#FIRSTFIVE
• Still searching for their first win under new head coach Tim Rebowe, the Nicholls Colonels (0-5, 0-3 SLC) will return home for only the second time this season as they host Houston Baptist (2-4, 0-3 SLC). Nicholls lost its 2015 home debut to conference leader McNeese State, 37-7. 

• The Colonels led for the second time at the half in as many road conference games in their matchup with Stephen F. Austin last week. Nicholls came out firing on all cylinders by taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and led 21-7 at the break. Unfortunately after starting quarterback Tuskani Figaro left the game with an injury in the third quarter, the Colonels were held to a field goal as SFA scored three touchdowns for a comeback 28-24 win. 

• After coming up empty on two fumbles against McNeese, the Colonel defense forced five fumbles against SFA and came away with four. Two of the fumbles came as the Lumberjacks were approaching the end zone, and one was on the kickoff to open the second half. Despite the four turnovers, Nicholls heads into the matchup tied with HBU for last place in the Southland in turnover margin at minus-8. 

• In only their second season in the Southland Conference, the HBU Huskies will be looking for their second conference win in program history. The first came last season against Nicholls as HBU scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pick up a 31-21 victory on Homecoming. 

• At  halftime, Nicholls will honor its 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees. Joining the exclusive club will be baseball's Bobby Dickerson, softball's Kat Harrell Slosarek, women's basketball's Katherine Plummer and football's Oscar Smith. (STORY)

BY THE NUMBERS

3 - Nicholls recorded three sacks against Stephen F. Austin after talling only two all of last season. Hezekiah White led the way with 1.5 sacks. Devin Simoneaux had 1 and Geoffrey Hebert added 0.5

5 - The Colonel defense was credited with five forced fumbles at SFA. B.T. Sanders was credited with two and also added a fumble recovery for 27 yards

9.4 - Sophomore linebacker Hezekiah White has been one of the league's top tacklers so far this season, ranking third in the Southland with 9.4 tackles per game. He also ranks 8th in the SLC with 5.0 tackles for loss 

24 - Nicholls needed just 24 seconds to score against SFA, going 75 yards on two plays on the game's opening drive. After a 45-yard pass to Damion Jeanpiere to start the game, Tuskani Figaro rushed 30 yds for a TD

59:10 - The Colonels held the lead over the Lumberjacks for all but 50 seconds. After a quick score, Nicholls never trailed in the contest until SFA scored the game-winning touchdown with 26 seconds remaining


ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...

Nicholls is 1-3 on Oct. 17 all-time, winning in 1981 against Texas Southern. The Colonels have lost the last three, including its Southland matchup with Texas State in '09.

1981    Texas Southern    W    31-27    H
1987    Stephen F. Austin    L    21-24    H
1992    Central Florida    L    18-42    A
2009    Texas State*    L    28-34    H


SCOUTING HBU

• HBU heads to Thibodaux for the first time ever with a 2-4 record on the year and an 0-3 mark in conference. The Huskies fell to Abilene Christian (49-21), Sam Houston (63-14) and Central Arkansas (43-7) in conference play, and notched wins over Bethany College (NAIA) and College of Faith.

• The Huskies are coming off a 43-7 home loss to Central Arkansas last Saturday. After averaging over 200 yards rushing in their first four games, HBU was completely shut down in the running game as UCA held the Huskies to -9 net yards. 

• HBU is led on offense by QB Max Staver and RB Terrance Peters. Staver, a transfer from the University of Florida, is averaging 179.5 yards passing to go along with 4 TDs on the year. Peters is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and has totaled 351 yards on the ground.

• HBU ranks second in the Southland in total defense, allowing 361.3 yards per game. The Huskies limited Bethany College to just 220 yards in the season opener.

LAGNIAPPES

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU
After coming up empty in three chances for turnovers against McNeese State, Nicholls forced five fumbles against SFA and came away with four. Two of the fumbles came inside the 10-yard line as SFA was approaching the end zone.  Leading the way was B.T. Sanders with two, upping his total to three for the season. 


SACK IT TO ME
After having just two sacks all of last season, Nicholls recorded three sacks in its game against SFA. Hezekiah had 1.5 sacks, Devin Simoneaux had 1 and Geoffrey Hebert added 0.5. The Colonels had three sacks in two games in 2013, with the last coming against Central Arkansas (11/16).


NO HEZ-TATION
Sophomore Hezekiah White has emerged as one of the Colonels' top defenders, leading the team in tackles with 47 after five games. After collecting nine stops in the first two games, White racked up a career-high 11 at Colorado. He also added a fumble recovery against the Buffaloes. White leads the team with 5.0 tackles for loss. 


RED ZONE, DEAD ZONE
Although Nicholls defense has allowed opposing offenses to get yards, the Colonels rank second in the Southland in red zone defense, allowing scores just 62.5 percent of the time. Out of 32 chances, Nicholls' defense has not allowed points 12 times. 


LAST WEEK'S RECAP




SOUTHLAND WEEKLY COACHES CALL (REBOWE STARTS AT 15:00; HBU's VIC SHEELY STARTS AT 48:30)