#FIRSTFIVE
• The Nicholls Colonels (4-4, 4-2 SLC) look to keep their hopes for a Southland Conference title alive, while also searching for a bid in the FCS Playoffs as they host the Lamar Cardinals (3-5, 3-3 SLC) for a Thursday night matchup at John L. Guidry Stadium. The game will air on Cox Sports TV and be can listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.
• Nicholls claimed its fourth conference victory of the season with a second-half domination on the road against rival Northwestern State. After allowed two long touchdowns in the first half, the defense completely shut down the Demons by allowing just 58 yards in the second half.
C.J. Bates led the offense after the break with his second and third touchdown catches of the game en route to his career night, lifting Nicholls to a 31-14 win.
• Senior WR
C.J. Bates put together a career outing against Northwestern State and was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Bates finished the game with 10 receptions for 179 yards and three touchdowns, which tied the program's single-game mark for receiving TDs. Bates was also just one catch short of tying his career-high and team record for receptions, and was 19 yards shy of the single-game receiving yard record. His touchdown catches went for 24, 2 and 74 yards.
• The Colonels are in the midst of their best season in Southland play since their championship campaign in 2005. With the win over NSU, Nicholls won its fourth SLC game for only the third time since joining the league in 1991. The Colonels' best mark in league play was in '05 (5-1) and the other four-win season came in 1996 (4-2).
• Nicholls and Lamar have a brief series history, matching up only eight times with the Cardinals leading 6-2. The Colonels' lone win at home in the series was way back in 1983, which is two years before Colonel great Lardarius Webb was born. Since returning to the Southland Conference in 2011, LU won four straight, including two in Thibodaux, before the Colonels defeated them on the road last season, 30-28.
BY THE NUMBERS
4 - QB
Chase Fourcade had a hand in all four touchdowns last week against Northwestern State. Fourcade tossed for three scores and ran for another, giving him a total of 17 touchdowns on the year. It marked the second time this season that he had four touchdowns in a game (SFA, 3 pass/1 rush)
6th - The Colonels rank 6th in the FCS with 13 interceptions. Against NSU, Nicholls recorded three picks to give them three or more for the second time this season (4 vs. South Alabama). The Colonels have had at least one interception in each game this season
20 - Nicholls put together a 20-play scoring drive in the second quarter at NSU, chewing up nearly eight minutes off the clock. Nicholls ran the ball 15 times, capped by a 1-yard TD rush by quarterback
Chase Fourcade
21 - After totaling five carries for his career, sophomore running back
Mason Boudreaux carried the ball 21 times at NSU. The Cut Off native racked up 85 yards, helping the Colonels to a 15-minute advantage in time of possession
58 - The Colonels allowed just 58 yards of total offense in the second half against NSU. Nicholls surrendered 256 yards for the game, which was its lowest total since last season's win over HBU (10/17, 221)
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls has a 1-5 record all-time on Nov. 3. The lone win came in 1979 against Tennessee Martin. The Colonels' also lost to Lamar in 1984, which started a five-game losing skid on the day.
1973Â Â Â Livingston -- L -- 16-29 -- A
1979Â Â Â Tennessee-Martin -- W -- 15-7 -- H
1984Â Â Â Lamar -- L -- 16-20 -- A
1990Â Â Â Mississippi College -- L -- 20-30 -- H
2001Â Â Â Stephen F. Austin -- L -- 21-23 -- A
2007Â Â Â Sam Houston St. -- L -- 13-16 -- A
2012Â Â Â McNeese -- L -- 10-42 -- H
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
• Lamar heads to Thibodaux looking to end a two-game skid after falling Houston Baptist on Homecoming, 24-17. LU had wins over Southeastern La., ACU and Northwestern State before the recent losing streak.
• Lamar's offense has been hampered by injuries, most notably losing All-American running back Kade Harrington for the season. Harrington was the nation's leading rusher last season with 2,092 yards and 21 touchdowns. He had racked up 106.0 yards per game this season before suffering the injury.
• LU has just two thrown interceptions on the season, which is ranks third in the FCS. However, the Cardinals have recently lost their top two quarterbacks, with freshman Adam Morse looking to make the start against Nicholls.
• The Cardinal defense not only ranks first in the Southland in passing yards allowed at 160.9, but ranks fourth in the entire FCS. Defensive back Brenden Langley is also the nation's leader in interceptions with six.
ALL-TIME SERIES vs LU
Series Record: Lamar leads 6-2
in Thibodaux: Lamar leads 2-1
First Meeting: 11/11/72 @ LU; LU 22-15
Last Meeting: 11/7/15 @ LU; NICH, 30-28 (
RECAP)
Most Points Scored (combined): 90, 2013
Most Points Scored by NICH: 34, 2013
Most Points Scored by LU: 63, 2014
LAST OUTING
Oct. 29, 2016
Nicholls 31, Northwestern State 14
NATCHITOCHES, La. – Senior wide receiver
C.J. Bates finished with 179 yards receiving and tied the program single-game record with three touchdown receptions as the Nicholls State University football team scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to defeat rival Northwestern State, 31-14, Saturday night at Turpin Stadium. . (
RECAP)
NICHOLLS-LAMAR CONNECTIONS
Lamar has five players from Louisiana, but all are from east of Lafayette... DB Brendan Langley transfered from Georgia last season. Nicholls opened the year against the Bulldogs in 2016... LU Asst. Coach Jeff Breaux played on the offensive line for the Colonels from 2000-03, earning second-team All-SLC as a senior.
HALL MONITOR
Senior CB
Jeff Hall has had an outstanding senior campaign, leading the team with four interceptions. In the opener, he had a 91-yard interception return against Georgia after catching a tipped pass inside the 10-yard line. At the end of his run, Hall dragged a Bulldog player 15 yards before going down at the 7. He added another big pick in the win over UIW, stopping the comeback attempt in the final minute, and his INT at HBU set up a fourth-quarter field goal.
DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST WATCH
DT
Sully Laiche was recently named to the STATS FCS Freshman of the Year Watch List. Laiche has been a playmaker since he stepped onto the field, ranking third on the team in tackles (48), and first in tackles for loss (9.0) and sacks (5.5). He also forced a fumbled in double OT to seal the win against SFA, and his blocked field goal at HBU led to a first-quarter return for at TD.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
The Colonels have played disciplined football this season, ranking 11th in the FCS in penalty yards per game (41.9). Nicholls has had less than 20 yards twice, but the averaged jumped after the win over NSU as the Colonels had 80 yards on seven penalties.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will take on Southland-leader Central Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 12 in Conway. The game will be televised on the American Sports Network and will kickoff at 2:30 p.m.
