Sept. 12, 2009

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. - An early defensive struggle gave way to a fourth-quarter shootout as the Nicholls State University football team (1-1) held on for a 14-7 win over the Duquesne Dukes (1-1) in the Colonels' 2009 home opener.

The Colonel defense totaled eight sacks, three turnovers and a blocked field goal on the day and a fourth quarter fake punt touchdown run provided the winning margin as the Colonels rebounded from an opening weekend loss at Air Force and handed the Dukes their first defeat of the season.

"I've got to give hats off to our defense. They really played with a lot of pride today," head coach Jay Thomas said. "We made that (fake punt) call and the opposing team knew it was coming. They just didn't know exactly where it was going to. Earvin was able to get past the first line of defense, made a move and was able to score. I felt like our offense made some progress today, but we are still very young and just need more experience."

Both defenses were busy early on as the Colonels' forced and recovered a fumble on the opening drive of the game. Marquis Russell sacked Duquesne quarterback Kevin Rombach to force a fumble on third and eight. Russell fell on it to give Nicholls the ball on the Duquesne 41.

However, the Dukes got the ball back just two plays later as Duquesne linebacker Nathan Totino forced a fumble of his own. Brandon Johnson coughed it up for Nicholls and Devin Duggan recovered for Duquesne.

Fortunately, for the Colonels, the Duquesne drive stalled and Duke punter Charlie Leventry's first punt of the day traveled just four yards to give the Colonels the ball back at the Duquesne 43.

With excellent field position, the Colonels engineered a ten-play drive for the first score of the game. The Colonels traveled the 43 yards in 3:50.

A 20-yard run by freshman quarterback Jacob Witt on a third-and-seven draw play kept the drive going. Five plays later, fullback Trey Hopson rumbled in from three yards out for the Colonels' first touchdown of the season to make it 7-0 where it stayed for the rest of the half.

Nicholls recorded four of its eight sacks in the first half. Unfortunately, for the Colonels, the Dukes proved equally adept on defense by limiting Nicholls to just five first downs in the first half and forcing a pair of turnovers. The Colonels took a 7-0 lead into the half, and neither side could break through in the third.

Both offenses broke through in the final ten minutes as Duquesne tied things up with a big-play. Dukes' backup QB Connor Dixon found former Michigan State wide receiver Dave Williams down the right sideline for an 83-yard catch-and-run for the touchdown, tying things up at 7-7.

However, the Colonels wasted no time reclaiming the lead. After the Nicholls' drive stalled on the next possession, the Colonels sent out the punt team. A direct-snap to upback Earvin Moore made for an effective fake as the junior transfer sprung loose down the left side for a 63-yard run for a touchdown to put Nicholls up 14-7 with just over eight minutes left.

The Dukes threatened to even up the score once again on their next drive. A 42-yard kickoff return by Duquesne's Willie Milhouse put the Dukes on their own 45 yard line. Duquesne tried to capitalize on that field position by advancing to Nicholls' 25 yard line, however, the Colonels came up with another big stop as A.J. Carter recovered another Dixon fumble.

After going three-and-out in their next series, the Colonels were forced to punt, and the Dukes tried to put together one last drive. However, after Duquesne reached their 19-yard line, the Colonel defense stiffened. A sack on third and seven, the eighth and final one of the day for the Colonels, led to a fourth and long completion just shy of the first down marker to give Nicholls the ball on downs with just over one minute left.

Seven different Colonels combined for 208 yards rushing on 42 attempts in Nicholls' first game of the season at John L. Guidry Stadium.

Nicholls will return to action when they hit the road to take on Louisiana Tech on Sept. 19 kickoff is set for. The Colonels will return to Thibodaux to take on Jacksonville State on Sept. 26.