MILTON, Mass. – Senior quarterback Harold Rose (Bourne, Mass.) and sophomore receiver Robert Bambini (Westwood, Mass.) connected for four touchdowns as Curry College easily handled Nichols College, 42-14, in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division game. The win snapped the Colonels’ three-game losing skid and kept the Bison winless on the season.
Curry (4-4, 2-3 NEFC Boyd) began the game with a 12-play, 71-yard drive that was capped off with a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Bambini. Nichols (0-8, 0-5 NEFC Boyd) tied the game at 7-7 on its first drive, thanks to a 24-yard touchdown rush by junior Matthew Bryson (Pawtucket, R.I.). The only score in the second quarter came with 2:05 remaining in the half courtesy of a 19-yard touchdown toss from Rose to sophomore Victor Martinez (Southbridge, Mass.). The Colonels took a 14-7 edge into the break.
Three of the four Rose-to-Bambini pass plays for touchdowns occurred in the third quarter. The first two were short scoring passes of eight and six yards. The third was a 43-yard bomb that Bambini reeled in, giving the hosts a 35-7 lead through three frames.
In the fourth, Bison senior Patrick Gregory (Webster, N.Y.) intercepted a Rose pass deep in Curry territory and ran it back eight yards, cutting the Curry lead to 35-14. But the Colonels responded on their next possession with yet another Rose-to-Bambini long-distance hook-up of 34 yards.
Curry held significant edges in both total offense (443-208) and first downs (17-11). Nichols held an edge in possession time (34:02-25:58).
Rose went 25-for-31 for 358 yards and his five passing touchdowns tied a school record. Bambini made eight catches for 183 yards, with four receiving TDs and one rushing TD. This tied the school record for most touchdowns scored in a game (5) and also tied the school mark for most points scored in a game (30). Senior Dennis Void (Brookhaven, Pa.) rushed for 70 yards on 15 carries. Defensively, the Colonels were led by senior Michael Whittaker (Milton, Mass.) and junior Chris Haddad (Bellingham, Mass.) who each collected eight solo tackles.
For the visitors, senior Justin Nelson (Oceanside, Calif.) went 12-for-19 for 92 yards. Bryson had 22 carries for 99 yards with one score. Freshman Dylan Rimsky (Denville, N.J.) made six catches for 74 yards. Defensively, junior Mike Mainero (Bridgeport, Conn.) paced Nichols with four solo tackles, including two sacks (-9 yards).
Curry travels to UMass Dartmouth next Saturday for a 12:00 p.m. kickoff, while Nichols hosts M.I.T. in a 1:00 p.m. contest.
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