September 9, 2006

LINCOLN, Neb. - The rain started coming down before kickoff and lasted for the entire game at Memorial Stadium, but that did not stop 84,076 Nebraska fans from watching the Cornhuskers defeat the Colonels by the score of 56-7.

It was easily the largest crowd that Nicholls has ever played in front of in their 34-year history.

Nebraska's `sea of red' was not disappointed as their Cornhuskers put together four touchdown drives at least nine plays long, quarterback Zac Taylor threw for a career high four touchdowns, running back Marlon Lucky eclipsed the century mark while scoring a touchdown, and the Cornhuskers scored 14 points in each quarter of play.

"If anyone thought that they (Nebraska) were overlooking us, I would definitely disagree," said head coach Jay Thomas, "they played us hard from start to finish."

Nebraska won the coin toss, and differed to Nicholls to start the game. The Colonels went 22 yards on five plays in their opening drive before Vincent Montgomery fumbled the snap. While trying to recover the ball, Montgomery was injured and did not return.

The Cornhuskers (2-0) went to work and turned the fumble into seven points by driving 53 yards on 11-plays and using 4:02 off the clock as Cody Glenn ran it in from the one-yard line. The point after attempt by Jordan Congdon was good, and Nebraska took a 7-0 lead.

Chris Bunch was substituted for the injured Montgomery at quarterback on Nicholls next offensive possession, but the Colonels (1-1) were still forced to punt.

"I planned to play both of them (Montgomery and Bunch) a lot this game," said Thomas, "it just so happened that Bunch played a lot more."

Nebraska would put together another 11-play drive that went 51 yards, and took 5:21 off the clock as Zac Taylor connected to Todd Dane for the one-yard touchdown catch. Congdon's kick was good, and the Cornhuskers would go up 14-0 as the first quarter ended.

The scoring continued in the second quarter when Taylor connected with Matt Herian from 19 yards out for the Cornhuskers' third touchdown of the game. The score capped off a three-play 39-yard drive that only took 1:20. The kick was good by Congdon making the score 21-0.

After an impressive stand by the Colonels' defense, the Cornhuskers tried for a field goal and their attempt failed. Bunch was unable to get the Colonels going on offense, and Sean Comeaux was forced to punt for the third time in the Colonels first five possessions.

Comeaux finished the game with eight punts for an average of 38.9, and his longest was 47 yards.

"Our guys played hard, they played tough and showed a lot of courage out there," said Thomas about his defense, "they made Nebraska work for their touchdowns."

Colonel safeties Toney Edison and Kareem Moore both finished the game with career highs in tackles. Edison finished with 16 total tackles, and Moore accumulated 15 in the Colonels loss to the Cornhuskers.

The Cornhuskers managed to squeeze running back Marlon Lucky in the end zone from the goal line with 23 seconds left in the first half. Lucky's one-yard touchdown run was the result of an 11-play 45-yard drive which Nebraska used 1:20 of the second quarter.

The Colonels went into the locker room at halftime with a 28-0 deficit to over come.

Nebraska opened the third quarter with a nine-play 77-yard drive that was sealed by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to Frantz Hardy. The Cornhuskers scoring drive took a lengthy 4:42, and the extra point was good as Nebraska extended its lead to 35 points.

Also in the third quarter, Taylor threw a 42-yard touchdown strike to Maurice Purify at the 7:36 mark, and Congdon's extra point was good. The third quarter ended with Nebraska on top of Nicholls 42-0.

The Colonels did not get onto the scoreboard until early in the fourth quarter, when Broderick Cole found the end zone from the one-yard line. Cole's touchdown at the 13:33 mark in the fourth was made possible by Grant Thorne's 49-yard run to the goal line. The only scoring drive for the Colonels went 50 yards on two plays and only took 30 seconds. Alex Romero's kick was good, and the score was 42-7 in favor of Nebraska.

It was not only the first touchdown of the game for the Colonels, but the first time in the game that Nicholls had been in Nebraska territory. The Colonels would only get into Cornhusker territory one other time for the remainder of the game.

Nebraska would score two more touchdowns in the final quarter, and the Cornhuskers went on to defeat the Colonels by the score of 56-7.

"We are grateful that Nebraska gave us the opportunity to play them, and in the process help our program," said Thomas.

The Colonels will play Louisiana Tech next Saturday September 16 in Ruston, La. The Bulldogs lost to the Cornhuskers 49-10 in their season debut, and had a bye this week. Game time is set for 6pm, and will be televised by Cox Sports Television.