Final Stats THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University football team hosted in-state rival Northwestern State University on Saturday at John L. Guidry Stadium for its Southland Conference opener, and the Demons came away with a dominating 34-0 victory.

Brad Henderson tossed three touchdowns in the first quarter for Northwestern State (2-2, 0-1 SLC) and the Demons never let up. NSU outgained Nicholls (1-3, 0-1 SLC) on offense, 396-212, and the defense kept the Colonels off the board for the first time since last season's opener at San Diego State.

“There are two things I tell our guys that they need to have when they come out and play. You got to have a great mindset and attitude, and you have to play with tremendous enthusiasm and effort, and we didn't have either one of them coming out of the gate anywhere”, said Nicholls head coach Charile Stubbs.

Nicholls was held to 81 yards rushing after heading into the matchup averaging 182.3 yards on the ground. Marcus Washington led the Colonels with 32 yards on 11 carries, and junior Jesse Turner saw his first action after suffering a knee injury during the spring, tallying seven yards on three attempts.

Linebacker Jordan Piper put together his second double-digit tackling outing of the season, heading the defense with 11 (nine solo). Linebacker Pa'Kamauoha and safety Jordan Hanberry chipped in with six tackles each.

After two turnovers to open the game, Northwestern State's huge first quarter started with a 6-play, 44-yard drive to make it 7-0. Henderson hit JaMarcus Wiliiams on a nine-yard fade into the corner of the endzone, just five minutes into the game.

Following Henderson's second TD pass of the quarter, the Demon defense stuffed Nicholls on a fourth and one at midfield. On the next play, Henderson capped off the first-quarter barrage with a 48-yard bomb to T.C. Henry with 46 seconds remaining.

Nicholls tried to spark the offense in the second when redshirt freshman Beaux Hebert took over under center, replacing starter LaQuintin Caston. Hebert and the Colonels marched down the field to the Demon three-yard line, chewing up nearly eight minutes. However, Northwestern State stopped Nicholls once again on fourth and short to end the threat and headed into the break up 21-0.

In the second half, NSU tacked on two field goals and a one-yard score in the third by D.J. Palmer as the Demons reclaimed the “N-S-U” trophy for the first time since '08.

Caston completed 10 of 20 passes for 71 yards and one interception. He also added 28 yards rushing, putting him just five yards shy of the 1,000 mark for his career. Hebert finished 5 of 8 for 60 yards.

Henderson led the Demons with 187 yards passing on 13 of 19. Palmer led the rushing attack with 78 yards on 12 carries, but threw an interception to cornerback Bobby Felder in the second. Safety Bert White paced the defense with eight tackles.

Nicholls will step back out of SLC play next weekend when they head to Texas State for “The Battle for the Paddle”. Kickoff in San Marcos, Texas is slated for 6 p.m.