#FIRSTFIVE
• The Nicholls Colonels (2-8, 2-6 SLC) will be looking to end head coach Tim Rebowe's inaugural season with a victory in the program's biggest rivalry game as they make the short trip to Hammond for the River Bell Classic against the Southeastern University Lions. The Colonels have played some of their best football over the past two games, while Southeastern (4-6, 3-5 SLC) hopes to snap its three-game losing streak.

• With their road win over Lamar on Nov. 7, Nicholls is 1-3 in conference road games under head coach Tim Rebowe. With the exception of the Sam Houston game, the Colonels' conference games away from home have came down to the wire. Nicholls had a late interception return for the go-ahead touchdown called back at UIW, and against SFA, the Lumberjacks scored in the final seconds to win 28-24. The Colonels' luck changed at Lamar; however, as the Cardinals missed a 23-yard field goal as time expired. 

• Nicholls and Southeastern will meet for the 25th time, with the series all squared at 12 games each. The Colonels did hold a slight advantage at 12-8, but have lost the last four to the Lions. Four Colonel head coaches won one their first matchup against Southeastern - Bill Clements (1974), Sonny Jackson (1981), Jay Thomas (2005) and Charlie Stubbs (2010)

• If moral victories counted, Nicholls would be coming off one as their tremendous comeback on Senior Day against Central Arkansas came up six-yards short. After trailing 34-17 in the fourth quarter, the Colonels scored two touchdowns to pull within three points with six minutes remaining. Nicholls had two drives with a chance to take the lead, but a Hail Mary of the final play of the game was caught at the UCA 6, ending the Colonels bid for their third win of the season.

• The Colonels statistically have the Southland's top-rated pass defense, allowing just 177.4 yards per contest. After allowing a season-high 391 yards in the opener at ULM, the Colonel pass defense has only surrendered more than 200 yards passing twice. Their pass defense has been especially impressive as of late, allowing  just an average of 98.8 yards passing in the last four games. Nicholls ranks 19th in the FCS in pass defense.


BY THE NUMBERS

2 - Redshirt sophomore Geoffrey Hebert recorded  two sacks against Central Arkansas, including one that led to a fumble recovery. Last season, Nicholls had just two sacks as a team

4 - QB Landry Klann tossed a career-high four touchdowns in his 368-yard passing performance against Central Arkansas. Klann not only posted a personal best, but he was the first Colonel QB to record 4 TD passes since 1998

11 - Junior WR C.J. Bates had a career day against Central Arkansas as he hauled in 11 receptions for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bates' 11 grabs tied the program single-game record, held by three other players


16th - Although the Colonels have allowed yardage on defense, they've lived by the bend-but-don't-break mentalilty by not allowing teams to score from the red zone. Nicholls ranks 16th in the FCS in red zone defense, allowing the opposition to score just 67.9 % of the time

147 - Senior RB Michael Henry is just 147 rushing yards away from reaching 2,000 for his career. Henry, who is currently 7th on the all-time rushing list (1,853), would be only the 7th player in program history to reach the benchmark


ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...

• Nicholls has an impressive 5-2 record on Nov. 19. The Colonels are 3-0 against Southeastern Louisiana on 11/19, which includes wins in 2009 and 2010. 

1977    Delta St.    L    0-14    H
1983    Southeastern La.    W    6-0    A
1988    Texas Southern    W    26-13    H
1994    McNeese St.*    L    24-41    A
2005    McNeese St.*    W    39-26    H
2009    Southeastern La.*    W    45-30    A
2010    Southeastern La.*    W    27-25    H


SCOUTING THE LIONS

• After back-to-back conference championships, the Southeastern Louisiana Lions have had tough luck this season, posting a 4-6 record and a 3-5 mark in the Southland. 

• The Lion offense has been hampered by injuries all season, averaging just under 20 points per game, and added another critical injury as leading rusher Kody Sutton was lost for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against UIW. Sutton had rushed for 89.9 yards per game and 9 touchdowns.

• SLU's defense continues to be stout, ranking second in the Southland in points allowed (21.3) and total defense.(348.3 yds). Despite the loss at ACU last week, the Lions surrendered just 310 yards.

• SLU is looking to match its longest winning streak over the Colonels at five games. The Lions reeled off five consecutive victories from 1976-80.


LAST MEETING
Nov. 20, 2015
Southeastern Louisiana 62, Nicholls 3

THIBODAUX, La. -  Junior Michael Henry became the third players in Nicholls State University football program history to rush for 1,000 yards but No. 10 Southeastern Louisiana had no trouble in putting away the Colonels as Nicholls was defeated 62-3 Thursday night at John L. Guidry Stadium. (RECAP)

NICH vs SLU SERIES HISTORY

Series Record: Tied at 12-12
in Hammond: SLU leads 6-5
First Meeting: 9/30/72 @ SLU; SLU 31-9
Last Meeting: 9/27/14 @ NICH; SLU, 62-3
Most Points Scored (combined): 79, 2013
Most Points Scored by NICH: 45, 2009
Most Points Scored by SLU: 62, 2014


LAST OUTING
Nov. 14, 2015
Central Arkansas 34, Nicholls 31

THIBODAUX, La.  – Facing a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, the Nicholls State University football team gave the home crowd their money's worth as the Colonels rallied for two touchdowns against Central Arkansas before coming up six yards short of the game-winning score as time expired in a 34-31 loss Saturday night at John L. Guidry Stadium.. (RECAP)

SOUTHLAND WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL (COACH REBOWE STARTS AT THE 11:50 MARK)