THIBODAUX  - After last season's thrilling quadruple overtime victory over Texas State, the Nicholls State University football team will return to San Marcos, Texas, for the second straight year to take on the Bobcats on Saturday. Kickoff at Bobcat Stadium is slated for 6 p.m.

Nicholls (1-3) will be looking to snap its three-game skid after being shutout, 34-0, in its Southland Conference opener last weekend against Northwestern State. Texas State (2-2), who is playing as an FCS Independent this season due to its transition to the FBS, heads into Saturday coming off back-to-back wins following a 35-26 victory over SLC defending champions, Stephen F. Austin.

After racking up 451 rushing yards in the first two games, Nicholls has been held to a combine 177 yards on the ground in the last two outings, including a season-low 81 on Saturday. Although running back Marcus Washington and quarterback LaQuintin Caston have shouldered the load so far, the Colonels welcomed back second-team All-SLC running back Jesse Turner last weekend, who returned after a severe knee injury in the spring.

In the passing game, following the Colonels' second offensive shutout of the season, both quarterbacks – Caston and redshirt freshman Beaux Hebert – could see action on Saturday. Caston has 256 yards passing with three touchdowns, while Hebert has passed for 160 yards with one score.

The Colonel defense, led by linebackers Jordan Piper (35 tackles) and Pa'a Kamauoha (28 tackles), will be up against a strong Texas State running game as the Bobcats average over 200 yards rushing per contest. Tailback Marcus Curry paces the Bobcats with 269 yards on the year, with quarterback Shaun Rutherford adding 224 yards.

Rutherford led Texas State with a career-day against SFA, tossing four touchdowns while rushing for another.  In four games, he has thrown for 443 yards with two interceptions. The Bobcats' leading receiver is Isaiah Battle with nine catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Rutherford, along with tight end Chase Harper who had 74 yards receiving with a score last weekend, were recently honored as FCS Independent Players of the Week.

With Texas State heading to the Western Athletic Conference of the FBS next season, Saturday could mark the final time that the teams will meet in “The Battle for the Paddle”. Nicholls' leads the all-time series 15-14, and the teams are knotted at 6-6 since the Paddle Series was established in 1998.

Kickoff for the Saturday night's contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. Mike Wagenheim and Seth Thomas will cover all the action live on The Colonel Radio Network on 100.3 FM KLRZ, 105.9 FM KBZE and 1600 AM KLEB.

Nicholls vs. Texas State Game Notes
TV Coverage: None
Radio Coverage: 100.3 FM KLRZ (Larose, La.); 1600 AM KLEB (Golden Meadow, La.); 105.9 FM KBZE (Morgan City, La.)
Broadcast Team: Mike Wagenheim (play-by-play) and Seth Thomas (color)
Colonels on the Internet: www.klrzfm.com; www.kbze.com
Live Stats: www.geauxcolonels.com