Nichols scored the most points in program history on its way to a 71-55 instant-classic victory over Dean on Friday night at a packed Vendetti Field. Junior quarterback Xavier Powell scored more than half of the nine Bison touchdowns, while racking up 253 all-purpose yards in the triumph.
The two teams combined for 40 points in the opening quarter, with 20-apiece. The Bison (2-0) broke the scoring open just 2:33 into the frame, when Powell hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Jack Morvan for a 44-yard score. After a Dean interception returned for a touchdown, reigning Commonwealth Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week Zahir Booker broke off a 71-yard run to the house, putting the home side up by just 6, due to a missed point-after try.
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Despite Nichols' ability to score at will in the first half, punching the ball into the end zone on five of the team's eight drives, the Bulldogs (0-2) seemed to always have an answer on offense thanks to quarterback Nathan Cisco and his three first half touchdown passes.
The Bison were able to add to their 34-28 halftime lead early in the third quarter as Powell called his own number for an 11-yard touchdown rush. Powell's second rushing touchdown of the evening marked the first time the Bison were able to lead by two scores in the contest.
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On the ensuing Dean drive, Cisco found wideout Quintus Reid on a 17-yard connection to bring the game back within one score.
With just 1:29 remaining in the third, Dean quarterback Eladio Fountain couldn't avoid the pressure from the Nichols front seven, leading to a safety, boosting the Bison lead to 50-42.
From there, the Nichols offense poured on the scoring, adding an additional 21 points in the remaining 16:29. Freshman running back Shane Sutton added two rushing touchdowns, breaking the program's all-time record for rushing scores in a single game with 7, before sophomore linebacker Dean Fontano blocked a Bulldogs punt on fourth-and-26 on the 1-yard line, leading to a Darnele Ryan score as he pounced on the ball in the end zone for the insurance points.
In the win, Nichols set or tied multiple program records, most notably for points in a single season, with 65 being the previous best, coming from a 65-7 win over Mass. Maritime on Oct. 21, 2000. The teams combined for 1,001 total yards.
The Bison amassed 387 rushing yards in the home opener, the most in program history. Sutton, a freshman running back, ran for a team-best 167 yards on 17 carries, scoring twice.
Junior Mason David played a big part in the team's offensive success, as the junior compiled 210 return yards, repeatedly setting the Bison up in key field position. His classmate, Daniel Donovan-Blanford, went a perfect 7/7 on extra points, both boosting the Bison's special teams efforts.
Cisco, the reigning Eastern Collegiate Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week, posted 346 yards on 16-of-30 passing with six touchdowns and a couple of picks. The six passing TDs are the most since Terrell Watts had seven in a 50-46 win over Alfred State on Nov. 2, 2019. Junior Mozes Mooney was on the receiving end of three of those touchdown passes and finished with six catches for 144 yards. Senior Quintus Reid caught a pair of touchdowns and Kam Phuong also hauled in a score through the air. Senior Ki'sean Bullard accounted for a rushing touchdown, while Jordan Mason added six catches and 120 receiving yards.