Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Joshua Pierre-Charles ran in from two-yards out in the fourth overtime to lift Nichols over the University of New England 51-48 in a wild Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Football matchup at UNE Blue Storm Stadium on Saturday.
 
The Nor'easters drove down to the Nichols four-yard line to start the fourth OT period, but were held to a 21-yard field goal by Kevin Heintz that gave them a 48-45 lead. Michael Pina found Hunter Ferreria for 23-yards down to the UNE two on the first Nichols play of the period before Pierre-Charles rushed in the winner.
 
Heintz missed a 40-yarder to start overtime. Nichols attempted a field goal on its first possession that was blocked by DJ James, recovered by Matt Mulroy and taken into the endzone for what looked to be the winning score as the Bison bench stormed the field. The touchdown was called off by the officials and play resumed in the second overtime period.  
 
Each team scored a touchdown in the second overtime. Pina hit Jake Wood from 10-yards out to put Nichols in front 45-38. Brian Peters responded with a 20-yard toss to Cobey Johnson to send the game into a third extra period.
 
The Nor'easters once-again blocked a Nichols field goal, this time by Joe Curit, to keep the Bison off the board. UNE moved the ball to the 16-yard line before an interception by Dylan McNamara sent the game into the final OT.
 
The game was back-and-forth from the start with neither team leading by more than a score and entered the fourth tied 28-28. Nichols took its first lead of the day on a 13-play, 97-yard drive to start the quarter. Pina found Daniel Parker for a 24-yard TD to put the visitors in front 35-28.
 
Haelin Roberts nearly broke the ensuing kick return, but tripped up at the UNE 45. The Nor'easters quickly drove down the field and a pass interference in the end zone set them up deep. Peters connected with Peyton Phillips from two yards out to tie the game 35-35 with 5:38 to play in regulation.
  
Amari Smith broke a 61-yard kickoff return to put the Bison on the Nor'easter 12-yard line to start the next drive. The Bison only managed a field goal to jump ahead by three points. Peters hit five different receivers on the next UNE drive to setup a 40-yard field goal by Heintz with 56 seconds remaining to tie the game 38-38. Nichols was unable to get anything going in the final seconds as the game went into overtime.
 
UNE led 7-0 to start the game before Nichols knotted it up after a quarter. The Nor'easters held a 21-14 lead at the half and were up by a touchdown before a late third-quarter TD by the Bison.
 
Peters was 34-of-50 on the day for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Pina tossed for 329 yards, three TDs, two interceptions and also ran for 53 yards.
 
Pierre-Charles finished with 82 yards on the ground to go with three scores.  Cam Mann had nine carries for 72 yards and a score. Jack Mahoney added 62 yards and a TD for UNE who finished with a season-high 193 rushing yards.
 
Ryan Gaboury hauled in 13 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. Cobey Johnson finished with seven catches for 92 yards and score. Brett Miller and Peyton Phillips each had a receiving TD. Hunter Ferreira had 11 grabs for 131 yards for Nichols. Tony Martignoli added five for 68 yards and a score.
 
The teams combined for 1,001 total yards of offense, led by UNE with 536 yards on 97 plays, its third 500-plus-yard performance of the season.
 
Defensively, Joe Cox finished with 11 tackles (six solo) and one for a loss. He also batted down a pass. Chris Lawrence added a nine tackles, two for a loss.
 
Joe Curit had six tackles, an interception, two passes broken up and a blocked kick for UNE. Keegan Stanton-Meas led the way with 10 tackles (six solo). Cameron Crocker had two sacks for a loss of nine yards.
 
The Nor'easters return to action on Saturday, Nov. 2 on the road at Salve Regina at a 12 p.m.