DUDLEY, Mass.  -  Coast Guard football was handed their first loss of the 2024 season on Saturday afternoon at Nichols College. The Bears entered the second half facing a 13-point deficit after Nichols scored 27 points in the second quarter. Despite some excellent individual performances on both sides of the ball, Coast Guard was unable to overcome the Bison, falling 47-56.

Nichols received the ball on the opening kick-off and drove down the field to take a 6-0 lead with 8:51 remaining in the quarter. The score would have been 7-0 if the Bisons' PAT wasn't blocked by Tyler Jones (Alexandria, Va.). Coast Guard were unable to make anything of their opening drive, being stopped after electing to go-for-it on a 4th-and-4. The Bears' defense, looking to outdo their rivals, took the field again and picked up a safety, making it a 6-2 game with 3:38 left.

Coast Guard had more success on their next drive, which ended in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Joey Armentrout (Oceanside, Calif.) to Broock Desta (San Diego, Calif.). Lucas Hubert (Canton, Ga.) drilled the PAT to make it a 9-6 lead with 1:57 remaining.

The Bears had the ball to start the second quarter and ended the drive with another score with 13:32 remaining, this time on 19-yard pass from Armentrout to Toby Wroe (Oldsmar, Fla.); Huberts made the PAT to put the score at 16-6. Nichols responded quickly with a touchdown at 11:55 to conclude their next drive, making the PAT this time to make it 16-13. Coast Guard got those points back the next time their offense took the field after Armentrout connected with Desta on a 4th-down attempt at the Bison 2-yard line with 5:51 left until halftime; the PAT made it a 23-13 game.

Nichols would shorten their deficit on the ensuing kick-off, returning it 93 yards for a touchdown and making the PAT to put the score at 23-20 with 5:38 left to play. The Bison then took advantage on their own kick-off after a misplay by Coast Guard, picking up the ball in the endzone and extending their lead to 27-23 after the PAT with 5:29 remaining. Nichols held Coast Guard scoreless for the rest of the half and scored again with 52 seconds left. The hosts went into halftime with a 33-23 lead after another failed PAT attempt.

Coast Guard received to start the second half and immediately got to work shortening the Bisons' lead. A nine-play drive ended in a rushing touchdown for Dennis O'Shea (Decatur, Ga.) with 11:53 remaining, and the following PAT made it a 33-30 game. Nichols took those points right back on their next drive, scoring and making the PAT to make it 40-30 with 8:57 left.

Coast Guard was prepared to fire back after a 39-yard kick return by Amr Baadani (Fairfax, Va.) put the Bears on the 50-yard line; the ensuing three-play drive ended on a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Armentrout with 7:59 on the clock. The PAT was good, making the score 40-37. Nichols made it a 10-point lead again after a 30-yard touchdown pass and a successful PAT with 3:54 left.

The score was 47-37 in Nichols favor with Coast Guard on a 1st-and-10 to start the fourth quarter. The Bears had to settle for a field goal after the Bison stopped them at the 11-yard line and Hubert's attempt with 13:42 left was good, making it a 47-40 game. The Bison would widen the gap after a 57-yard touchdown pass with 12:19 remaining; they would have to settle for a 53-40 lead after another unsuccessful PAT attempt, this time due to a block by Solomon Ashby III (Portsmouth, Va.).

Coast Guard was able make it a one-score game after an 18-yard touchdown pass from Armentrout to Desta; Hubert's PAT was good, making the score 53-47 with 9:40 left. Nichols burned the clock and created some insurance after capping their next drive with a successful 25-yard field goal attempt. The score was 56-47 with 2:19 left, the Bears were unable to overcome the nine-point deficit before the final whistle.

Armentrout threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns with a 58% completion rate; James Wheeler IV (Oneida, N.Y.) picked up 164 yards on the ground, his third game with 160+ rushing yards this season; Desta had 94 receiving yards and three touchdowns on nine receptions. On the defensive side, Ramon Cruz (Washington, D.C.) led the team with eight tackles and Jonathan Clifford tied a Nichols player for a game-high six solo tackles.

Football's face Springfield College for their next game on Saturday, September 28th at 1:00 PM. The game kicks off the conference schedule for both teams. Springfield has been named the NEWMAC Champions in each of the last three seasons. The Pride have gone 3-0 in their non-conference match-ups, including a 37-20 win over Union College in their last game.