Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University football team had four interceptions against McNeese State and the Cowboys used a balanced offensive attack to hand Nicholls a 42-10 defeat at John L. Guidry Stadium on Saturday.

Nicholls falls to 1-7 on the year and 0-5 in Southland play. The Colonels have lost their last 12 games in conference, dating back to last season's Southland slate.

With the win, McNeese (6-3, 3-3) keeps its playoff hopes alive and extends its winning streak over the Colonels to four games. The Cowboys led 21-3 at the break went up 35-3 in the start of the fourth after Kenny Brown scored on a 7-yard run.

Nicholls was able to add a late touchdown on a 10-yard score by Dalton Hilliard, Jr., but McNeese quickly answered on its second play as Kelvin Bennett raced 76 yards to make the final 42-10.

The Cowboys finished with 550 yards on offense, getting 276 yards on the ground while Cody Stroud finished with 274 yards passing. Stroud tossed three touchdowns, completing 17 of 28 with one interception.

For the Colonels, Landry Klann had 177 yards passing, completing 18 of 25 and was picked off twice. Beaux Hebert came in at the tail end of the game, throwing for 88 yards on 6 of 11. Hebert had the other two interceptions, including one that ended the game.

Nicholls had 110 yards on the ground, led by Marcus Washington with 57 on 10 carries. Nick Scelfo paced the team with 63 yards on three receptions, and Demon Bolt caught two balls for 52 yards. Bolt had a highlight 36-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter that would have tied the score, but it was negated on a holding call. 

In the second, McNeese made the score 14-0 after a lengthy 13-play drive that chewed 6:22 off the clock. Facing a 1st-and-goal at the 4, the Colonel defense held McNeese out of the end zone on the first three plays, but a gamble on fourth down paid off as Marcus Wiltz punched it in from a yard out.

Nicholls cracked the scoring column on its next possession after a 27-yard field goal by Andrew Dolan. The Colonel drive was set up by a 30-yard run by Washington, but the offense stalled in the red zone. Nicholls entered the red zone five times on the day, but only converted two scores.

With 19 seconds remaining in the half, McNeese scored its first of three consecutive touchdowns that gave the Cowboys a 35-3 lead. Before Brown's touchdown, Darius Carey added a 32-yard score in the third. Carey led McNeese with 125 yards on six catches.

On defense for the Colonels, Chris Bermond led the squad with nine tackles, while Toren Joseph, Siegan Vergenal and Jordan Piper had six each. Byron Cobb had an interception for 36 yards and Kerry Guidry added a sack.

The Colonels return to action on Nov. 10 when they head to Texas to take on Lamar. Kickoff against the Cardinals is slated for 3 p.m.