Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman Tony Martignoli (Santa Rosa, Calif.) caught three touchdown passes for the Nichols College football team, which was defeated by Western New England University 56-27 in New England Football Conference (NEFC) action on Homecoming Weekend Saturday afternoon at Vendetti Field.
NC freshman Chris Mullins (Centreville, Va.) threw for a career-high 268 yards and four touchdowns while sophomore Brenden Massey (Attleboro, Mass.) caught a game-high eight passes for 117 yards and his second touchdown of the season.
The Golden Bears were led by junior signal-caller Anthony Service (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), who completed 9-of-14 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns; he also rushed for 53 yards (5.9 ypc) and one score. He connected with three different receivers on touchdown passes while senior Mohamed Camara (New York, N.Y.) registered a team-high 111 yards receiving.
Nichols senior Matthew McEvilly (Clinton, Mass.) entered the contest leading the NEFC in tackles and picked up a game-high 14 more today (five solo) – including two tackles for loss. Junior teammate Brett McEvoy (Wrentham, Mass.) collected 12 (five solo) while freshman Lovevindjy Salvant (Walpole, Mass.) registered one sack. Western New England was paced by sophomore Kurtis Jolicoeur (Windham, N.H.) with nine tackles (five solo) and three TFL.
The Golden Bears led 22-0 behind touchdowns receptions from senior Trent Vasey (Cumberland, R.I.) and juniors Justin Townsend (Stratford, Conn.) and Mark Dietrich (Cheshire, Conn.). Martignoli's first TD catch of the day from 12 yards out capped a 10-play, 82-yard drive and came with 2:56 to go in the first half.
Massey's 20-yard TD at 10:01 of the third quarter brought Nichols to within 15 points at 29-14 before 20 unanswered Golden Bear points pushed the score to 49-14 early in the fourth. Martignoli then caught an 18-yard TD pass at 9:43 and a 22-yarder with 1:17 to go.
All-Time Series
Today's contest marked the 33rd all-time meeting between Nichols College and Western New England University. The Golden Bears lead the series, 18-15, and have won the last 10 meetings.
Next Games
Nichols (2-3, 0-2 NEFC) – Saturday, October 15 @ Salve Regina, 12:00 p.m.
Western New England (4-0, 2-0 NEFC) – Saturday, October 15 vs MIT, 1:00 p.m.