Final Stats HUNTSVILLE, Texas  - The Nicholls State University football team turned the ball over a season-high five times against No. 10 Sam Houston State as the Southland Conference leading Bearkats cruised to a 47-7 victory on Saturday at Bowers Stadium.

Four first-half turnovers by Nicholls (1-6, 0-3 SLC) resulted in 21 points for Sam Houston State (6-0, 3-0 SLC), and the Bearkats headed into the break up 24-0. Even with a comfortable lead, Sam Houston refused to let up, adding three more touchdowns and a safety to stay perfect on the season and push its winning streak to six games against Nicholls. Sam Houston improves its all-time record versus the Colonels to 16-10-1.

“I knew that we'd have to have our A game in all three phases,” said Nicholls head coach Charile Stubbs. “I did think our defense played well. I thought we had a good plan and they executed it. I know it doesn't reflect in the score because of the bad situations that they were put in, but I did see a lot of fight on that side of the ball.”

Nicholls was held to just 181 yards on offense and six first downs. Running back Marcus Washington rushed for 64 yards on 14 carries against the FCS' top-rated rush defense, who came into the game giving up only 46 yards per contest.

Quarterback Landry Klann, who made his second start of the season, struggled to get the offense going, finishing 3-of-8 for 16 yards with three interceptions. LaQuintin Caston also made his first appearance since suffering a concussion against Texas State, rushing for 63 yards and prevented the shutout with a 12-yard TD pass to Jesse Turner late in the fourth. 

Brian Lewis and Darrell Brown led the Colonel defense with a career-high eight tackles. Siegan Vergenal and A.J. Carter also chipped in with seven tackles each.

In the game, the Colonels forced punts on Sam Houston's first two possessions, but at the end of the first, the Bearkat defense came up with the game's first score as Robert Shaw intercepted Klann and took it 61 yards for a touchdown. 

In the second quarter, running back Tyrie Allen fumbled at the Nicholls-22, which resulted in an 8-yard TD pass by the Bearkats for 14-0 lead with 8:33 remaining.

Later in the quarter with Nicholls backed up against their own goal line, SHSU came up with another interception off a tipped pass at the 3. Flanders capped off the short drive with his first of two rushing touchdowns, and the Bearkats tacked on a field as time expired to lead 24-0 at the break.

Following the intermission, Sam Houston forced its fifth turnover of the game on a Landry fumble, leading to Flanders' second TD. Although Flanders scored twice, Nicholls held the SLC's top rusher to 50 yards on 15 carries.

Sam Houston expanded the lead to 47-0 after adding two more touchdowns and sacking Caston in the endzone for a safety. Caston, however, directed an 8-play, 78-yard touchdown drive to put the Colonels on the board. Turner's TD reception was his first score of the season.

Nicholls will return to action next weekend when they host Stephen F. Austin for homecoming. Kickoff at John L. Guidry Stadium is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.