DUDLEY, Mass. – The Curry College football team fell to Nichols College by a 39-29 final in Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) action on Saturday afternoon at Vendetti Field. In the season finale for both schools, the Colonels finished the year at 3-7 overall and 1-5 in conference action. The Bison wrap up their campaign at 5-5 overall and 3-3 in league play.
After a scoreless first quarter, the teams combined for 26 points in the second. Nichols put together an 11-play drive encompassing 48 yards in 4:52, ending in a 25-yard field goal from Daniel Espinosa (Tamarac, Fla.) to put the home squad up 3-0. After a three-and-out from Nichols, punter Geoffrey Wilson (North Attleboro, Mass.) pinned the Bison deep in its own territory at their own three yard line. On the first play of the series, Joshua Pierre-Charles (Millis, Mass.) was taken down in the end zone by Hunter Atwood (Reading, Mass.) for a safety to pull the Colonels to within one, 3-2.
Curry tacked on another score on the following possession, putting together a 12-play, 64 yard drive in 5:38, capped off by a four-yard scamper from Zach Levy (Bellingham, Mass.) to make the score 8-3 in favor of the Colonels. The ensuing point-after from Wilson was blocked, so the lead remained at five.
Nichols responded with a long drive of their own, traveling 57 yards in 11 plays. The series was finished off by a one-yard rush from Jacob Duffrene (Boston, Mass.). With the score 9-8, the Bison went for two and converted it on a pass from Michael Pina (Brockton, Mass.) to Eric Mooney (Stoneham, Mass.) to give Nichols an 11-8 advantage.
Following a botched punt by Curry, the Bison would take over with great field position and only needed one play, a 20-yard strike from Pina to Hunter Ferreira (Mansfield, Mass.) to extend the lead to double digits into the halftime intermission, 18-8.
Nichols opened the second half with the ball and went three-and-out to give possession right back to the Colonels. Curry put together an 11-play, 60-yard drive in 4:35, finished off by a one-yard pass from Nick Juvelier (Centereach, N.Y.) to Nick Villanueva (Hanson, Mass.). Nick Oliveira (East Providence, R.I.) split the uprights for the point-after to pull the visitors within three, 18-15.
After two empty possessions, one from each side, Nichols would take over at the Colonels 13 yard-line. They only needed two plays to punch the ball in. Duffrene found a hole and scored extend the lead to 24-15. Espinosa's point-after attempt was good so the pushed the lead back to double digits, 25-15.
The Bison broke open the contest open in the fourth quarter. Duffrene broke off a 67-yard rush with 9:13 left in regulation to extend the lead to 31-15. The home squad went for two again and was converted when Pina found Andrew Light (Absecon, N.J.) for the score to push the lead to 33-15.
Nichols added another touchdown with 5:26 left in regulation. Pina found Ferreira from 21 yards out to extend the lead to 24. The extra point from Alex Santiago (Sunrise, Fla.) was failed and the score remained 39-15.
Curry added two touchdowns late, one on a three-yard run from Daniel Delos (Canton, Conn.) and the other on a six-yard pass from Juvelier to Villanueva to pull the Colonels to within 10, 39-29, the eventual final.
Curry was led offensively by Juvelier who threw 32 completions on 62 attempts for 267 yards, two scores and one interception. He also amassed 67 yards on the ground on 16 carries.
Villanueva paced the receiving corps with 132 yards on 14 receptions and two scores. Mike DelGais (East Rockaway, N.Y.) finished with four catches for 40 yards.
Defensively, Atwood led Curry with six solo tackles and added four assisted tackles. Atwood also tacked on two and a half sacks and one QB hurry. Gregory Silvia (Coventry, R.I.) was not far behind with nine tackles.
The Bison were paced by Pina who threw for 237 yards on 11-for-28 with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Duffrene led the ground game with 137 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Defensively, junior Michael Spraulding (Lithonia, Ga.) paced all players with 14 tackles. Joe Cox (Mansfield, Mass.) recorded the second most tackles for Nichols, tallying 10.
The loss ends the season for the Colonels.
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