#FIRSTFIVE
• Coming off their first win under new head coach Tim Rebowe, the Nicholls Colonels (1-5, 1-3 SLC) will be looking for an upset in order to put together a winning streak as they head to Texas to take on nationally-ranked Sam Houston State (4-2, 4-1 SLC). The Bearkats have won four straight after opening the season at 0-2. The matchup against Sam Houston is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox College Sports. 

• Helped by its current eight-game winning streak against the Colonels, Sam Houston has grabbed an 18-10-1 lead in the all-time series versus Nicholls. The teams did not play each other in 2014, but the Bearkats had little trouble in putting away the Colonels in the last meeting in '13 as they scored 49 straight points after trailing 3-0. Nicholls has won three of 13 matchups in Hunstville, with the last coming in 2002 (34-16).

• Nicholls is 0-2 in conference road games under head coach Tim Rebowe, but the Colonels are very close to being 2-0. An unfortunate penalty at Incarnate Word wiped out a potential game-winning interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter and the Nicholls defense could not hold Stephen F. Austin on a fourth-and-one on their late game-winning drive. 

• After a pair of tough losses in conference play which saw the Colonels squander second-half leads, Nicholls took care of business against Houston Baptist by turning a 10-point half time lead into 28 points en route to a convincing 38-17 victory in front of their home crowd. Along with establishing their running game against the Huskies, tallying 291 yards rushing and five touchdowns, the Colonels limited HBU to 30 yards on the ground, which has been a glaring weekness in the defense over the past few seasons.

• The 21-point victory over Houston Baptist was the largest margin of victory in a conference game for the Colonels since their 37-7 win at Northwestern State in 2010. Overall, it was the biggest point differential since the team's lone win in 2012, a 73-17 victory over NAIA Evangel. 


BY THE NUMBERS

2 - Cornerback Jeff Hall had two interceptions against HBU. Hall's first one came in the end zone on a leaping grab and his second came off a tipped pass by linebacker Ronnie Walker

3 - Junior safety B.T. Sanders has three forced fumbles this season, which ranks fifth best in the FCS. All three have come in conference play

5 - The Colonels had five rushing touchdowns in the victory over HBU. The last time Nicholls had 5 or more came 9/22/12 in its blowout win over NAIA Evangel (6)

15th - Although Nicholls is second in the Southland in red zone scoring defense at 64.7 percent (22 of 34), the ranking is good for 15th in the FCS. The Colonels allowed just 3 scores out of 8 red zone chances against SFA

40:13 - With the running game firing on all cylinders against HBU, Nicholls held the ball for over 40 minutes against the Huskies


ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...

• Nicholls has never won on Oct. 24, going 0-6 all-time. 

1981    Tennessee State - L, 11-49, A
1987    Texas State - L, 16-31, H
1992    Stephen F. Austin* - L, 6-21, A
1998    Northwestern St.* - L, 26-28, H
2002    Northwestern St.* - L, 14-21, H
2009    Central Arkansas* - L, 13-42, A


SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
• Sam Houston enters the matchup ranked in the Top 10 of both the STATS (#9) and Coaches (#10) FCS Top 25 Polls.

• The Bearkats have won the last four games after starting the year 0-2. Sam lost in a pair of shootouts to start the season, falling to FBS Texas Tech (59-45) and Lamar (49-46). Last Saturday, the Bearkats defeated Abilene Christian, 49-21.

• Sam Houston leads the FCS in scoring at 49.3 points per game, is second in total offense (579.7 ypg) and fifth in passing offense (331.2 ypg). 

• Sam's offense is led by quarterbacks Jared Johnson and Jeremiah Briscoe. Johnson has 1,092 yards passing and 11 touchdowns, while Briscoe has passed for 861 yards and six TDs. They also have five players with 200 or more rushing yards, led by Cory Avery (403 yds, 3 TD, 9.8 ypc).


LAST MEETING 
Nov. 9, 2013
Sam Houston State 49
Nicholls 24

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Nicholls State University football team lost its fourth consecutive game as the No. 6/7 Sam Houston Bearkats scored 49 consecutive points en route to a 49-24 victory in their home finale Saturday at Bowers Stadium. (FULL RECAP)

NICH vs. SHSU SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: SHSU leads 18-10-1
in Huntsville: SHSU leads 10-3
First Meeting: 9/15/79 @ NICH ; NICH 29-10
Last Meeting: 11/9/13 @ SHSU ; SHSU 49-24
Most Points Scored (combined): 86, 1999
Most Points Scored by NICH: 38, 1986
Most Points Scored by SHSU:  69, 1999


LAST OUTING
Oct. 17, 2013
Nicholls 38
Houston Baptist 17

THIBODAUX, La. – Behind a combined 183 yards rushing and four touchdowns by Tuskani Figaro and Michael Henry, the Nicholls State University football team earned its first victory under first-year head coach Tim Rebowe as the Colonels defeated Houston Baptist, 38-17, in Southland Conference action on Saturday afternoon at John L. Guidry Stadium. (FULL RECAP)


SOUTHLAND WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL (COACH REBOWE STARTS AT THE 11:30 MARK)



UP NEXT
Nicholls will return home for Family Day against Northwestern State on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff against the Demons is scheduled for 3 p.m. (TICKETS)