Box Score/Play-By-Play
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs Quotes
Student-Athlete Quotes

THIBODAUX – The Nicholls State University football team held a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter, but Sam Houston State went on to score 23 unanswered points to get a 26-7 victory over the Colonels in John L. Guidry Stadium on Saturday evening.

“Offensively we got dominated at the line of scrimmage and that involves not just the line, but a lot of things. If you don't win the line of scrimmage and keep the defense honest, you don't have much of a chance,” said head coach Charlie Stubbs.

“We weren't able to sustain a running game or protect the quarterback. I thought our defense kept us in the game for a long time. I thought they did some good things, but they got worn down at the end.”

The Colonels (1-4, 0-1 Southland) rushing attack was led by sophomore Jesse Turner with 11 carries for 42 yards, while true freshman wide receiver Brad Nelson led all Nicholls' receiving targets with three grabs for 55 yards.

The Bearkats (3-2, 1-0 Southland) totaled 249 yards of offense, and were limited to just 113 thru three quarters of play. In fact, Nicholls held Sam Houston State to just 13 yards of total offense in the third quarter. At the half, each team's offense hovered at the 100 yard threshold with Nicholls putting forth 106 to Sam Houston State's 100.

“This was by far the best our defense has performed in a game out of the first five games we have played,” added Stubbs about his defense. “At times, we were very young out there with three sometimes four true freshmen. They [SHSU] tested our young secondary, and I thought that we held our own.”

Leading the Colonels' defense was true freshman free safety Siegan Vergenal with eight total stops (five solo) and an interception. Following Vergenal was senior strong safety Tarbbaris Hicks with seven total tackles (four solo).

Senior Patrick Dolan had another outstanding performance punting for the Colonels, finishing with six punts for 308 yards for an average of 51.3 yards/punt. Dolan had two punts over 60 yards, while establishing a new career long of 68.

After a scoreless first quarter, Sam Houston State tapped open the second quarter with a 32-yard field goal courtesy of Miguel Antonio at the 14:57 mark.

Nicholls' offense stalled on its next series after sophomore quarterback LaQuintin Caston was intercepted on a failed screen pass attempt. However, the Colonels defense answered with an interception from Vergenal. Vergenal's interception turned into points on the opposite end via a Caston 13-yard run off the left side to give Nicholls the lead.

True freshman Andrew Dolan made the PAT, and the Colonels led 7-3 at the 8:02 mark of the second quarter.

However, that would be all the points Nicholls would score in the half. Sam Houston State would score the first half's final points on a blocked punt. The Bearkats' Robert Shaw blocked a Dolan punt attempt inside Nicholls' own 20-yard line, and after chasing the bouncing ball down, Shaw recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown.

Antonio tacked on the PAT, and Sam Houston State took a 10-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the third quarter, Nicholls defense held strong and limited Sam Houston State to a mere three points in the third quarter – still making the contest a one-score game, 13-7, heading into the fourth quarter.

However, Nicholls could not get going offensively, and the Colonel defense wore down and Sam Houston State scored two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes to get the victory.

“We are changing things offensively and it's going to be a process. Unfortunately, it is a work in progress for all of our young men as they learn on the job,” said Stubbs.

Nicholls will take to the road next week and play at Texas State while Sam Houston State will host Southeastern La.