Box Score
HOUSTON – Trailing by 10 points at halftime, the Nicholls State University football team scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to take the lead over Houston Baptist, but the Huskies rallied in front of their home crowd to score 14 unanswered to defeat Nicholls 31-21 on Saturday night at Husky Stadium.
The outcome was historic for both teams as Nicholls saw its losing streak extend to a program-record 15 games, dropping its record to 0-9 on the year and 0-5 in Southland play. HBU improved to 2-6 and notched its first Southland victory in team history (1-4).
The teams mirrored in other in the statistics, with Nicholls finishing with 373 yards while HBU had 393. The Huskies rushed for 266 yards but needed 66 carries and the Colonels rushed for 187 yards with a 5.5 average per carry.
Michael Henry rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns for the Colonels, including one on the game's opening drive. HBU deferred the ball on the coin toss and Nicholls marched 75 yards down the field to take a 7-0 lead. Henry scored from five yards out and the drive was fueled by a 40-yard run by
Tobias Lofton, who finished with 88 yards on 10 carries.
HBU took advantage of a Henry fumble at midfield and ran the ball 10 times on an 11-play scoring drive, capped on a 1-yard score from Larry Day. The Huskies then took a 14-7 lead with a 17-play drive the chewed up nearly eight minutes off the clock.
In the second quarter, Nicholls drove into HBU territory twice, but came up with no points. Two fourth-down pass attempts came up empty before a
Beaux Hebert interception turned into three points for the Huskies, sending HBU into the locker room with a 17-7 lead.
Nicholls responded early in the third when Hebert hit
Demon Bolt for a 60-yard touchdown, which was the Colonels' longest pass of the season. After forcing a punt, the Colonels went to their running game, rushing the ball nine of 11 plays in a five minute and 54 seconds drive. Henry gave Nicholls a 21-17 lead on a 15-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds left in the quarter.
Early in the fourth, HBU jumped back ahead when B.J. Kelly broke free on the right side for a 29-yard touchdown, putting the Huskies up 24-21. Kelly was the workhorse for HBU all night, rushing 29 times for 153 yards.
Nicholls was held to one first down on its next possession, and a 29-yard punt set up HBU with great field position with just over 10 minutes left in the game. The Colonel defense faced a fourth-and-2 at their own 24 and the Huskies opted for the pass as Jonathan Fleming found a wide open Kenneth Bibbons for a touchdown, making the score 31-21.
The offense stalled once again for the Colonels and HBU put the game away with a 12-play drive that gave Nicholls the ball back with only 38 seconds remaining.
Davin Bovie led Nicholls on defense with 11 tackles while
B.T. Sanders added 10.
On offense, Hebert finished 17-of-28 for 186 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Henry had a team-high five receptions for 27 yards and Bolt lead the team with 73 yards receiving on three catches.
The Colonels will return home for their next game, taking on Incarnate Word for Homecoming on Saturday, Nov. 1. The game will also be a Blackout, with all fans and students encouraged to wear black. Kickoff at John L. Guidry Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
