Final Stats

BEAUMONT, Texas – The Nicholls State University football team made a third-quarter rally against Lamar, scoring twice to come within three points, but the Cardinals answered with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to knock off the Colonels, 34-24, on Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

With the loss, Nicholls falls to 1-8 and 0-6 in the Southland. The loss was the 13th consecutive in conference and sixth overall. Lamar improves to 4-7 overall and 1-5 in the Southland.

The offenses were almost identical in yardage, with Lamar outgaining Nicholls 353-345. However, the Cardinals were able to convert 11 of 15 third-down conversions, which played a huge part down the stretch.

Trailing 20-3 at the break, Nicholls captured the momentum in the third quarter, scoring on its opening drive. Marcus Washington, who recorded his third career 100-yard rushing game (104 yards, 15 carries), set up the drive with a 33-yard run on the second play. After converting on a 4th-and-four, the Colonels scored their first touchdown of the day when Washington powered it in from a yard out.

On the Cardinals' ensuing possession, Kerry Guidry got to LU quarterback twice in a row, sacking Ryan Mossakowski on second-down before forcing a hurried throw on third, which led to an interception by Toren Joseph. Mossakowski, who had three touchdown passes in the first half, left the game due to an injury on the play and would not return. Starting at the LU 26, Nicholls quickly made it a three-point game after LaQuintin Caston scored on a 4-yard run.

With Caleb Berry under center for Lamar, the Colonel defense struggled with the change up, giving up four third-down conversions on a 15-play, 90-yard drive that lasted over eight minutes. With the ball at the Nicholls 42, Berry ran three straight times, scoring on an 18-yard run to make the score 27-17 in the fourth.

Following a missed 53-yard field goal by Andrew Dolan, the Colonel defense forced a punt with 6:43 remaining. However, Lamar's John Prescott tipped a pass by Landry Klann to himself and returned in 26 yards for a touchdown. Nicholls added a late score on a 9-yard run by Klann, making the final 34-24. 

Klann finished with 209 yards passing on 26 of 42 and was picked off three times. Nicholls had a chance to take the lead in second quarter, trailing 7-3, but Klann was intercepted in the end zone on third-down. It was the first of two mishaps in the period that led to Lamar touchdowns, with the Cardinals taking advantage of a 2-yard punt to go into the break up 20-3.

Jesse Turner led the Colonels with six receptions for 42 yards, while Nick Scelfo had 45 yards on four catches. On defense, Jordan Piper had eight tackles and Guidry added two tackles for loss and an interception.

Nicholls returns to the field on Thursday, Nov. 15. in its home finale against Southeastern La. Before the game, the Colonels will honor their 15-member Senior Class. Tickets for the 6 p.m. game can be purchased at NichollsTickets.com or by calling the ticket office at (985) 448-4790.

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