Final Stats LAFAYETTE, La. - The Nicholls State University football team overcame two fumbles on its first two possessions to tie the score at 14-all in the second quarter against Louisiana-Lafayette, but the Ragin' Cajuns returned a blocked field goal and an interception for touchdowns to stave off the Colonels' upset bid with a 38-21 victory at Cajun Field on Saturday night.

The matchup between the in-state schools was the third meeting all-time, drawing the eighth largest crowd in Cajun Field history with 28,741 fans. With the win, ULL (2-1) leads the series 3-0.

Running back Marcus Washington led Nicholls (1-2) with 95 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Washington also added a touchdown reception in the third quarter from quarterback LaQuintin Caston, who finished the game 8-of-16 for 100 yards, tossing two touchdowns with one interception. Wide receiver Joshua Warren rounded out the scoring for the Colonels with his first catch of the season, a 36-yard reception.

Leading the Colonel defense was linebackers Rashar Knight with nine tackles (six solo) and Jordan Piper finished with seven. Cornerback Bobby Felder added an interception while Siegan Vergenal forced a fumble on a sack, leading to the Colonels' third touchdown.

ULL held a slight edge on offense, outgaining the Colonels 280-225. The Ragin' Cajuns ran for 142 yards on the ground, led by Alonzo Harris with 76 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Blaine Gautier came off the bench to toss a 60-yard touchdown pass in the fourth to Javone Lawson, putting the final at 38-21.

The Colonels opened up the game by forcing ULL to punt, but a botched return gave the Ragin' Cajuns the ball at mid-field. Nicholls defense held ULL to three-and-out, but the Colonels coughed up the ball on its first offensive play at its own 15, leading to a 1-yard score by quarterback Chris Masson.

Nicholls answered right back on the next drive when Chika Madu's 39-yard kickoff return sparked a 5-play, 54 yard drive capped off by a 10-yard run by Washington. Madu racked up 176 kick return yards on seven attempts, giving him 1,079 career yards to move the senior into fourth place all-time at Nicholls.

Still in the first, ULL scored on another short run to take back the lead at 4:33 mark. However, with 1:08 remaining in the period, Felder got one back for Nicholls with an interception off a tipped pass. With 46 ticks on the clock, Caston found Warren on a slant across mid-field to even the score at 14-14.

In the second, Nicholls took advantage of a roughing the punter penalty to extend the drive, but the ULL special teams came up with a crucial play, blocking a 41-yard field goal attempt and returning it 68 yards for a touchdown. The Ragin' Cajuns headed into the half up 21-14.

After the break, ULL came up with its fourth interception return for a score this season as Bill Bentley picked off a pass in the flat and ran 41 yards for a touchdown at the 13:32 mark, doubling up the Colonels at 28-14.

With Nicholls against the ropes, the defense stepped up as Vergenal came through unblocked on a safety blitz, forcing a fumble which was recovered by A.J. Carter at the ULL seven yard line. On the ensuing possession, Caston scrambled out of the pocket to hit Washington in the flat for a nine yard touchdown to bring the score to 28-21.

However, ULL answered with a field goal in the fourth and capped off the scoring with Gautier 's 60-yard pass, giving the Ragin' Cajuns a 38-21 win.

Nicholls returns to action against Northwestern State on Sept. 24 in its Southland Conference opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.