DUDLEY, Mass. – Curry College senior quarterback Anthony Carnevale (Oradell, N.J.) passed for one touchdown and rushed for two more to lead the Colonels football team to a 31-20 victory over Nichols in a New England Football Conference Boyd Division game at Vendetti Field Saturday afternoon. The Colonels improve to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference games after snapping a three-game slide. Nichols stands at 0-8 and 0-5 in league play.

Nichols put up its highest offensive numbers of the season with 379 yards of total offense, but was outgained by a slim two-yard margin by the visitors. The Bison also had season highs in passing yards (261), led by quarterback Jacob Shoup (Boca Raton, Fla.), who finished the day with a season-best three scoring passes on 265 yards and a 20-for-34 display.

Carnevale scored in each of the final three quarters, finishing the day with 265 yards passing on a 24-for 31 effort. The completions, attempts and passing yards were all career highs. His one passing score came in the second to sophomore wide-out Skubie Mageza (Revere, Mass.), the only receiving score of the day for the Colonels.

Curry scored on its opening drive, using just three-and-a-half minutes to march 75 yards down the field to take a 7-0 lead. A 20-yard rush by first-year fullback Jordan Shairs (Gloucester, Mass.) on third down set up Carnevale for a 28-yard pass to junior wide receiver Rob Bambini (Westwood, Mass.), who was dragged down one yard shy of the end zone. Bruce Vieira (Pelham, N.H.) punched it in the final yard on the next play.

Sophomore running back Irie Perry (West Palm Beach, Fla.) rushed the ball for 25 yards on five carries on the Bison’s next possession, before Shoup connected with first year receiver Brandon Green (Springfield, Mass.) for a 17-yard scoring grab, tying the game up at 7-7. with 3:13 left in the quarter.

On Curry’s first possession of the second quarter, Alex DiNardo (Wellington, Fla.) forced a fumble that was picked up by senior defensive back Mike Rubalcaba (Barre, Vt.) in the Bison’s territory. Despite a key 25-yard pass from junior quarterback Dan Snyder (Stoughton, Mass.) to first year receiver John Sindone (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Nichols was only able to get as close as 20 yards out, where they missed a field goal opportunity.

Sophomore defensive lineman Jonas Duffrene (Waltham, Mass.) blocked a Bison punt late in the quarter, forcing the ball out of bounds at the Nichols seven yard line to set up Carnevale’s seven-yard hookup with Mageza with 1:45 left in the half. Shoup found sophomore Dylan Rimsky (Denville, N.J.) for a 25-yard connection, but Nichols turned the ball over on downs to end the opening half.

The third quarter was penalty-filled on both sides, but Curry took advantage of a Bison offside penalty at the 14 yard line to find themselves one yard shy of first down at the nine. The Bison made a stand until Shairs dug out three yards and Carnevale finished out the 11 play, 63-yard drive with a 6-yard stand-up push.

Despite five consecutive plays with penalties on the Bison’s next drive, Nichols only took 3:36 off the clock before Snyder was picked off by senior defensive back Jason Ryan (Rockingham, Vt.), who returned it to the Nichols’ 39.

Curry quickly got into scoring position, but at fourth and goal from the 16 settled for a field goal. Mike Merjuste (Norwich, Conn.) blocked the attempt, which was scooped up by senior defensive lineman Mike Mainiero (Bridgeport, Conn.). Mainiero returned it to midfield before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by Curry offensive lineman Gil Parson (New Milford, Conn.).

The Colonels drove deep into Bison territory again, and set up for a field goal from the Nichols eight yard line, this time faking the kick as first year kicker Chris Frissore (Wilmington, Mass.) was hauled down by Rubalcaba for a three-yard loss as he carried the ball toward the sideline.

Curry’s field goal attempt on the next possession – a 21-yarder - did go through the uprights, giving the Colonels a 24-7 lead with 7:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Shoup’s pass game came alive late in the game, as he connected with Sindone twice late in the final frame to trim the score. Nichols had three consecutive first downs before Shoup found Sindone wide open for an 18-yard score with 4:11 left (PAT missed) to make it 24-13.

Curry recovered the ensuing onside kick, driving down 44 yards on six plays capped by a 1-yard push by Carnevale to extend the Colonels’ lead back to two possessions, 31-13.

Shoup and Sindone had one more score left in them, a 12-yard connection in coverage that Sindone shook as he fell into the end zone with 41 ticks left on the clock. Bill Crory (Townsend, Mass.) nailed the extra point for a 31-20 final.

Senior defensive back Chris Haddad (Bellingham, Mass.) led Curry’s defense with 12 tackles (10 solo) including one for a loss of two yards. First-year linebacker Julon McCoy (Gardner, Mass.) led Nichols with a career-high 12 stops (four solo) with one for a loss of six yards. Rubalcaba added 11 stops (seven solo) with two for loss of yardage and recovered a fumble. First year defensive back Paul Craig (New London, Conn.) was a key factor for the Bison defense, holding one of the top receivers in the conference scoreless and to a mere eight catches in the game. Craig also logged four tackles (three solo).

The win marked the 10th in a row for the Colonels over Nichols, dating back to the 2001 season. The Bison will look to get back on track at MIT next Saturday, October 29th in a 5 p.m. game. Curry hosts UMass Dartmouth at 1 p.m. the same day. (Game story courtesy of Nichols Sports Information)

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