Oct. 25, 2008

Final Stats

LAKE CHARLES, La. - As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Cowboy Stadium, the Nicholls sidelined rejoiced. Some by taking a knee and bowing their heads, others took part in giving Head Coach Jay Thomas the Gatorade bath at the end of the game as all found reason to celebrate in Nicholls 38-35 upset over No.11 McNeese State.

After all the 2008 Colonels have been through. With the cancellation of their first two games, playing three consecutive games on the road and after a heart breaking loss at home last weekend, Nicholls came into tonight's contest searching for their first win. That win came tonight on the heels of mistake free offense, relentless defense and four full quarters of football.

"We went back to old school style of playing this week. In practice, we hit hard and practiced hard. We stressed finishing games, and we finished tonight," said Thomas.

"I'm so proud of this team. We have been through so much, and to come in here and beat McNeese [State] is huge. My hat is off to our offensive line and defensive line tonight. They did one heck of a job. "

The Colonels (1-4, 1-2 SLC) win in Cowboy Stadium on Saturday night was the first time in 10 years that Nicholls had beaten McNeese State (4-3, 1-2 SLC) in Lake Charles. The victory was due in large part to a strong second half effort by the Colonels, outscoring the Cowboys 16-11. McNeese State also only managed 22 yards rushing in the second half, and finished with 120 for the game.

Also helping the Colonels cause was senior quarterback Chris Bunch, who accounted for four touchdowns in the victory. Bunch's two passing scores were to his former junior college teammate junior wide receiver Antonio Robinson, who finished with two receptions for 71 yards. Robinson also added one rush for 10 yards, while Bunch finished 3-for-4 passing for 79 yards and eight carries for 38 yards.

Leading the Colonels in rushing was junior Marlin Meeks with six carries for 68 yards. Meeks' long of 45 yards set up a 5-yard Bunch touchdown run in the second quarter. Senior Lardarius Webb had a team high six tackles, all solo, that included a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. Webb also added three kickoff returns for 76 yards and one punt return for 20.

The Cowboys started the seesaw affair with a touchdown on their opening drive of the game. The Southland Conference's leading rusher Toddrick Pendland did the honor from 39 yards out to cap off an 83-yard, six play drive. Blake Bercegeay added the extra point for McNeese State to go up 7-0 at the 13:02 mark of the first quarter. Pendland finished the game with 15 carries for 93 yards, but only eight of those came in the second half.

Nicholls followed up with a scoring drive of their own as senior Vincent Montgomery muscled it in across the goal line for the 1-yard score. The scoring drive was lengthy, using 6:03, while also going 87 yards on 11 plays. Junior Ross Schexnayder added the PAT to tie the game, 7-7, at the 6:54 mark of the first quarter.

The first quarter ended with both teams tied 7-7, but the first play of the second quarter started a momentum swing for the Colonels as senior Chris Noble stripped Pendland and Webb recovered it at the McNeese State 24 yard line. It only took three plays for the Colonels to punch it in the end zone via a Bunch 6-yard scamper. Schexnayder missed the PAT, and the Colonels led 13-7. The turnover was the only miscue for both teams the entire game.

On the ensuing drive, McNeese State showed why they are the No.1 scoring team in the nation as it only took the Cowboys one play to go 74 yards to pay dirt. Quarterback Mark Fontenot found wide receiver Richard Connor open down the right sideline, and after some shifty moves on Colonel defenders, Connor scored. Bercegeay added the PAT, and the Cowboys took the 14-13 lead.

Both teams then went on to trade field goals, as Schexnayder nailed 37-yard field goal to take the 16-14 lead at the 10:26 mark of the second quarter, while Bercegeay tacked on a 21 yard boot to retake the 17-16 lead at the 7:02 mark. The Colonels scoring drive was powered by a 52-yard kickoff return by true freshman Cornell Howard.

McNeese State fired back with a touchdown drive after a Colonel punt to extend their second quarter lead when Cowboy quarterback Derrick Fourroux dove across the plain for the 1-yard score. Bercegeay added the PAT to make the score 24-16 at the 4:29 mark.

The last score of half came via a Bunch 5-yard run with 2:35 left to play. Bunch's score was the result of a four play, 57-yard drive that was aided by a 45-yard run by Meeks. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Colonels went into the locker room trailing 24-22.

After the intermission, the Colonels offense stalled to open the half, and McNeese State answered with a 30-yard Bercegeay field goal at the 9:19 mark to go up 27-22.

The Colonels then followed with a touchdown of their own when Bunch found Robinson in the corner of the end zone from 13 yards out to go up 28-27 with 4:05 left in the third quarter. The drive consisted of 11 plays and covered 60 yards, while using 5:14 off the clock. The two-point conversion failed as Bunch slipped in the back field.

Then came another Bunch-to-Robinson hook up with this one coming from 58 yards out for the Colonels to extend their lead. Schexnayder added the extra point as Nicholls went up 35-27 at the 8:04 mark of the fourth quarter.

Schexnayder then followed with a 37-yard field goal with 2:23 left to give Nicholls the 38-27 lead. McNeese State came right back with a touchdown strike as Fourroux found wide receiver Steven Whitehead in the back of the end zone with 1:01 left on the clock to make the score 38-33. The Cowboys converted the two-point try to cut it within three, 38-35, with 61 seconds left.

On the ensuing onside kick attempt, Nicholls senior wide receiver Patrick Gordon latched onto the ball to seal the victory.

Nicholls will be back in action next weekend when they face off Central Arkansas for homecoming in John L. Guidry Stadium for 1 p.m.

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