Box Score SPRINGFIELD, MA - Nick Connell ran for two touchdowns and Tyler Ward passed for two others to lead Western New England to a 49-6 Homecoming victory over Nichols in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) game Saturday (Oct. 3) at Golden Bear Stadium.

The Golden Bears, ranked first in the New England Division III poll, remained undefeated with a 5-0 record that includes a 2-0 mark in league play.

Western New England scored on its first two possessions when Connell ran one yard just 2:24 into the contest and Ward fired a 58-yard pass to Terrence N'Dabian at the 9:31 mark.

Connell (11 carries, 88 yards) then scampered 13 yards for his second TD with 2:17 left in the second period as Western New England took a 21-0 lead into halftime.

Ward ran eight yards for his third touchdown to give the Golden Bears a 28-0 advantage at 12:28 of the third period before the Bison got on the board when Will Dyson caught a three-yard pass from Michael McCourt on the next possession.

Western New England dominated after that scoring the final three touchdowns on an eight-yard pass from Ward to Andy St. Fleur, a 27-yard run by Dante Aiken, and a two-yard run by Sean Carneiro.

The Golden Bears compiled season highs in total offense (574 yards) and rushing (337) while holding Nichols to just 179 yards, including 46 on the ground.

Ward finished 11-for-15 passing for 213 yards while adding 40 yards rushing on six carries. Aiken had a game-high 93 yards rushing on only seven attempts (13.3 avg.). Aiken and St. Fleur also led nine players who had receptions with three catches apiece.

Blair Cook enjoyed a nice game with 11 tackles (eight solo) and one of the team's six sacks. Michael Stasiewicz and Dean Soucie contributed eight and seven sacks, respectively, along with a one sack apiece.

For the second straight week Kevin Patterson was a perfect 7-for-7 in PATs.

McCourt completed 7-of-17 passes for 96 yards, but suffered four sacks. Brenden Massey caught five passes for 50 yards. Scott McCoy also compiled 11 tackles (six solo) with a sack while TJ Ellison had seven tackles and Brian Camacho five stops and a sack.

Nichols is now 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the NEFC.