FRANKLIN, Mass.- Despite a spirited first half effort that yielded only a three point deficit, the Dean College Bulldogs were outscored 21-0 in the second half, falling 31-7 to Nichols College in non-conference football action on Saturday at Lippert Field. The loss drops Dean to 0-3, while Nichols improves to 3-1. 

Nichols struck first on a 17 yard pass from Ian Snow to Josh Vitti with three minutes to play in the first period, giving the Bison a 7-0 lead. Dean responded, driving 74 yards in 14 plays, chewing up eight minutes of game time before punching in their first touchdown of the season on a nine yard touchdown run by Melo Zelaya (Miramar, Fla.), Senior Griffin Sullivan (Colchester, Conn.) drilled the extra point to knot the game at 7.

After a huge fourth down stop by the Dean defense, punctuated by a fourth-down tackle by senior Joe Penton (Manassas. Va.) the Bulldogs drove deep into the red zone with a chance to take the lead. A fumble on the five yard line, however, ended the Bulldogs chance and shifted the momentum to Nichols. Two long pass plays from Snow set up a field goal attempt at the end of the half, and Nick Foynes 24 yard attempt split the uprights to give Nichols the 10-7 lead at the half.

After punts by both squads opened the second half, Nichols broke the game open with a trick play. A line pass from Snow turned into a double pass, and wide receiver Jack Morvan found Vitti wide open down the sideline for a 44 yard touchdown. Foynes extra point pushed the lead to 17-7 with half the third quarter gone. On the ensuring possession, Dean again drove deep into Bison territory, and again the Bulldogs committed a redzone turnover. This time, it was an interception by Gael Alvarez-Rojas in the end zone to thwart the Bulldogs chance. Nichols wasted no time extending their advantage, as Morvan caught a post route deep down the middle from Snow and scampered 82 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 24-7. 

Nichols tacked on a final touchdown in the fourth on a 3 yard quarterback keeper from Snow to account for the 31-7 final score.

Snow finished 9-18 for 224 and two touchdowns, plus a rushing score. Morvan had four catches for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Vitti had four grabs for 83 yards and two scores. Brayden Prasse (San Antonio, Texas) paced the Bulldogs rushing attack with 53 yards on 20 carries. Casey Shropshire (Kershaw, S.C.) added 49 yards on ten carries, while Zelaya had 36 yards and the touchdown. Penton, Syncere Bailey (Dover, N.H.), and Darren Appiah (Worcester, Mass.) paced the Bulldogs defense with seven tackles each. Senior Berto Maldonado (Boston, Mass.) added three tackles and a sack.

Dean is back in action next Saturday when they travel to the University of New England for a non-conference tilt with the Nor'Easters at 1:00 p.m.