Box Score Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. - Junior running back JJ Jachym (Milford, CT) rushed for a game-high 108 yards and two touchdowns as Western New England College posted a 28-10 victory over Homecoming host Nichols in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division opener for both teams Saturday afternoon (Sept. 25).

This was the third straight win for the Golden Bears who are now 3-1. The Bison remain winless at 0-4.

Junior quarterback Bryce Brown (Guilford, CT) had a great game in his first start completing 12-of-21 passes for 111 yards and no interceptions, and running for 72 yards on 18 carries and two scores.

Western New England College scored the last 28 points of the game after Nichols took a 10-0 lead in the second period.

The Golden Bears' defense again came through when needed with three interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter.

Nichols took an early 3-0 lead on a 19-yard field goal by sophomore Cody Jankins (West Brookfield, MA) with 2:40 left in the opening period. The Bison then scored on a 50-yard pass from junior quarterback Sean Vaughn (Cumberland, ME) to freshman receiver Mark Parker (Natick, MA) with 5:03 remaining before halftime.

Western New England College came right back to cut the margin to three when Brown ran 16 yards for a score with 1:50 remaining. The touchdown was set-up by a 20-yard pass from Brown to junior receiver Kenny Muhlack (Groton, CT) on a third-and-16 from the Bison 36.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Golden Bears scored three times in the final 15 minutes.

Jachym put WNEC ahead 14-10 with a seven-yard run just six seconds into the period.

Junior defensive back Pat Lesko (Seymour, CT) intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards to the Nichols 5. Two plays later Jachym rumbled in from four yards out at the 8:19 mark.

Later in the quarter, sophomore defensive back Corey Brown (Worcester, MA) picked-off a pass at the WNEC 5 with 4:38 left in the contest.

The Golden Bears went 95 yards in eight plays hitting the end zone for the final time when Brown scored from seven yards with 1:44 remaining. Jachym, who averaged 7.2 yards on 15 carries, had a 71-yard run to the Nichols 25 to set-up the score.

Western New England College finished with 371 yards, which included 260 on the ground. Sophomore running back Mike Graham (Norwalk, CT) added 72 yards on nine carries. Senior tight end Dan Crane (Waterbury, CT) had a game high five receptions for 64 yards while Muhlack pulled-in three catches for 33 yards.

Senior linebacker Dylan Chandler (Durham, ME) compiled eight tackles for the Golden Bears. Sophomore free Phil Tsopanides (Fairfield, CT) had six stops and a pass break-up. Freshman linebacker Brandon Orsmby (Windsor, CT) contributed six tackles along with his first college interception. Senior linebacker Justin Bailey (Northborough, MA) also had six tackles.

Nichols managed only 265 total yards after its strong start. Vaughn was only 3-of-8 passing for 64 yards and two interceptions before being relieved by freshman Justin Martin (Warwick, RI) who completed 7-of-11 passes for 100 yards.

Freshman running back Irie Perry (West Palm Beach, FL) had 53 yards on the ground on 18 carries.

Senior linebacker Evan Greathead (Pepperell, MA) had a solid performance with 18 tackles, including two-and-a-half for losses.

Western New England college has nine interceptions in four contests this season. The Golden Bears also have won eight of nine outings dating back to last year.