DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman Josh Pierre-Charles (Millis, Mass.) rushed for a school-record 228 yards to lift the Nichols College football team to a 22-7 win over Anna Maria College Friday night in non-conference action at Vendetti Field.
'JPC' averaged 9.1 yards per rush and ripped off 12 rushes of 10-or-more yards, highlighted by a 26-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. He also scored on an 18-yard run up the gut in the third to stretch the Nichols lead to 22-7. Freshman signal caller Chris Mullins (Centreville, Va.), meanwhile, completed 25-of-45 attempts for 282 yards and a pair of scores, including a 23-yard strike to classmate Tony Martignoli (Santa Rosa, Calif.) in the third.
Offensively, the Bison compiled 608 yards of total offense – 326 of which came on the ground – and averaged close to seven yards a play (6.7). Mullins finished with 42 rushing yards while sophomore Jacob Duffrene (Boston, Mass.) had 25 on six carries (4.2 ypc). The Nichols defense, meanwhile, held the AMCats to 236 yards of total offense as senior and reigning New England Football Conference (NEFC) Defensive Player of the Week Matt McEvilly (Clinton, Mass.) and junior Brett McEvoy (Wrentham, Mass.) each recorded 10 tackles and combined for 2.5 tackles for loss (TFL).
NC sophomore Princewell Iwejuo (Boston, Mass.) capped a 13-play, 74-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown reception midway through the first that accounted for the only point of the half. Sophomore Alex Swaby (New Britain, Conn.) helped ensure the AMCats would carry a donut into the locker room when he blocked a 32-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter.
Anna Maria tied the game at seven on a 44-yard catch and run from sophomore Joseph D'Onofrio (Everett, Mass.) early in the third. The Bison responded with a seven-play, 61-yard drive of their own that ended when Mullins hit Martignoli on a fade pattern inside the left pile-on at 8:32 of the third. With less than a minute to go in the stanza, 'JPC' capped the scoring with his third TD run of the season.
AMC freshman Darius Jones-Clark (Baltimore, Md.) finished the evening 16-of-30 for 173 yards and one score while senior back St. Clair Ryan (South Easton, Mass.) led the AMCats ground attack with 36 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore Jarius Ransom (Williamstown, N.J.) was one of three AMCats with 10 tackles to go along with one sack.
All-Time Series
Tonight's contest marked the second all-time meeting between Anna Maria College and Nichols College. The Bison now lead the all-time series, 2-0, and have outscored their Worcester-area rivals 76-36.
Quotes
"The team's effort was very good. It starts up front with the offensive line. They made great blocks. I just did what I had to do, which was read the holes. Guys played with a lot of heart tonight." – Nichols freshman Josh Pierre-Charles
"I couldn't be happier for our guys, the school and the alumni. It was a well-played game. It's good to see a plan executed." – Nichols head coach Dale Olmsted
"Josh can do a lot of things. I wish I could have that Westfield State game back because I'd give him another 10 touches. We know the talent he possesses and the more he can do that, the more it's going to open up the passing game for our receivers. He is a very special player and we're lucky to have him." –Olmsted, on Pierre-Charles
Next Games
Nichols (1-1) – Saturday, September 17 @ Becker, 12:00 p.m.
Anna Maria (0-2) – Saturday, September 17 @ Curry, 1:00 p.m.