Nichols 51, Anna Maria 29
Paxton, Mass. – AMCat Field
Saturday, September 12, 2015
All-Time Series & Streaks
Today's contest marked the first-ever meeting between Anna Maria College and Nichols College. The Bison now lead the series, 1-0.
Three Stars of the Game
1 – Nichols sophomore Michael McCourt (New Fairfield, Conn.) – 20-of-25 for 360 yards and five touchdowns; threw four TD passes of 40+ yards (51, 47, 46, 43) while completing 80 percent of his passes
2 – Nichols sophomore Derrick Warren (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – caught 11 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns, including an 84-yard TD reception; fell three yards shy of tying program mark for single-game receiving yards
3 – Anna Maria sophomore Trai Weaver (Waterbury, Conn.) – six receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns (73, 41)
Scoring Drives
First Quarter
NC – Warren 46 yard pass from McCourt (Hayes kick); 1-46-0:10; 7-0
NC – Warren 51 yard pass from McCourt (Hayes kick); 2-40-0:43; 14-0
AMC – Faison 3 yard run (Weaver rush failed); 5-55-2:12; 14-6
NC – Whitney 47 yard pass from McCourt (Hayes kick failed); 4-66-1:29; 20-6
NC – Richard safety; 1:56; 22-6
Second Quarter
AMC – Cole 37 yard FG; 4-9-1:52; 22-9
NC – Whitney 43 yard pass from McCourt (Beebe rush); 7-61-3:55; 30-9
AMC – Ricard 13 yard pass from Faison (Faison rush failed); 8-51-3:21; 30-15
Third Quarter
AMC – Weaver 73 yard pass from Faison (Cole kick); 3-75-1:26; 30-22
NC – Warren 20 yard pass from McCourt (Hayes kick); 5-44-1:45; 37-22
Fourth Quarter
NC – Klimek 2 yard run (Hayes kick); 8-41-3:35; 44-22
NC – Warren 84 yard pass from Stewart (Hayes kick); 3-88-1:35; 51-22
AMC – Weaver 41 yard pass from Faison (Cole kick); 9-72-4:58; 51-29
Key Stat of the Game
The Bison tallied 537 yards of total offense – 444 of which came through the air – and held the AMCats under 300 total yards (277).
Turning Point
Anna Maria junior signal-caller Malik Faison (Bowie, Md.) hooked up with Weaver for a 73-yard scoring play to cut the Nichols deficit to eight at 30-22 just 3:07 into the third quarter. The Bison responded by scoring three touchdowns in the next 15:48 to extend its lead to four touchdowns at 51-22 with 11:05 to go in the fourth.
Quick Hits
-McCourt finished the first quarter 5-of-5 for 165 yards and three touchdowns. He becomes the first NC quarterback to throw for over 300 yards since Quillian Respass passed for 331 at Maine Maritime on October 26, 2013.
-Nichols scored 50 points for the first time since 2000, when it hung 65 on Mass. Maritime in Dudley on October 21.
-Senior Connor Richard (Londonderry, N.H.) recorded the first Nichols safety since September 10, 2010 against Framingham State.
-The Bison scored 22 points in the first quarter, marking the most they've scored in a quarter since racking up 27 in the fourth quarter at Maine Maritime on October 26, 2013 – a span of 13 games. The 22 points is also more than the Bison scored in all but two games in 2014.
-Warren's four touchdown receptions are one shy of the program record of five, set by Ben Karter at Maine Maritime on October 4, 2003.
-Nichols compiled 538 yards of total offense, which is the most since piling up 618 against the Mariners in 2013.
-Faison finished the contest 14-of-23 for 230 with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
-Nichols sophomore Kyle Whitney (Cranston, R.I.) had three receptions for 107 yards (35.7 ypc) and two scores.
-The Bison picked off Faison three times as junior Brian Camacho (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had a pair while classmate Dean Beebe (East Lyme, Conn.) tallied his first career INT. The three picks was the most for Nichols since it had four in a win over UMass Dartmouth on October 13, 2012.
-Sophomore McCoy Scott (Bronx, N.Y.) led Nichols with eight tackles, followed by sophomore Tom Ellison (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) with seven.
-Sophomore Charles Dickerson (Randallstown, Md.) and junior Mike Sinto (Long Beach, N.Y.) each registered seven tackled to lead Anna Maria.
Next up
Nichols – Friday, September 18 vs Becker, 7:00 p.m. (Homecoming)
Anna Maria – Saturday, September 19 vs Curry, 3:00 p.m.