Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 23, 2021) – The Western New England Football team hosted CCC rival Nichols College this afternoon for their Go 4 the Goal game where the Golden Bears dominated the Bison 49-0.
The Golden Bears are Laced Up 4 Pediatric Cancer to support the Go4theGoal Foundation to help kids battling cancer. Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer began in the fall of 2011 and to date, over a half million athletes have supported the cause. Go4theGoal works to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial assistance, granting special wishes, developing unique hospital programs, and funding innovative research. Learn more about Go4theGoal and how you can help to make a difference by visiting Go4theGoal.org.
Records:
- Western New England: 5-3, 3-1 CCC
- Nichols: 2-5, 0-3 CCC
How It Happened:
The Golden Bears set the tone early with Jerry Woodard intercepting the third pass by the Bison and running it back 55 yards for a pick six under two minutes into the game. A good PAT by Matt Gilbert earned Western New England the 7-0 lead at the 13:12 mark. The Golden Bears continued their momentum in their first offensive drive of the game. On the third play, Carlos Martin Nieto completed a 71-yard touchdown pass to Adam Razza for Western New England to make the PAT and lead 14-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
The Golden Bears continued their offensive success with their first drive in the second quarter with an 11 play, 94-yard drive. Western New England converted with a three-yard rush by Ryan Carlson followed by Gilbert making the PAT for the Golden Bears to lead 21-0. Western New England went into the half leading 21-0 over the Bison.
The third quarter opened with the Golden Bears receiving the ball starting on their own 24-yard line. After 10 plays and 76 yards EJ Dudley pushed his way through for a two-yard touchdown rush. A good PAT extended the Golden Bears lead to 28-0 over Nichols. Western New England did it again on their next drive of six plays for 46 yards with Razza getting the ball in the back field and throwing a pass to Martin Nieto who caught the ball around the f four-yard line and ran into the endzone untouched. Another extra point for Gilbert gave the Golden Bears the 35-0 lead. On the next Nichols drive, Omari Lewis intercepted a pass at the Nichols 29-yard line and ran it back to the endzone. The ball was brought back after a penalty to put the Golden Bears at the Nichols 20. Just three plays later Martin Nieto ran the ball in from the two-yard line to put Western New England ahead 42-0.
The Golden Bears opened the fourth quarter forcing a fumble that was recovered by Jake Chiasson at the Western New England 44 where he ran it to the 48 before being downed. Conrad Swanson then came in to quarterback for the Golden Bears and rushed for a 16-yard touchdown on a nine play, 52-yard drive. Gilbert made the extra point to end a perfect game. The Golden Bears won the game 49-0 over conference opponent Nichols.
Inside the Numbers:
- The Golden Bears recorded 27 first downs in the game with a 62 percent third down efficiency and a 50 percent fourth down efficiency.
- Western New England earned 503 yards of offense, 290 in the air and 213 on the ground.
- Martin Nieto went 14-for-23 in the game with 281 passing yards and one touchdown and one interception. Razza went 1-for-1 with one touchdown pass.
- Martin Nieto also led the ground game for the Golden Bears with 10 carries for 48 yards and one touchdown. Swanson recorded four carries for 44 yards and one touchdown.
- Carlson and Dudley both earned touchdowns on the ground for the Golden Bears.
- Razza led the receiving corps with eight receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown while Steven Fedorchak tallied two catches for 45 yards.
- Gilbert had a perfect game going 7-for-7 on extra points for seven points in the game while Zac Christian punted once in the game for 38 yards.
- Cam Leblanc led the Golden Bears defense with seven tackles and one tackle for a loss of three yards. Joshua Salem tallied six tackles in the game while both Erich Keutmann and Joe McNamara earned five tackles apiece. McNamara recorded a sack for four yards.
- Woodard earned an interception for a 55-yard return to a touchdown while Lewis also tallied an interception that was returned 19 yards.
Up Next:
The Golden Bears have a bye week for October 30th and return to the gridiron on Saturday, November 6th when they travel to Biddeford, Maine to challenge CCC opponent University of New England at 1 p.m.
