CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – MIT senior quarterback Chase Harmon matched a career-high with four touchdown passes and added another score on the ground as the MIT football team opened the season with a 46-13 non-conference victory over Nichols College on Saturday at Henry G. Steinbrenner '27 Stadium.

Harmon connected with classmate Colin Vollmer for a pair of scores while also finding junior Michael Dennison and sophomore Griffin Patterson through the air. On the defensive side of the ball, Connor McHale snagged his first interception of the season while junior Thomas Shoales added the exclamation on special teams with an 80-yard block and return on a point after touchdown attempt by Nichols in the second half. 

THE BASICS: 

• Score: MIT 46, Nichols 13
• Records: MIT 1-0 Overall, Nichols 0-1 Overall

HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• Despite MIT's impressive offensive output, it was Nichols that got on the board first. After a pair of opening drive punts from each team, Nichols starting quarterback Will Migliaccio connected down the sideline with Jack Morvan for a 61-yard score to put the Bison ahead, 7-0 at 10:53 of the first. 
• The rest of the opening half, and the game, belonged to MIT. Harmon and Vollmer connected for the first MIT score on the next MIT drive, with Harmon completing a pass to the right that Vollmer hauled in at the 14-yard line before racing into the end zone for a 42-yard score.  
• MIT forced a three-and-out on the next Nichols possession, as Caleb Davis recorded a tackle for loss and Chase Fishman ended the drive with a third down sack.
• The next MIT possession was more of the same, as Harmon found Vollmer down the middle of the field for a 22-yard score and a 13-7 MIT lead.
• Harmon and rookie Jimmy Conners carried the Engineers to a 20-7 lead on the opening drive of the second quarter. After concluding the first quarter with a 15-yard dash, Conners had a pair of seven-yard rushes as MIT advanced the ball into Nichols territory. However, it was Harmon that pushed across the goal line with a 28-yard scramble for six.
• MIT would take a 30-7 advantage at the break, as Harmon found Dennison for a 29-yard score and Luke Pelletier kicked a field goal to cap a late11-play drive in the final minute of the half.
• MIT opened the second half with a drive deep into Nichols territory but the Bison were able to force a turnover on downs when Harmon couldn't find Alex Theriault on fourth and five.
• The visitors made a switch at quarterback after the break but backup Ethan LaGuardia was met by the same stern MIT defense, as McHale picked-off LaGuardia to end the opening Nichols drive.
• MIT capitalized on the strong play of its defense on the next drive, moving 84 yards down the field, including a 25-yard run from Conners, and scoring on a 31-yard touchdown pass down the middle from Harmon to Petterson to take a 37-7 lead.
• With the game out of reach, Nichols got on the board in the fourth quarter. LaGuardia found Mike Orvil across the middle for a 40-yard gain to the MIT one-yard line. The Nichols quarterback then rushed to his left on a bootleg to find the end zone.
• However, MIT spoiled the touchdown celebration for the visitors when Shoales blocked the extra point and recovered the ball before running 80-yards down the field for the two-point score. Following the Nichols score and the MIT two-point return, the Engineers had a 39-13 lead with 4:38 to play.
• First year Andrew Kulhan added the final score on the final MIT drive, escaping down the left side of the field for a 40-yard touchdown with just under two minutes to play. Pelletier's extra point gave MIT the 46-13 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• MIT is now 16-10 all-time against Nichols. 
• 46 points is the most points MIT has scored since the Engineers put up 48 in a 48-37 victory over Norwich during the 2021 season. 
• Harmon had four passing touchdowns in a 2023 contest versus Bridgewater St., his five total touchdowns is a career best.
• McHale now has three career interceptions after recording a pair as a sophomore in 2024.
• Vollmer, who hauled in a pair of scores in the game, matched his output from last season.
• Conners rushed for 101 yards on 11 attempts in his collegiate debut.
• In all, MIT amassed 275 yards on the ground and picked up 12 of its 19 first downs via rushing plays. 
• MIT was 13 yards shy of 500 total yards on offense, finishing with 487 total yards.

UP NEXT:

• MIT will travel to New England College on Saturday, September 13 for a 2:00 PM kick-off.

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