Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. – The 40th meeting between Nicholls State University and Northwestern State turned out to be one of the best in the series, as the Colonel took a five-point lead into the final quarter, but the Demons scored two field goals in the fourth for a 27-26 victory on Saturday at Turpin Stadium.

With the loss, Nicholls (1-6) drops to 0-4 in Southland play and has lost its last 11 in conference. Northwestern State (4-4, 2-2) improves to 4-0 at home and keeps the N-S-U Trophy for the second straight season.

The Colonels finished with 293 yards on offense, but could only muster 49 yards in the second half. Both defenses stepped up in the final thirty minutes as the teams combined for only 13 points after the break. Northwestern State headed into halftime leading 21-19.

The teams traded punches in the opening frame, started by the Colonels with an impressive 96-yard opening scoring drive. On the first play, Landry Klann found Erik Buchanan for a 34-yard gain. Later in the possession, Jesse Turner kept the drive alive on a 21-yard screen on third and long. Facing fourth down at the Demon 2-yard line, Marcus Washington punched it in for a touchdown, but the point after attempt was blocked, making it 6-0.

Northwestern State wasted little time in responding, reeling off a 45-yard run on their first play. The Demons also faced a fourth and short near the goal line, and Brad Henderson took it in to give NSU a 7-6 lead. For the game, Nicholls held Henderson to 96 yards passing, but the Demons rushed for 233 yards as a team.

After Nicholls went up 9-7 on a 28-yard field goal by Andrew Dolan, Northwestern scored on a 55-yard run by Daniel Taylor to close out the quarter. Taylor led the Demons with 90 yards on just eight carries.

In the second, NSU took advantage of a 14-yard punt by Cory Kemps, scoring on a 34-yard drive. Henderson scored his second rushing touchdown, this time from eight yards out, making it 21-9.

Aldaro Russell, who had a career-high 86 yards – all in the first half - came up big in the second quarter for the Colonels. Russell's 29-yard reception set up Dolan's second field goal, a 22-yarder, and after Dwayne Mitchell forced and recovered a fumble on the Demon's first play, Russell cut the deficit to two on the Colonels' opening play with his third touchdown catch of the season.  On first down from the Demon 29, Klann hit the senior from Marrero for a 29-yard score, making the count 21-19 Demons.

Following the break, the Colonels received a gift after Kemps booted a 52-yard punt that was muffed by Imoa Claiborne and recovered by Nick LeBlanc at the Demons' 9-yard line. Turner then scored the quarter's only points on a screen pass. The senior from Houma looked to be dead to rights in the backfield, but shook off a few tackles before back peddling into the end zone for the 26-21 lead.

In the final quarter, John Shaughnessy kicked a 42-yard field goal at the 11:30 mark, cutting the deficit to 26-24. On the ensuing possession, Washington broke free for the Colonels for a 14 yard gain, but the Demons forced a fumble and recovered it at midfield.

On the first play of the drive, the Demons ran an end-around pass as Louis Hollier hit Clifton Brown for a 33-yard play. The Colonel defense buckled down, but Shaughnessy knocked in another 42-yard field goal for the lead with nine minutes remaining.

With less than two minutes left, Nicholls had one last shot, starting its drive at its own 43. The Colonels moved the ball to the Demon's 41, but a sack on second down put Nicholls at midfield. Facing a 4th-and-14, Klann looked to Buchanan, but the Demons knocked the pass away to secure the win.

LaQuintin Caston, in his first game since Sept. 15, led Nicholls with 57 yards rushing on 10 totes. Klann finished the day 14 of 31 for 198 yards and two scores. On defense, the Southland's leading tackler, Jordan Piper, racked up nine tackles, including one for loss.

The Colonels will return home to host McNeese State for Family Day on Nov. 3. Tickets can be purchased for $7 at NichollsTickets.com.