DUDLEY, Mass. (9/30/23) – Behind a program record 653 yards of total offense, the Nichols College football team raced to a 55-28 win over Gallaudet University from Vendetti Field on Saturday afternoon as they celebrated Homecoming.
The Bison set a program record with 653 total yards of offense, breaking the old record set in October 4, 2003 when they totaled 643-yards against Massachusetts Maritime.
Senior Xavier Powell was close to perfect passing, going 24-31 with 407 yards and five touchdowns. Powell also led the way in the rushing category with 106 rushing yards on 10 attempts, with a long of 31. Junior Jack Morvan had his best game as a Bison recording six catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Morvan also threw a touchdown pass to senior Joshua Vitti as well in the game. Vitti added 107 yards on six catches and found the end zone twice as well.
For the second straight game, junior Derrick Revolus recorded another interception and nine solo tackles in the game. Sophomore Garrhet Manning was also all over the field with five solo tackles and 11 total tackles in the game.
Gallaudet opened the scoring in game after they blocked a Nichols punt, they started their drive at the Nichols 34-yard line. Five plays later, Dre'Vaughn Mackall found the end zone for an opening score and a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, Powell and Morvan connected twice on the drive including a 24-yard touchdown pass to Morvan that evened the score at 7-7.
The Bison grabbed their first of the afternoon coming with 4:39 in the first quarter. Powell threw a screen pass to Morvan, Morvan caught the ball and looked to pass. He found a wide open Vitti and Vitti secured the pass and raced into the end zone untouched for a 14-7 led for Nichols. The Bison did not trail the rest of the game after this moment.
Five seconds into the second quarter the Bison added another touchdown, this time coming off a pass from Powell to Campos for a nine-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Gallaudet and Nichols led 20-7. Gallaudet cut into the Bison with a four-yard scamper, making it 20-14.
The Bison responded once again, just 20 seconds later, when senior Zahir Booker ripped off a 56-yard rushing touchdown, making it 27-14 Bison with 3:43 to play in the half. The Bison forced a stop and got the ball back with around 2:30 minutes to play in the half. Powell and Vitti connected on a 53-yard touchdown to extending the Bison led to 34-14.
Gallaudet scored back to bac touchdowns to close out the second quarter and start the third period, making it 34-28. Nichols settled back in, and Powell and senior River Jackson connected for a 43-yard touchdown, making the lead 41-28.
The Bison put the game out of reach when Morvan and Powell connected for the second time. Morvan caught the pass on a screen and then used his speed to rip off a 67-yard touchdown run, making it 48-28.
Booker found the back of the end zone for the second time as well with 3:41 to go in the game, that pushed the lead to its largest of the game with a 55-28 lead. Nichols earned their first win on Homecoming since 2019.
Nichols will get the week off before they hit the road and head to Biddeford, Maine as they take on Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent University of New England. Kick off for that game is set for 1 p.m. on October 14.