#FIRSTFIVE
• The 2016 edition of the Nicholls Colonels will make its home debut on Saturday, September 17 against conference foe UIW. Kickoff against the Cardinals at John L. Guidry Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. In addition to catching the game on the radio on ESPN New Orleans 100.3 FM, SportsNOLA.com will offer a free live video stream of the matchup.
• If a college football fan was unfamiliar with the Nicholls State University football program before the Colonels' opener at No. 9 Georgia, there's a good chance they know about Nicholls after the nationally televised broadcast of last Saturday's game. A heavy underdog, the Colonels slugged it out UGA 'Between the Hedges' for the entire 60 minutes, coming up just short in a 26-24 thriller. Nicholls held a 14-13 lead in the third before the home team scored two quick touchdowns, but the Colonels scored the final 10 to pull with two with just under four minutes to go. Georgia faced two third-downs on the final drive, but were able to convert both en route to running out the clock and denying Nicholls of its biggest win in program history.
• The game against UIW (1-1, 1-0 SLC) will begin the Colonels' 26th season in the Southland Conference. Nicholls (0-1, 0-0 SLC) is 7-18 in Southland openers and 6-7 when they open at home. Last season, Nicholls lost its SLC opener at UIW, 20-10, in the teams' second-ever meeting. The Cardinals faced Nicholls in Thibodaux in 2014 and UIW came away with a 38-20 victory.
• Although they came up short in the opener at Georgia, the Colonels received votes in the
FCS STATS Top 25 Poll, marking the first time since 2013. Nicholls pulled in a total of 38 votes after almost upsetting a top-10 ranked program in the FBS. In 2013, the Colonels received votes are defeating FBS Western Michigan.
• While the entire defense played outstanding against Georgia, only one player could be nominated for weekly awards. Representing the Colonels was sophomore defensive lineman
Kenny Dotson, who went on to earn two awards. The Plaquemine native had five tackles, one sack, and his forced fumble in the second quarter set up the Colonels' first touchdown. Dotson was named Defensive Player of the Week by both the
Southland Conference and
LSWA.
BY THE NUMBERS
0 - Heralded as one of the best running backs in college football, Georgia's Nick Chubb had zero career games in which he started that he did not reach 100 yards rushing, with the expection of an injury-shortened outing. The impressive streak ended Saturday as Nicholls held him to 80 yards on 20 carries
7.0 - The Colonels racked up 7.0 tackles for loss against Georgia. Last season, Nicholls had 7 or more TFLs in just two games
65 - Nicholls held the lead over the No. 9 team in the country for a total of 1 minute and 5 seconds on the game clock. The Colonels went up 14-13 after a 20-yard touchdown catch by
Jarrell Rogers at the 6:48 mark in the third, but Georgia regained the lead for good 65 seconds later
91 - Jeff Hall raced 91 yards after recording an interception in the fourth quarter at Georgia. The Colonels' longest return in program history was 94 yards by Aaron Smith in 1998
99.9% - According to ESPN's Football Power Index, Georgia had a 99.9 percent chance of beating Nicholls
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls has a 2-3 record on Sept. 17. In their last outing, the Colonels were looking to take the lead before halftime against ULL, but the attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown. The Colonels' last home game on this date was a 54-0 shutout over Cheyney in their 2005 championship season.
1977 Jacksonville St. -- L -- 7-10 -- H
1988 Weber State -- W -- 28-23 -- A
1994 Northwestern St. -- L -- 3-35 -- H
2005 Cheyney -- W -- 54-0 -- H
2011 Louisiana-Lafayette -- L -- 21-38 -- A
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
• UIW is coming off a 21-18 win over Northwestern State in Southland Conference action on Thursday. The Cardinals led by 10 after three quarters and were able to hold off NSU for their first win of the season.
• UIW QB Trent Brittain threw for 241 yards and a touchdown in the win over NSU. In two games, he is averaging 267.5 yards on 35-of-66 passing and has four TD passes.
• The Cardinals have won three straight conference games on the road. UIW closed out 2015 with wins over Southeastern La. (16-2) and Houston Baptist (30-3) before picking up the win over Northwestern St.
• While UIW has some talented receivers in Jordan Hicks (105.0 ypg) and Kody Edwards (89.5 ypg), the Colonel defense will be glad to know TE Cole Wick has graduated. In the two games against Nicholls, Wick had nine receptions for 169 yards and two TDs. He went undrafted but is currently playing for the Detroit Lions.
ALL-TIME SERIES vs UIW
Series Record: UIW leads 2-0
in Thibodaux: UIW leads 1-0
First Meeting: 11/1/14 @ NICH; UIW 38-20
Last Meeting: 9/19/15 @ UIW; UIW won 20-10 (RECAP)
Most Points Scored (by both): 58, 2014
Most Points Scored by NICH: 20, 2014
Most Points Scored by UIW: 38, 2014
LAST OUTING
Sept. 10, 2016
No. 9 Georgia 26, Nicholls 24
ATHENS, Ga. – Nobody believed that the Nicholls State University football team belonged on the same field as the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs, but after Saturday's game at Sanford Stadium, the Colonels made believers out of 92,746 spectators, a nationally televised audience and most importantly, themselves. Powered by a remarkable effort by the defense, the Colonels (0-1) led in the third quarter, 14-13, over the nationally-ranked SEC power Bulldogs. Even after falling behind 26-14 in the fourth, Nicholls fought back to score 10 unanswered points but came up just short, 26-24, of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in college football history. (
RECAP)
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 third-fewest rushing yards allowed under Coach Rebowe.
- 30 vs. HBU ('15)
- 162 vs. UIW ('15)
- 167 vs. Georgia ('16)
ON THE DOT
Sophomore
Kenny Dotson racked up the awards this week after his performance against Georgia. Dotson had 5 tackles, a sack, and his forced fumble in the second quarter led to Nicholls' first touchdown. He went on to be named Southland Defensive Player of the Week, LSWA Defensive Player of the Week and is up for ASN FCS #Gamechanger of the Week.
FRESH MEN
The Colonels played 19 freshmen last season, true and redshirt, and several made an immediate impact for the Red and Gray in the opener at Georgia.
Chase Fourcade started at quarterback,
Dontrell Taylor had 14 carries and a touchdown and
Jordan Talley saw action at tight end. On defense,
Evan Veron,
Allen Pittman and
Sully Laiche all had 4 or more tackles.
HALL AND INTS
Senior CB
Jeff Hall 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. Hall had two picks last season against Houston Baptist, and also had a 53-yard fumble return against SFA.
SOUTHLAND WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL (COACH REBOWE STARTS AT THE 11:00 MARK)
