Nichol, who was moved to runningback this week due to an injury to game one starter Tyre Pinder, scored on runs of 12, 20 and 28, respectively in the third quarter to warden off a comeback by the Dutchmen.
He amassed 151 on 16 carries in the second half and matched the three first-half rushing touchdowns from senior quarterback Will Arndt.
Just for good measure, Nicol also completed one pass attempt for nine yards, had one catch for 13 yards and averaged 40.5 yards on four punts. He finished with 268 all-purpose yards.
Arndt finished the night by completing 17 of 33 passes for 214 yards and one interception. He tacked on 62 rushing yards on 13 carries. He trotted in from 23, one and 17 yards, respectively and gave the Colonials a 21-0 advantage with 1:08 elapsed in the second quarter.
Union, now 0-2, cut its deficit to 14 points following at 23-yard TD toss from Dante Cioffi to Joe Vito just 1:06 after Arndt's last score.
Cioffi completed 12 of 29 passes for 135 yards and threw four touchdowns and was picked off a pair of times on the night. He was sacked three times including back-to-back take downs by Western sophomore end Bryan Ballenilla midway through the third stanza.
Following a 24-yard field goal from junior Mike Killoran, the Dutchmen trimmed their deficit to 10 points following a strike from Cioffi to Connor Kinzelmann (East Greenbush, NY) with 9:43 remaining in the first half.
Union drew even closer, 24-20, when Ryan Hanney did his best immitation of Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception when he shockingly came up with the ball after it caromed off the chest of junior Kareem Patterson. The play culminated with a 41-yard touchdown reception with 13:48 left in the third quarter. The ensuing point after was blocked by Dominique Carr.
Following Nicol's 12 yard jaunt, Kinzelmann added a two-yard run, with 8:23 left, but the Dutchmen still trailed by four points.
Nicol put Union's comeback bid to rest after scoring twice in the final 5:18 of the third quarter.
Connor Falaguerra led the Colonials, now 1-1, with five catches for 98 yards, but was one of eight Western receivers to be denied a score.
Jermaine Carn led Union's rushing attack with 98 yards on 14 carries.
Knzelmann amassed 213 all-purpose yards as he rushed for 81, caught a pair of passes for 16 and returned five kick offs an additional 116 yards.
Defensively, Carr led the Colonials with eight tackles, a forced fumble and one pass break up.
Jake LaRovera and Tom Haynes each had a team-high nine tackles for the Dutchmen.
The game lasted nearly three and a half hours and the two teams combined for 30 penalties for 281 yards. One of Western's holding calls negated a 52-yard touchdown run by Nicol early in the third quarter.
Western travels to Plymouth State next Saturday to begin its MASCAC slate. Kick off with the Panthers is scheduled for 1 pm. Union visits Western New England University on the 19th for a 1 pm kick off.
