THIBODAUX, La. – Quarterback Beaux Hebert threw for a career-high 209 yards and Michael Henry rushed for 96 yards and a score, but Incarnate Word never trailed in the game and led by as much as 24 points as the Nicholls State University football team suffered a 38-20 loss on Homecoming Saturday night at John L. Guidry Stadium.
 
The loss was the Colonels 16th consecutive dating back to last season, putting the team at 0-10 on the year and 0-6 in Southland play. UIW improved to 2-7 and recorded its second win in conference, upping its mark to 2-5.
 
After falling behind 10-0 in the first, Nicholls fought back to cut the deficit to three points two different times in the second quarter, with the last coming at 17-14. But UIW scored one touchdown before the break and added two more in the second half to lead 38-14 with less than 10 minutes remaining. Hebert then connected with Keenan Canty for a 25-yard touchdown pass to make the final, 38-20.
 
Nicholls tallied 351 yards on offense, getting 209 in the air and 142 yards on the ground. Henry carried the ball 20 times for a 4.8 yard average while Tobias Lofton had 42 yards on four carries. Hebert, who was sacked four times, completed 16-of-29 pass attempts.
 
The Colonels generated three turnovers for the second time in as many home games, but the team had a season-high 12 penalties for 107 yards. Nicholls was also only able to score once off the Cardinals' miscues, which came in the second quarter when Lofton raced 34 yards for a touchdown two plays after UIW quarterback Jordan Scelfo gave up the ball at midfield.
 
Earlier in the game, UIW struck first, putting together a 7-play, 65-yard drive capped on a Junior Sessions' 1-yard touchdown run at the 8:30 mark in the opening quarter. Ramon Coto then made it 10-0 with a 22-yard field goal. Sessions led UIW's ground game with 89 yards on 19 carries.
 
In the second, Hebert found Demon Bolt wide open for a 43-yard pass to start the Colonels' drive, and Henry polished it off with a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 10-7. But on the ensuing kickoff, UIW's Jordan Hicks ran it back 56 yards, setting up a Scelfo 27-yard touchdown pass to Cole Wick. Scelfo finished the day with 260 yards passing and two scores.
 
Byron Cobb then scooped up Scelfo's fumble to setup Lofton's touchdown run, which made the score 17-14 UIW. The Colonels then tried on onside kick, but UIW was awarded the ball at midfield after an offsides by Nicholls. On a third-and-9 from Nicholls' 22, Scelfo hit Daryl Brooks for a touchdown to push the lead back to double figures at 24-14.
 
In the third, Sessions carried the ball six times on a 9-play drive and barreled in from a yard out to extend the Cardinals' lead to 31-14. Following a punt, the Colonel defense came up with a huge play when Dwayne Mitchell hit Scelfo as he was releasing the ball, and defensive lineman Andrew Carter intercepted the ball and ran it back 19 yards to the UIW 37. But a sack put the Colonels at fourth-and-17 and the drive ended when Bolt threw incomplete into the end zone on an end around.
 
Joseph Sadler added a rushing touchdown for UIW early in the fourth before Hebert and Canty hooked up for their touchdown. Trailing by 18, Nicholls elected to go for two points and converted on the first attempt, but an illegal block pushed the ball back to the 18. The second attempt came up short, keeping the score at 38-20.
 
Davin Bovie and Ronnie Walker led the Colonels with 10 tackles each, and Walker added a tackle for loss. Senior Toren Joseph had the Colonels' second interception of the night on UIW's final drive.
 
Nicholls will have next week off before returning to the field on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Northwestern State. Kickoff in Natchitoches is scheduled for 6 p.m.