DUDLEY, Mass. - The New England College football team played its Conference of New England (CNE) opener on Saturday, matching their season-high in points (21) but ultimately sustaining a loss to the Bison on Vendetti Field in Dudley, Massachusetts.
Facing a Nichols squad that just scored 60 points last weekend against Coast Guard, the NEC defense had its hands full entering their conference opener. The Bison received the opening kickoff and put together a nine-play scoring drive to take an early lead.
After Nichols scored again at the beginning of the second quarter to go up 14-0, NEC responded later in the second with a scoring drive of their own; The nine-play, 63-yard scoring drive was quickly set-up by a 30-yard run by junior Icean Taylor (Manchester, N.H.) and later an 18-yard reception by Taylor inside the Nichols five-yard line. On 3rd and goal, a fumble by the NEC ball carrier into the end zone was recovered by sophomore Austin Normandin (Gilford, N.H.) for the touchdown.
With Nichols up 28-7 midway through the third quarter, the Pilgrims pieced together a pair of chunk plays through the passing game, with sophomore Lukas Köttstorfer (Bruckmühl, Germany) finding sophomore Conrado Lago (Methuen, Mass.) for 17 yards and later connecting with sophomore Dontrell White (Weare, N.H.) for a 37-yard catch and run. Taylor capped off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown scamper – his second long touchdown run of the season.
While the game was out of reach late in the fourth quarter, NEC found pay dirt for the third time of the afternoon. On the first play beyond the two-minute warning, junior Aidan McDonald (Salem, N.H.) pushed into the end zone from two yards out to set up the final score, 41-21.
Köttstorfer went 12-23 passing on the day with 167 and zero turnovers. Lago led the receiving corps with 72 yards on four grabs. Taylor had a big game on the ground with 108 yards 14 rushes while adding 25 yards through the air on three catches.
On defense, sophomore Ethan Cenesca (Manchester, N.H.) led the team with 12 solo tackles as the linebacker was all over the field. Sophomore Erik Menger (Stratham, N.H.) had six total tackles and shared a sack with freshman Lleyton Brault (Manchester, N.H.).
The 'Grims continue LEC play next weekend as they host Curry College on Fall Festival weekend. Kickoff is set for 2:00 PM.
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