Oct. 13, 2007

Final Stats

NACOGDOCHES, Tex. - For the first time in almost 21 years, the Colonels beat Stephen F. Austin 17-16 in Homer Bryce Stadium on Saturday night. The last time that Nicholls beat the Lumberjacks in Nacogdoches, Texas was October 14, 1986 by the score of 14-10.

"I'm just so proud of our guys for never giving up and battling through adversity," said head coach Jay Thomas. "Stephen F. Austin kept us off balance the whole game, but our guys made some big plays to help us get the win."

Despite being shutout in the second half, Nicholls out gained Stephen F. Austin on offense by piling up 382 yards to their 347. Both teams were one dimensional with the Colonels recording 252 yards rushing, and the Lumberjacks airing it out for 319. It is the first time the Colonels are 5-1 since 2002, and only the third time since joining the Southland Conference that Nicholls is 2-0 in league play. The only other two 2-0 starts were in 2005 and 1990.

The Lumberjacks (0-6, 0-2) drew first blood at the 3:13 mark of the second quarter as Cory Long connected on a 26-yard field goal that gave Stephen F. Austin the 3-0 advantage. The scoring drive for Lumberjacks totaled 15-plays for 75-yards and used 7:52 of game clock.

The Colonels (5-1, 2-0) fired back with a field goal of their own at the 9:15 mark of the second quarter when senior Alex Romero booted one through the uprights from 23-yards out. The drive, which totaled 7-plays for 74-yards, used 2:50 of the clock and was powered by a 61-yard run by senior Cal Jones. Jones finished the game with 104 yards of total offense (73 rushing 31 receiving).

Stephen F. Austin responded with a four-play drive that covered 55-yards and was capped off when true freshman Jeremy Moses found Dominique Edison from five yards out for the go ahead score. The touchdown came at the 5:18 mark of the second quarter, and the point after attempt by Long failed to make the score 9-3.

On the ensuing series, the Colonels marched right down the field with a seven play scoring drive that went 58-yards and used 3:10 of game clock as senior Broderick Cole did the honors from one-yard out. Romero was successful on his point after attempt to give Nicholls their first lead of the game, 10-9, at the 1:52 mark of the second quarter. The Colonels had great field position to start the drive due to a 35-yard kickoff return by junior Ladarius Webb to the Nicholls 37-yard line.

Before the first half ended, Nicholls offense managed to squeeze in another touchdown as junior quarterback Vincent Montgomery found senior running back Grant Thorne in the corner of the end zone for the score. The drive went a total of 53-yards on 5-plays and only used 44 seconds. Romero's extra point attempt was good and the Colonels went into the locker room with a 17-9 lead at half time.

After a squandered offensive series by the Colonels to open up the second half, Stephen F. Austin took over at the 50-yard line via a senior Sean Comeaux punt. The Lumberjacks took advantage of the opportunity and scored on the ninth play of the drive on a 12-yard pass from Moses to Marcus Taylor at the 8:42 mark of the third quarter. The point after attempt was good by Long making the score 17-16. That was the last time both teams would score in the game as Nicholls went on to win.

The Colonels will host No. 6 McNeese State for homecoming next Saturday in John L. Guidry Stadium at 6 p.m. The Cowboys defeated Sam Houston State 31-21 on Saturday night.