Dudley, Mass. –
After playing the highest scoring game in division III football history last year, the Bears and Bison had another wild one, with Coast Guard ultimately prevailing by a score of 49-42-
Nichols College continued the offensive trend right away this year, scoring a TD on a flea flicker on the first play from scrimmage. The Bears answered right away with a 10 play, 75 score culminating in a Freddy Barber (Goochland, Va.) TD reception from Sean Burns (Absecon, N.J.)
On Nichols next drive, the Bears got a much-needed stop on third and two when Ramon Cruz (Kapolei, Hawaii) broke up a pass to force the punt. With the Bison threatening a three and out, Sam Bennett (Winston-Salem, N.C.) caught a pass by midfield on third and long to keep the drive alive. CGA capitalized soon thereafter when Dylan Truxon (King George, Va.) caught a short pass and made three Bison defenders miss him on his way to the endzone.
Nichols did answer to score, matching down the field thanks to a pair of Bear penalties but a missed extra point kept CGA up one and a 60 yard Freddy Barber kick return set the Bears up in a great spot. Burns and co. marched down to the goal line to close out the first quarter and Elias Duncan (El Paso, Tex.) opened up the second with a rushing score.
After the before unheard of back to back punts for the two teams, Ian Smith (Fredericksburg, Va.) got a huge sack on third and eight to force another Bison punt and set the Bears up to score as well he half clock ticked under five minutes. With 2:45 to go, Griffin Cheslock (Early, Tex.) cut behind lead blocker Colin Jensen to score and take a 28-13 lead. Another three and out thanks to a Ty Tamborino (Pittsburgh, Pa.) third down breakup gave the Bears a chance to tack on another score. After trading turnovers(CGA interception, Nichols fumble). Freshman DB Aaron Turney (Springfield, Va.) recovered the fumble for the Bears but a long missed field goal sent the game to half with the Bears leading 28-13.
Coast Guard received the kick in the second half with a chance to go up with a commanding lead. They did just that on a Griffin Cheslock 35 yard run in which the Bears offensive line opened up a hole so vast that Cheslock was untouched into the endzone.
Nichols did get some hope at the end of the 3rd with two TDs sandwiching a 4th down stop of the Bears to send the game into the final quarter with the Bears up just one score.
On the first drive of the 4th, the Bison stayed hot with a three and out to get the ball back. Needing a stop, the Bears got it on a tackle for loss by Noah Rohrer (Mount Joy, Pa.) and sack by Ian Smith on consecutive plays. The CGA drive started inside their own 10 but ate clock and marched down the field to score on a Garrett Lamb (La Vernia, Tex.) rush. Both Lamb on the score and Cheslock on numerous rushes to get into the red zone were running behind the strong blocking of Major Hartman (Tallahassee, Fla.). Hartman, typically on the line, was a human bulldozer at fullback for the Bears all drive.
After Nichols answered with a potentially momentum changing 99 yard touchdown, Freddy Barber answered right away with a 94 yard kick-return TD.
The Bison responded yet again with a long TD pass to cut the score to one possession as the clock trickled down. Cheslock and Burns carried the Bears down to the two minute warning near the 50 yard line. With under a minute to go, the Bears had to punt back to the Bison with a chance to the score at 49. Needing to make a play, the scuffling Bears defense made a huge one, with Ty Tamborino sealing the game with an interception.
The Bear offense was led by Griffin Cheslock with 222 yards and two TDs on the ground. Truxon and Barber combined for 17 catches, 200 yards, and two scores while QB Sean Burns had 259 passing yards and two TDs.
Freddy Barber was also a menace on special teams, with nearly 200 return yards and the 94 yard score. The Bears leading tackler was senior captain Lucas White (Juneau, Alaska) with 12 while Ian Smith had his first career two sack game.
Coast Guard(2-1) will open up NEWMAC play next week at 1pm with a home game vs WPI. Nichols College(0-3) will travel to New England College next week at 2pm.
