Full Replay

HAMMOND, La. – Senior Francisco Condado kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to complete a dominant second half by the Nicholls State University football team as the Colonels claimed the River Bell trophy for the first time since 2010 with a 27-24 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday night at Strawberry Stadium.
 
With the win, Nicholls finished at 3-8 overall and 3-6 in the Southland in Tim Rebowe's first season as head coach. Southeastern dropped to 4-7 overall and 3-6 in conference.
 
Trailing 17-3 at the break, the Colonels stormed back with three touchdowns in the first 16 minutes of the second half to take a 24-17 lead. The Lions, looking to send off 26 seniors on a high note, rallied to tie the game on a touchdown pass with 59 seconds remaining in the game.
 
Colonel senior quarterback Landry Klann, who passed for just 88 yards on the night, came through when it mattered the most as he completed three passes in the final drive for 46 yards. His first completion went for 23 yards to C.J. Bates on the first play, and then hit Charles Henderson for an 8-yard grab. On third-and-10 with 19 seconds at the SLU 38, Bates came up with a huge catch for 15 yards and the Colonels called their final timeout with three second left in the game. Condado, who made a 45-yarder in the second quarter after hitting the upright on a 50-yard attempt in the first, drilled the ball perfectly down the middle of the uprights to give Nicholls its second walk-off victory in the last three weeks.
 
Despite rushing for just 72 yards on 21 carries in the first half, Nicholls stuck with its run game after the intermission and it paid dividends as all three touchdowns came on the ground. Senior Tobias Lofton finished with 147 yards on 17 carries, fellow senior Michael Henry rushed for 81 yards on 22 totes and Klann added 45 yards on 16 carries. All three seniors found the end zone once each.
 
The first half saw Southeastern lead 7-0 after a first-quarter touchdown run by Micah Eugene, then went up 10-0 on a 35-yard field goal by Jonathan Tatum. After Condado's 45-yarder in the second quarter made the score 10-3, D'Shaie Landor found Brandon Acker for 28 yards right before the end of the half for a 17-3 Southeastern advantage.
 
But it didn't take long for Nicholls to mount a comeback as Lofton broke loose for a 62-yard touchdown run just a minute and 46 seconds into the third quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, the Colonels tied the game at 17-all at the 9:06 mark as Klann capped an 8-play, 61-yard drive on a six-yard keeper.
 
The third-quarter success continued for the offense as Lofton reeled off 14- and 29-yard runs on back-to-back plays. Klann then hit Darryl Watson II for a 14-yard catch and SLU was flagged for roughing the passer, moving the ball to the 10. The Lions defense was called for a pass interference on the first play of the final quarter, and Henry gave Nicholls its first lead on a 2-yard touchdown run. Condado's extra point put the lead at 24-17 with 14:51 on the clock.
 
Over the next six possessions, the defenses dominated as the teams combined for six punts. Southeastern's final drive started at their 46 with 2:55 on the clock. Landon completed six passes on the game-tying drive, capping it with a 4-yard strike to Acker, who finished with 88 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
 
The teams were almost identical in offensive yards as SLU outgained Nicholls, 364-361. The Colonels had 288 yards on the ground, led by Lofton's third career 100-yard game. Southeastern's Julius Maracalin also surpassed the century mark, rushing for 121 yards.
 
Nicholls was led on defense by Hezekiah White with 11 tackles. Geoffrey Hebert added eight tackles and a sack, and freshman Ahmani Martin had an interception in the first quarter, his third of the year.