THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University football team heads to Texas for the second consecutive week as the Colonels will look to upset No. 6/7 Sam Houston on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Bowers Stadium.

A live audio broadcast is available on the Colonel Sports Radio Network, which includes KLRZ 100.3 FM, KLEB 1600 AM and LA 106.3 Rock Hits Radio. Pregame coverage will begin at 11:30 a.m. with the Colonel Insider on LA 106.3 Rock Hits Radio.

Nicholls is coming off a 56-34 loss at Lamar last weekend, dropping the Colonels to 4-5 on the year and 1-3 in conference. The Colonels continue to put up good numbers on offense after outgaining Lamar in total yards 483-421, but for the second time in Southland play, Nicholls had four turnovers. While the four miscues in the Stephen F. Austin turned out to be the difference, the turnovers in the Lamar game were even more critical as all four came in the final quarter, leading to three straight touchdowns by the Cardinals.

The strength of the Colonel offense has been the rushing attack, led by quarterback Tuskani Figaro. Figaro recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing effort of the season with 103 yards against Lamar, putting the sophomore within striking distance of becoming only the second Colonel in program history to reach 1,000. With three games remaining, Figaro has 871 yards rushing and ranks third in the Southland with 108.9 yards per game.

Senior running back Dalton Hilliard Jr. has been key in the Colonels' success on the ground as well, averaging 99 yards a game since taking over the starting role three games ago. Hilliard needed only 12 carries to reach a career-high 111 yards against Lamar while also adding eight grabs for 60 yards.

Leading the passing game thus far has been quarterback Kalen Henderson who threw for a career-high 221 yards last week. Henderson is averaging 155.2 yards passing while Figaro is throwing for 105.9 yards per game. The duo has combine for 12 touchdown passes with Erik Buchanan (16 rec., 451 yards) leading the team with four TD receptions.

Sam Houston (7-2, 3-1) poses a tough matchup for the Colonels as the Bearkats' strengths on offense equal the shortcomings on defense for Nicholls. Sam Houston features the Southland's top scoring offense (43.9 ppg) and has one of the nation's top rushing offenses (271.1 ypg), led by All-American Timothy Flanders (113.2 ypg). The Colonels are giving up 44.7 points including 50-plus in all five losses and rank last in the Southland in rushing yards allowed (275.4).

In their last outing, the Bearkats defeated Stephen F. Austin 56-49 behind a career-high 339 yards and four touchdowns from quarterback Brian Bell, who was named Southland Player of the Week. On the year, Bell has 1,670 yards passing and 22 TDs while throwing only five interceptions. Wide out Torrance Williams has done the bulk of the damage on the receiving end, hauling in 32 receptions for 738 yards and nine touchdowns.

Sam Houston leads the all-time series against Nicholls 17-10-1, helped by its current seven-game winning streak. The Bearkats shutout Nicholls last season in Thibodaux, 41-0, en route to their second consecutive appearance in the FCS championship game. Sam Houston has the FCS' longest home winning streak at 20 games and has only lost three times to Nicholls at home, with the last coming in 2002 (34-16).

Following Saturday's game at Sam Houston, Nicholls will return home for Senior Day on Nov. 16 against Central Arkansas. Kickoff at John L. Guidry is scheduled for 3 p.m.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game Notes: Nicholls, Sam Houston
Colonel Sports Radio Network: 100.3 FM KLRZ (Larose, La.); 1600 AM KLEB (Golden Meadow, La.); LA 106.3 Rock Hits Radio (Houma, La.)
Broadcast Team: Mike Wagenheim (play by play), Seth Thomas (color), Erik Solberg (sideline)
Colonels on the Internet: www.klrzfm.com, www.la1063.com
Live Stats: gobearkats.com