THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University football team had a pair of 100-yard rushers in Michael Henry and Tuskani Figaro, but the Colonels were unable to limit Northwestern State's ground game as the Demons racked up 348 yards rushing en route to a 37-21 victory over Nicholls on Saturday at John L. Guidry Stadium.
 
The loss dropped Nicholls' record to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in the Southland, while Northwestern State improved to 2-6 and 2-4. The Demons retained the rivalry trophy for the second straight season as they improved their all-time record against the Colonels to 28-15.
 
For the second straight weekend, the weather played a major role in the teams' offensive playcalling as heavy rain and gusty winds forced both squads to look to its running game. The Colonels gained 310 yards rushing, but lost a total of 51 which included yardage lost on sacks and a high snap that resulted in a safety. Henry rushed for a career-high 154 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, while Figaro finished with his sixth career 100-yard game, tallying 114 yards and a score on 17 carries.
 
Unlike last weekend at Sam Houston, Nicholls was able to pass the ball as Figaro tallied 176 yards on 15 of 28 attempts; however, turnovers proved costly as the Red and Gray gave up the ball four times – three times on fumbles and one on an interception.
 
Both teams turned the football over to start the contest as Figaro lost the ball on the fourth play of the game, but Chris Major intercepted a pass from Stephen Rivers to give Nicholls the ball back. The Colonels then struck first as Figaro hit Henry for a 19-yard touchdown pass for the early lead.
 
The Demons quickly answered by rushing the ball on all seven plays of their scoring drive, capped on a 1-yard plunge by De'Mard Llorens. The NSU tailback caused problems for Nicholls all game as he racked up 166 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
 
Llorens' added two more scores – 24 yards and 13 yards - on NSU's next two possessions, giving the Demons a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter.  Nicholls then went 74 yards on 11 plays to make it a one-possession game. Terry Lucas Jr. and C.J. Bates both had two receptions on the drive, and Henry polished it off with a 1-yard rush with 1:49 until halftime. Both Bates and Lucas finished with four receptions for 47 yards.
 
Nicholls had a chance to score before the break as Francisco Condado attempted a 48-yard field goal with the wind at his back, but the ball sailed right of the goal post, keeping the score at 21-14.
 
To start the third, Llorens had a 28-yard rush to fuel a scoring drive for the Demons and added his fourth touchdown on a 2-yard run. On the ensuing possession, the Colonels had a bad snap on their own 20 and the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a safety, making the score 30-14.
 
With 8:12 remaining in third, Demon running back Daniel Taylor caught a pass in the flat from Stephen Rivers and took it 38 yards to pay dirt for a commanding 37-14 lead.
 
Before the end of the third, Figaro found an opening down the left sideline and scored on a 39-yard touchdown run to trim the deficit to 37-21.
 
Early in the fourth, Llorens looked to be on his way to his fifth touchdown of the day, but Ahmani Martin chased him down on a 42-yard rush before he crossed the goal line, stripping the ball into the end zone for a touchback.  However, the Demon defense was stout the rest of the way, holding Nicholls to one first down in its next two drives. On the Colonels' final drive, Chase Collins put the stamp on NSU's victory with an interception.
 
The Colonel defense was led by Seth Keller with 11 tackles, and Hezekiah White added nine stops.
 
Nicholls will return to the field on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Lamar. Kickoff in Beaumont, Texas is scheduled for 6 p.m.