DUDLEY – Travon Holder rushed for 137 yards, Evan Cain scored on a pair of touchdown catches, and sophomore quarterback Andrew Peltier came off the bench in the fourth quarter to throw a game-tying touchdown pass, but it was not enough as Nichols College held Westfield State off, 19-13, in the season opener for both teams in a non-conference game at Vendetti Field on Friday night.
Westfield State opened the scoring at the 13:38 mark of the second quarter, as Owls senior quarterback Phil Cohen lofted a 26-yard scoring strike to Cain down the left side. Cain won the footrace with a defender, pulling the ball in as he crossed the goal line to give Westfield a 6-0 lead after the try for the 2-point conversion failed.
Westfield State’s William Tejeda (7) starts to return a recovered fumble against Nichols. The Owls fell to the Bison, 19-13.
Nichols tied the game at 6-6 with 9:26 left in the half, on a Tony Martignoli 1-yard run that capped a 12-play, 65-yard drive. The Owls blocked the extra point try to keep the game level at half time.
Bison junior Jacob Duffrene was the story in the second half, scoring a pair of touchdowns, the first on a 17 yard reception early in the fourth quarter to give Nichols a 13-6 lead over the Owls.
Westfield responded midway through the fourth quarter. With the offense languishing, Peltier was inserted after the Owls were given a short field after a fumble. Peltier drove the Owls 22 yards on five plays, the big play an 18-yard run from Holder, which set up Peltier’s 3-yard TD toss to a diving Cain in the end zone. Cody Cleveland’s extra point tied the game at 13-all.
But Duffrene wasn’t done for the Bison, scoring on a 30-yard burst up the middle with 3:30 left in regulation.
Westfield managed to drive the ball to the Nichols 35-yard line, but the Owls were foiled on a 4th and 10 play with 1:20 left to play that allowed the Bison to salt the game away.
The Owls posted strong defensive numbers, allowing just 213 yards of offense and 10 first downs to the Bison. Junior linebacker Andrew Carpenter led Westfield with nine tackles, and senior safety William Tejeda had a hand in a pair of turnovers, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass.
Westfield State falls to 0-1 on the season, while Nichols improves to 1-0. Westfield State will be back in action next Friday night at home, hosting Western New England in the annual Presidents’ Cup game at Alumni Field with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
