PLYMOUTH – With their spirits high and the crowd buzzing, the Plymouth State University football team turned in one of their best outings of the season, defeating Nichols College 30-0 Saturday afternoon in an important New England Football Conference Boyd Division battle at Currier Field.
The Plymouth defense had one of their best games of the season, holding Nichols to 257 and collecting three turnovers. Plymouth, who had been allowing an average of 25 points and 326 yards a game, halted the Bison offense. Nicholas only managed 169 yards in the game until a 88-yard drive in the final five minutes was halted on the Panther’s one-yard line, finally resulting in a Panther interception and a win for Plymouth. The shutout of the Bisons was Plymouth’s first since their 21-0 victory of Norwich in 2001. Plymouth is ranked third this week in the New England Division III poll.
Plymouth improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the NEFC Boyd Division, while Nicholas dropped to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the division. Plymouth has won eight straight games, dating back to last season, and is 6-0 for the seventh time in school history and the first time since 1995. Prior to the contest between Plymouth and Nicholas, there was a three-way tie for first place between Curry College, Plymouth and Nichols. The victory gives the Panther’s sole possession of second place and a tie for first.
The Panther’s defense led the way for the win as senior, Jeff Ethier and junior, Time Nicolson led the group with six tackles. Mike Lannon leads the NEFC with four interceptions this season, but did not record one on Saturday.
The offense was led by junior quarterback John DeMarco and senior tailback Jeff Mack. DeMarco rushed 14 times for 113 yards and recorded two touchdowns, a 38-yard scuttle for a score and a two-yard sneak. Mack rushed 17 times for 106 yards, his fourth 100-yard game this season.
On Monday, DeMarco earned the NEFC Honor Roll for the fourth straight week. DeMarco leads the 16-team NEFC in passing efficiency (184.0 yards) while completing 35-of-66 passes (57.6%), 790 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. DeMarco has rushed for 343 yards.
Mack became the sixth back in school history to rush for more than 1,500 career yards as he compiled his career total to 1,524 yards. Mack has seven touchdowns this season, but did not score one on Saturday. Mack ranks third in the NEFC with 118.7 rushing yards thus far this season.
The loss spoiled a solid outing by Nichols junior Robert Morris, who rushed for 119 yards on 27 carries. Morris is ranked second in the NEFC with 135.8 yards rushing.
The Panthers took the edge in the first quarter and never looked paced. Plymouth out-gained the Bison in total yards in the opening frame, 213-68 and led 14-0 on a 22-yard rush up the middle for a touchdown by junior fullback Brandon Clough and DeMarco’s 38-yard scramble. The Panthers managed a strong drive in the second quarter, but were stopped by the Bison defense and settled with a 24-yard field goal by senior Chris Dopp giving the Panthers the 17-0 lead heading into halftime.
DeMarco wasted no time in the second half, charging towards the red zone with two yards to go. DeMarco sneaked in with a two-yard rush to give the Panthers the 23-0 lead. Sophomore, Jay Baird finished up the scoring for Plymouth with a one-yard rush early in the fourth quarter.
The Panther’s recorded 20 first downs while the Bison’s managed 14. The Panther’s managed to 436 total yards with the Bison’s managing 236 yards in the losing effort.
Plymouth faces their toughest challenge of the season when they travel to four-time defending NEFC Champion Curry College. The Colonels, who are ranked first in the New England Division III poll, are tied with Plymouth for first place in the NEFC Boyd Division.