A Historic Gridiron Clash: Nichols College and Coast Guard Academy's Record-Breaking Football Game
The gridiron witnessed an unprecedented offensive explosion when Nichols College faced off against the Coast Guard Academy. The game transcended a mere contest and etched itself into the annals of Division III football history. The final score, a staggering 92-60 in favor of Coast Guard, resulted in a combined 152 points, setting a new DIII record. Beyond the total points record, Nichols and Coast Guard also broke the D3 record for most combined touchdown passes with 14. This article delves into the details of this historic game and explores the broader context of Nichols College football.
An Offensive Onslaught
From the opening kickoff, it was evident that the game would be an offensive showcase. With 1:36 remaining in the game, Coast Guard and Nichols had tied for Division III history with 138 combined points. The Coast Guard offense was firing from the jump. After 1992 grad and recent hall of fame inductee Ron Davies led the Bears out as their honorary captain, the offense took charge. The Coast Guard Academy Bears started strong, scoring on all five of their first-quarter possessions to establish a 35-17 lead. The CGA offense showed they could score in a plethora of ways in the first. Harrison Hensley rushed for two TDs, QB Sean Burns broke off a 54 yard TD rush, Burns found Matt LaBouliere in the air for a score, and LaBouliere proved himself a swiss army knife on offense when he threw for a TD to Chase Denton. In the second quarter, the Bears continued their scoring spree, with Hensley and LaBouliere finding the endzone on the team's first possessions. Burns connected with Toby Wroe and Broock Desta on their final two possessions, meaning six different Bears offensive players scored in the first half.
The halftime break did little to cool down the Coast Guard offense, as Broock Desta scored on a 52-yard play to begin the third quarter. The CGA offense was finally stopped on their second possession of the third to cap off a streak of 10 straight possessions that resulted in the end zone. Early in the fourth quarter, Harrison Hensley scored his third touchdown, extending the Bears' lead to 77-41. Nichols responded with a quick score, bringing the score to a basketball-esque 77-48.
A Record-Tying and Breaking Finish
Nichols went on to march down the field with a nearly six minute drive to score and etch the Bears and Bison into the history books. The 85-53 score, and 138 combined points tied the D3 record for most combined points in a regulation game but after the Bison failed on the two point conversion, the teams appeared destined to be stuck with just that tie. That was until senior Amr Baadani took the ball at his own 12 yard line and behind his blockers, streaked down the sideline for a history breaking score. Nichols would tack on one more score and after Elias Duncan took a knee for the Bears, the marathon, offensive explosion, historic game was finally over with a 92-60 final for 152 combined points. The 92-60 final etches this game into another niche history book as well.
Individual Performances
Several players from both teams had outstanding performances. Leading the charge for Coast Guard in that department was sophomore quarterback Sean Burns who threw for six. Those six TD passes ties an Academy record for the most in a game, most recently done by recent Hall of Fame inductee Derek Victory, who accomplished the feat in 2016. Burns completed 20 of 24 passes for 384 yards, did not turn the ball over, and added 72 yards on the ground. Leading the charge on the ground for the Bears was Harrison Hensley, who rushed for 153 yards and four TDs. In the air, it was Matt LaBouliere who etched his name into the Bears' recordbook, tying the Academy record for most TD receptions in a game with three. That feat was last accomplished by Matt's teammate Broock Desta just last year. On special teams it was Amr Baadani leading the pack with 176 return yards on seven attempts, capped off by the record-breaking score. Maybe the busiest men on the Bears all day were kick-off specialist Connor Bates and place kicker Caleb McClure. Bates kicked nearly 1,000 yards in the air with 735 kickoff yards on 14 attempts.
Read also: Divisions & Departments at Nichols
Nichols College Athletics: A Tradition of Competition and Pride
While the loss to Coast Guard dropped Nichols to 0-3 on the season, the game highlighted the team's fighting spirit and offensive capabilities. Nichols College's commitment to athletics extends beyond a single game. The college fosters a culture of competition, teamwork, and perseverance, embodied in their #BisonPride spirit. Students actively support their peers, representing the school with pride both on and off the field.
Nichols College offers its students opportunities and success, and they show up for us both academically and in their athletic performances.
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