#FIRSTFIVE
• With only three games remaining in the 2015 season, the Nicholls Colonels (1-7, 1-5 SLC) will look to close out the year on a high note, starting Saturday at Lamar (4-4, 3-3 SLC). It won't be easy for the Colonels as the final three opponents sit in the top half of the Southland Conference standings, and two games come on the road where Nicholls is still searching for its first win.

• Nicholls is 0-3 in conference road games under head coach Tim Rebowe, but the Colonels are very close to being 2-1. 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. 

• In their brief series history, Lamar holds a 6-1 advantage over Nicholls and has not lost a game (4-0) since rejoining the Southland in football in 2011. Dating back to 1984, the Cardinals have won five straight over Nicholls and has yet to lose in Beaumont, posting a 4-0 record. During the current skid against Lamar, Nicholls' first three losses were by 10 or less points; however, LU's last two wins came by 22 and 42 points. Last season, the Cardinals defeated Nicholls in Thibodaux, 63-21.

• Last week against Northwestern State, the Colonels not only had their first 100-yard rusher of the season, but two players eclipsed the century mark in the loss to the Demons. Michael Henry, who was named Second Team All-Southland last season, surpassed his career-high with 154 yards rushing on 23 carries, and quarterback Tuskani Figaro rushed for 114 yards on 17 carries. Henry's previous best came against the Demons last season as he finished with 146 yards.

• Although Nicholls is allowing 243 yards rushing per game, the Colonels statistically have the Southland's top-rated pass defense, allowing just 190.2 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. With a little assistance from the weather the last two weekends, the defense allowed just 63 and 80 yards on a combined 13 of 25 passing attempts.


BY THE NUMBERS

2 - The Colonels featured two 100-yard rushers last week against Northwestern State as Mike Henry (154) and Tuskani Figaro (114) both passed the century mark. It was the first time Nicholls had a pair of 100-yd rushers since last season against SFA (Oct. 11)

3 - Junior safety B.T. Sanders and sophomore corner Christian Boutte each have three forced fumbles on the season, ranking 11th in the FCS. As a team, Nicholls has 12 forced fumbles on the year

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)

5.4 - Sophomore linebacker Hezekiah White is averaging 5.4 solo tackles per game, ranking 29th in the FCS. He also ranks fifth in the Southland in tackles with 8.9 per game

12th - 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 in the red zone. Nicholls ranks 12th in the FCS in red zone defense, allowing the opposition to score just 67 percent of the time

262 - Senior RB Michael Henry is just 262 rushing yards away from reaching 2,000 for his career. Henry, who is currently 11th on the all-time rushing list, would be only the 7th player in program history to reach the benchmark

ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...

• Nicholls is 0-6 all-time on Nov. 7, including an 0-3 mark on the road.

1981    Northwestern St. -- L -- 17-31 -- H
1987    Northwestern St. -- L -- 28-31 -- H
1992    North Texas* -- L -- 3-31 -- A
1998    Troy State* -- L -- 10-31 -- A
2009    Stephen F. Austin* -- L -- 27-31 -- A
2010    Stephen F. Austin* -- L -- 13-48 -- H


SCOUTING THE CARDINALS

•  Lamar is coming off a 55-7 victory at Houston Baptist, which evened the Cardinals' overall record (4-4) and conference record (3-3).

• LU features the nation's sixth highest scoring offense at 40.5 points per game. They scored 66 in their opener against Bacone College, and their lowest output came in a 30-27 loss at Southeastern Louisiana.

• The Cardinals are also ranked sixth in the FCS in rushing offense (277.8 ypg), highlighted by running back Kade Harrington. 
Averaging an astounding 193.8 yards rushing per game, Harrington has been the FCS' top rusher and is second with 17 touchdowns.

• Defensive lineman Larance Hale has been a one-man wrecking crew on defense as he ranks fourth in the FCS with 15.5 tackles for loss. He's also among the nationally leaders in sacks, ranking 26th with 5.5.


LAST MEETING
Oct. 18, 2014
Lamar 63, Nicholls 21

THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls had three interceptions on defense and scored its first special teams touchdown of the season against Lamar, but the Cardinals racked up a school record 691 yards on offense to hand the Colonels a 63-21 loss on Saturday evening at John. L. Guidry Stadium. (RECAP)

NICH vs LU SERIES HISTORY

Series Record: Lamar leads 5-1
in Beaumont: Lamar leads 4-0
First Meeting: 11/11/72 @ LU; LU 22-15
Last Meeting: 10/18/14 @ NICH; LU, 63-21
Most Points Scored (combined): 90, 2013
Most Points Scored by NICH: 34, 2013
Most Points Scored by LU: 63, 2014

LAST OUTING
Oct. 31, 2015
Northwestern State 37, Nicholls 21

THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University football team had a pair of 100-yard rushers in Michael Henry and Tuskani Figaro, but the Colonels were unable to limit Northwestern State's ground game as the Demons racked up 348 yards rushing en route to a 37-21 victory over Nicholls on Saturday at John L. Guidry Stadium.(RECAP)


SOUTHLAND WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL (COACH REBOWE STARTS AT THE 7:15 MARK)



UP NEXT

Nicholls will play its 2015 home finale on Saturday, Nov. 14 against the Central Arkansas Bears. The game will air nationally on the American Sports Network, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.