 tackles.
Offensively, junior Jacob Duffrene (Boston, Mass.) scampered for 64 yards on the ground to lead the Bison. Senior Michael McCourt (New Fairfield, Conn.) caught a game-high seven passes for 62 yards while sophomore signal-caller Tony Martignoli (Santa Rosa, Calif.) completed 27-of-41 passes for 160 yards but was intercepted three times.
The Bulldogs rushed for 232 yards, led by freshman Matt Bethel (Miami, Fla.) with 108 and sophomore Richard Harris (Uniondale, N.Y.) with 105. Defensively, sophomore Ricco Aaron (Douglasville, Ga.) racked up a game-high 20 tackles (eight solo) – including two TFL and one sack.
The game remained scoreless until the third quarter when the Bulldogs took advantage of Martignoli's third INT of the afternoon. Sophomore Marquez Wells (St. Petersburg, Fla.) returned the interception 31 yards to give Dean first-and-goal from the five-yard line. Two plays later, freshman Noah Taiese (Aiea, Hawaii) plunged in from one-yard out to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.
In the fourth, Dean capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 22-yard field goal from freshman Hunter Lecthaler (Nutley, N.J.) to increase its lead to 10-0. Nichols answered with a 10-play, 46-yard drive that culminated in a 32-yard field goal from sophomore Alex Santiago (Sunrise, Fla.) to cut its deficit to 10-3.
The Bison had one final drive to tie the game but turned the ball over on downs at the Dean 22 with 4:435 on the clock. The big play of the drive was a 17-yard hookup between Martignoli and junior Colton Hudson (Concord, Vt.).
Aside from the three interceptions, the Bison fumbled twice but were able to recover both. Dean did not committ any turnovers.
All-Time Series
Today's contest marked the first-ever matchup between Nichols College and Dean College. The Bulldogs now lead the series, 1-0.
Next up
Nichols (2-3) – Saturday, Oct. 14 vs Salve Regina, 12:00 p.m.
Dean (2-2) – Saturday, Oct. 7 @ Alfred St., 1:00 p.m.