DUDLEY, Mass. - The Bison took on the Bison here Saturday afternoon in a non-conference NCAA Division III football game. 

In the end, the Bison won.

Unfortunately for Gallaudet University fans the Bison lost to the Nichols College Bison, 55-28.

Junior superback Dre'Vaughn Mackall (Prince Frederick, Md.) ran for a career-high 158 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns for Gallaudet as the buff and blue finished with 246 yards on the ground. 

GU's defense fell victim to Nichols' big plays and quick strike offense.

Nichols (3-2) scored seven touchdowns on drives that had eight or less plays, including four that consisted of four or less plays. The GU Bison defense got carved up by Nichols quarterback Xavier Powell as he completed 24 of 31 passes for 407 yards and five touchdowns. Nichols scored on passing touchdowns of 12-, 24-, 32-, 43-, 53-, 67-yards from Powell and one touchdown pass from wide receiver Jack Morvan (1-for-1 for 32 yards) on a trick play. Morvan and Joshua Vitti were the popular targets as the pair hauled in six passes each for 161 and 107 yards, respectively, and two touchdowns each. Powell also got it done with his feet as he ran for 106 yards on 10 carries. Zahir Booker ran for 85 yards and two scores, which included a 56-yard touchdown run at the 3:43 mark in the second quarter. 

Gallaudet (0-4) started off strong as the defense forced a quick three-and-out and sophomore defensive back Carter Johnson (McCall, Idaho) blocked Nichols' punt as junior Kylar Sicoli (Austin, Texas) recovered at the Nichols' 34-yard-line. 

The Bison offense went to work and used five rushing plays to cover 34 yards as Mackall ran it into the end zone from three yards out at the 11:12 mark in the first quarter. Gallaudet led 7-0 briefly before Nichols scored 20 unanswered points on three scoring drives.

GU found the end zone at the 4:03 mark in the second quarter when junior Mikka Harvey (Prince Frederick, Md.) scored from four yards out to cut the game to a one-score game, 20-14. 

Nichols used two quick scoring drives to help them take a 34-14 lead with two minutes left before halftime.

Gallaudet added one more touchdown before the break when sophomore quarterback Gabe Segovia (Glendale, Ariz.) threw it up to junior Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.), who came down with a 54-yard touchdown pass. That capped a 34-point second quarter for the two teams as Nichols led 34-21 at intermission on its homecoming.

GU received the opening kickoff to begin the second half as the Bison used six plays to cover 77 yards. Mackall accounted for 70 of those yards on four carries which included a 51-yard scamper. Mackall capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge at the 11:24 mark.

It was all Nichols the rest of the way as the Bison answered with a quick touchdown as Powell found River Jackson on a 43-yard pass. Powell later hit Morvan for a 67-yard touchdown pass with 1:01 left in the third quarter. Nichols went on to add one more touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

GU was forced to punt three times and threw one interception after Mackall's second touchdown. 

Nichols finished with a program-record 653 yards of offense (439 passing, 214 rushing) and made 28 first downs while GU finished with 392 yards of offense (146 passing, 246 rushing) for 20 first downs and held the ball for over 37 minutes. Gallaudet for a perfect 3-for-3 in red zone chances while senior kicker Jonathon Waterman (Redding, Calif.) was 4-for-4 on point-after attempts.

Johnson led the GU defense with 11 tackles, one pass breakup and the blocked punt. Wide receiver Jaylen Johnson (Redlands, Calif.) made four catches for 92 yards and Segovia completed 5 of 10 passes for 146 yards.

UP NEXT

GU returns home and will host Hilbert College (0-4) at noon next Saturday, Oct. 7, at Hotchkiss Field.