#FIRSTFIVE
• The Nicholls Colonels will host Stephen F. Austin in their Homecoming Game at 2:30 p.m. at John L. Guidry Stadium. For the third consecutive week, the Colonels can be watched on television as the American Sports Network will broadcast the game. Both teams are looking to bounce back from rough outings last weekend with the Colonels falling at McNeese, while SFA was defeated by rival Sam Houston.
• The Colonels and Lumberjacks will be meeting for 33rd time, making it the third longest rivalry for Nicholls in the program's history. SFA holds a significant advantage in the all-time series and is currently on an eight-game winning streak. The Colonels' last win over SFA came in 2007 as No. 14-ranked Nicholls edged the 'Jacks, 17-16, in Nacogdoches. Nicholls is 2-0 in its 33rd matchup, defeating McNeese, 38-35 in 2008 and Northwestern State, 31-24, in 2006. Â
• A familiar face will be roaming the SFA sidelines as the Lumberjacks are led by Colonel Hall of Fame linebacker Clint Conque. A native of Baton Rouge and graduate of Catholic High, Conque received All-American honors for Nicholls in 1982. Conque was the head coach at Central Arkansas from 2000-13, where he posted a 6-2 record against his alma mater. After last season's win at SFA, Conque is 2-0 against the Colonels as head coach of the Lumberjacks.
• The Colonels continue to receive votes in the FCS STATS Top 25 Poll, marking the first time the team is in the polls since 2013. Nicholls pulled in a total of 38 votes after almost upsetting top 10 Georgia, added seven more following both the win over UIW (45) and loss at South Alabama (52). In 2013, the Colonels received votes after defeating FBS Western Michigan. Nicholls had just 5 votes after the loss to McNeese.
• Nicholls will be wearing special uniforms to honor the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Deparment. The uniform color is Firefighter Red and the sleeves feature the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department Shield. Also, six of the eight oldest Fire Company mottos are embedded in the mantraflauge.
BY THE NUMBERS
7 - The Colonels have recorded seven interceptions through the first four games, ranking 10th in the FCS. The seven picks already matches the defense's total from 2015
26.4 - Freshman
Stefano Guarisco has put together a strong showing in the return game with a 26.4 yard average, ranking 22nd in the FCS. He has had returns of 42, 52 and 77 yards
30.4 - The Colonels rank 20th in the FCS in third-down defense as they have allowed just 14 conversions on 46 attempts (30.4 percent). Against UIW, the Cardinals converted 1 of 14
42.0 - The Colonels continue to play disciplined football, averaging just 42.0 penalty yards per game. After four games, the Colonels are 10th in the FCS in average and 13th in total yards
71 - Nicholls allowed just 71 yards rushing against McNeese last weekend. It was the third time in just 15 career games under head coach
Tim Rebowe that the defense has held the opposition to less than 100 yards
341 - Freshman QB
Chase Fourcade threw for 341 yards at McNeese last weekend. Not only was it a career-high, but it marked only the third time since 2002 a Colonel has threw for over 300 yards. Two have come in the last six games as
Landry Klann totaled 368 yards in the home finale against UCA last season
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls has a 4-3 all-time record on Oct. 8. The Colonels played SFA in 2005, picking up a 1-point victory on the road. Nicholls went on to win its only Southland Conference title in school history.
1977Â Â Â Northwestern St. -- W -- 10-6 -- H
1983Â Â Â Southern --Â L --Â 20-21 -- H
1988Â Â Â Southern -- W -- 24-0 -- H
1994Â Â Â Troy State -- L -- 14-35 -- A
1998   Sam Houston St. -- W -- 36-33 -- N
2005Â Â Â SFA -- W -- 17-16 -- A
2011Â Â Â Central Arkansas -- L -- 31-37 -- H
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
• SFA heads to Thibodaux with a 3-2 overall record and 1-1 in conference. The Lumberjacks have wins over West Albama, at McNeese and Abilene Christian. Their losses camae at Texas Tech and vs. No. 2 Sam Houston.
• The 'Jacks are coached by Clint Conque, who is in his third season. Conque was an all-American linebacker at Nicholls before going on to head the Central Arkansas program. He has played a total of 10 games vs. his alma mater, posting a 8-2 record.
• SFA has used two quarterbacks this season. Zach Conque, who scored in the final seconds in last year's 28-24 victory over the Colonels, started out the year as the starter, but was replaced by Hunter Taylor. Both have thrown for over 700 yards this season and have a combined 12 TD passes as SFA has the 11th ranked offense in passing yards.
• After five games, Kedrick Harrison ranks eighth in the country in sacks with 5.0.
ALL-TIME SERIES vs SFA
Series Record: Â Â SFA, 25-7
in Thibodaux: SFA, 11-4
First Meeting: 10/20/84 @ SFA; NICH 25-21
Last Meeting: 10/10/15 @ SFA; SFAÂ 28-24 (
RECAP)
Most Points Scored (by both): 96, 2013
Most Points Scored by NICH: 41, 2004 & 2013
Most Points Scored by SFA: 55, 2013
LAST OUTING
Oct. 1, 2016
No. 23/22 McNeese 38, Nicholls 13
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Freshman quarterback
Chase Fourcade threw for a career-high 341 yards, but the Nicholls State University football team was kept out of the end zone until late in the game as No. 23/22 McNeese rolled to a 38-13 victory over the Colonels on Saturday night at Cowboy Stadium. (
RECAP)
NICHOLLS-SFA CONNECTIONS
The main storyline for Nicholls vs SFA is the return of former all-American and Colonel Hall of Famer, Clint Conque. Conque is in his third season as head coach of the Lumberjacks. Also, his son, SFA quarterback Zach, visited Thibodaux during the middle of summer to participate as a counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy.
LSU AND TULANE ON TAP
The Colonel football program announced some big news this week in regards to its future schedule. For the first time in school history, the Colonels will be taking on Tulane and LSU on the gridrion. Nicholls will head to Yulman Stadium in 2018 to face the Green Wave, and in 2020, the Red and Gray make a trip to Death Valley to play the LSU Tigers.
BULLDAUXZED
The Colonels not only held their own against the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs, but they dominated at the line of scrimmage for most of the game. Nicholls allowed 167 yards on 39 carries, which is the fifth-fewest rushing yards allowed under Coach Rebowe. The Colonels have allowed less than 100 yards on the ground in three games, including the last outing at McNeese.
- 30 vs. HBU ('15)
- 71 vs. McNeese ('16)
- 84 vs. UIW ('16)
- 162 vs. UIW ('15)
- 167 vs. Georgia ('16)
SOUTHLAND WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL (REBOWE STARTS AT 11:20)
