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                                        UMASS DARTMOUTH WINS AT NICHOLS, 28-7

DUDLEY, MA-The third road trip was the charm for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football team.

The Corsairs earned their first victory of the season on their third road trip of the year, defeating host Nichols, 28-7, at the Bison Bowl Saturday afternoon.

UMass Dartmouth used big plays to take an early two-touchdown lead. The Corsairs received the opening kickoff, and freshman quarterback Alex Garro (Mattapoisett, MA/Old Rochester HS) ran for a 31-yard touchdown on the sixth play of the drive to give UMD an early 6-0 lead.

The Bison gained four yards in three plays on their opening series, and an 18-yard punt set UMD up at their own 49-yard line. On the next play, Garro connected with sophomore tight end Charley Gryska (Medfield, MA/Medfield HS) for a 35-yard gain. Three plays later, the Corsairs were in the end zone. Sophomore running back Rob Sullivan (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill HS) scored from three yards out and it was 14-0, UMD, with just 6:54 gone in the first period.

UMass Dartmouth forced a fumble by Nichols running back Judley Sanon at the Bison 29 on the next series, but turned the ball back to Nichols on a fumble of their own at the NC 15 yard line. After the Bison went three and out, the Corsairs took over on the Nichols 36 after a 26-yard punt. They drove to the Bison 9 before turning the ball over on downs.

UMD put together a 68-yard drive for their third score. Garro hit senior slot back Manny Lopes (Norwood, MA/Norwood HS) for 11 yards and Gryska for 27 yards on the drive which ended when junior running back Jameson Humphries (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow HS) scored from a yard out to make it 21-0 with 9:39 left in the second quarter. The Corsairs scored their fourth touchdown right before halftime. Taking over at the Nichols 26 with 1:30 remaining, they went the distance in three plays. Humphries carried for eight yards to the Nichols 18, and Sullivan then raced 17 yards to the one-yard line before Garro connected with Gryska from a yard out with 27 seconds left in the first half.

Nichols scored their only touchdown in the fourth quarter. Taking over at the UMD 15 after an interception by Tyler Jackson, they covered the distance in six plays, with Josh Harris going over from two yards out with 5:08 to play.

Garro led the Corsairs both in rushing (five carries for 59 yards and a touchdown) and in passing (eight of 11 for 106 yards and a score). Humphries rushed 12 times for 47 yards, while Lopes caught four passes for 31 yards, Gryska three for 63. UMD picked off three passes. Two were by freshman defensive back Jordan Wright (Brookline, MA/Brookline HS), while senior linebacker Eric Meza (Leominster, MA/Oakmont HS) made eight tackles, including three solos and two for lost yardage.

UMD improved to 1-5 and 1-2 in the NEFC Boyd Division with the defeat, while Nichols fell to 0-6 and 0-4. The Corsairs will return to action when they host MIT next Saturday afternoon.

UMASS DARTMOUTH FOOTBALL