Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. – Sophomore quarterback Tuskani Figaro rushed for a single-game program record 281 yards and accounted for five touchdowns as the Nicholls State University football team held off a feisty Arkansas Tech squad with a 44-34 victory on homecoming Saturday night at John L. Guidry Stadium.

Figaro, who notched his first career start, broke the school record needing only 21 carries for a 13.4 average. The native of Lafayette, La. also tossed for a career-high three touchdowns, finishing 10 of 20 for 94 yards.

Nicholls (3-2) never trailed against Arkansas Tech (2-2), but the Colonels were threatened late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 37-34, Tech lined up for the game-tying field goal with less than two minutes remaining, but linebacker Chris Bermond surged up the middle to block Randy Valazquez's 39-yard attempt.

Figaro responded by giving Nicholls a 10-point cushion after an 88-yard touchdown run with 1:16 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Bermond, who had nine tackles, sealed the victory for the Colonels with an interception inside the 20-yard line.

Nicholls finished with 492 yards on offense, with 359 coming on the ground. Running back Marcus Washington contributed with 73 yards on 16 carries while adding three receptions for 49 yards and scored twice - one rushing and one receiving. Tight end Nick Scelfo and wide receiver Carey Fortson also had touchdown catches for Nicholls.

The Colonels came out looking as sharp as their new black uniforms, scoring twice in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead. Nicholls scored on the game's opening drive when Figaro found Scelfo for an 11-yard TD. Following an interception at midfield by cornerback Byron Cobb, Figaro ran in from eight yards out for his first of two rushing touchdowns.

In the second quarter, the teams combined for 34 points, with Arkansas Tech finding the end zone three times. The Wonder Boys used an 11-play, 88-yard drive to cut the deficit in half. But Figaro sparked a scoring drive for the Colonels with a 42-yard run and Washington finished it off with an 11-yard TD reception.

Down 21-7, Tech scored its second touchdown of the quarter when Luke Haplin, who had 175 yards passing on 13 of 22, connected with Jerry Anderson for a 14-yard pass at the 7:45 mark. The Wonder Boys then used a great play on defense to even up the score as Darion Shine picked off a Beaux Hebert pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown.
With less than two minutes remaining until the half, Nicholls marched down the field and took back the lead. On 3rd-and-goal from the 10, Figaro hit Fortson with seven ticks on the clock for a 27-21 advantage.

After the intermission, Tech made the score 27-24 with a 33-yard field goal by Velazquez. The teams then traded punts, and Figaro struck again on the Colonels' first play. Figaro started the drive with a 56-yard run, putting Nicholls inside the ATU 30. After Washington converted a 4-and-1 at the 5, the senior running back punched it in from a yard out to make the score 34-24.

Arkansas Tech started the fourth quarter with great field position at the Nicholls 35, but the Colonel defense came up big to limit ATU to just a field goal. Nicholls answered with its own field goal, a 30-yarder by Andrew Dolan, at the 7:39 mark.

Down 10, Tech quickly scored thanks to a 55-yard run by running back Ketrich Harmon on the first play of the drive. Harmon was nearly unstoppable; rushing for 182 yards on just 10 carries. On the next snap, Jonathan Keener ran in from five yards to make it 37-34 Colonels.

Tech got the ball back with just over five minutes left, and Harmon rumbled for 60 yards to the Nicholls 6-yard line. But two false starts and a botched snap pushed the Wonder Boys out of the red zone, forcing a game-tying field goal attempt. Bermond was able to deflect the kick and Davin Bovie, who led Nicholls with 10 tackles, recovered the ball at the 10-yard line.

Two plays later, Figaro cracked the record books with his game-clinching 88-yard score as he surpassed the previous record held by Corey Thomas, who rushed for 265 yards against Samford in 1994.

Nicholls closes out the non-conference schedule with three wins, its most since the 2007 season. After a bye next weekend, the Colonels will open up Southland play on Oct. 12 against rival Northwestern State. The game will be broadcast on the Southland Conference Television Network. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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