NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY COLONELS (1-2, 1-0 SLC) vs #22/23 McNEESE COWBOYS (2-2, 1-1 SLC)
Lake Charles, La. (Cowboy Stadium)
Saturday, Oct. 1 | 6 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes | McNeese Game Notes
TV Broadcast: Cox Sports TV
Video Stream: ESPN3
Audio: 100.3 FM KLRZ
Live Stats

#FIRSTFIVE
• The Nicholls Colonels will play its second consecutive night game with a 6 p.m. matchup at No. 22/23 McNeese on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Cowboy Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Cox Sports TV and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM. The Colonels are seeking their first 2-0 start in the Southland since 2007, while McNeese is looking to start another conference winning streak after running the table in 2015 (9-0).

• Saturday's game marks the 41st meeting between Nicholls and McNeese. Helped by their current 7-game winning streak, the Cowboys lead the all-time series over the Colonels, 29-11, including a 14-7 record at home. Last season, McNeese cruised to a 37-7 win to spoil the Colonels' Homecoming. Since 1991, McNeese has dominated the series by winning 21 of the 25 matchups. However, three of the Colonels' four wins have been in Lake Charles, with the last in a 38-35 decision in 1998. McNeese's current 7-game streak is the longest in the series history.

• Nicholls is coming off another thriller against an FBS opponent as the Colonels could not hang on at South Alabama, falling 41-40 in overtime. USA scored a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining in regulation and added another on the opening possession of OT. The Colonels answered with a 4-yard TD run by Dontrell Taylor and elected to go for the win with a two-point try, but USA stuffed Taylor to escape with the win.

• 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.

• Head coach Tim Rebowe is in his second season leading the program. Rebowe took over a program with an 18-game losing streak and it extended to 23 games last season despite two near-wins on the road in Southland play. Rebowe ended the drought with a 38-17 win over Houston Baptist, which started an impressive turnaround as the Colonels are 4-4 in their last eight Southland games. 


BY THE NUMBERS

4 - The Colonel defense came up with four interceptions at South Alabama, including one returned for 33 yards for a TD by Chris Major. The last time Nicholls had 4 INTs was in a 37-7 win at Northwestern St. on Nov. 14, 2010.

1.5/57.0 - The Colonels' average margin of defeat in its last two FBS contests is 1.5 points (Georgia, 26-24; South Alabama, 41-40). The previous nine meetings against FBS programs, the Colonels lost by an average of 57.0 points.

25 - True freshman running back Dontrell Taylor accounted for all 25 yards of offense in overtime at South Alabama. Taylor had carries of 17 and 4 before a 4-yard touchdown capped a 25-carry, 125-yard performance for his first career 100-yard game.

28.6 - Senior WR C.J. Bates hauled in six catches for 107 yards against UIW. It marked the second time over the last four games that Bates has eclipsed 100 yards receiving

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.

118  - The Colonels have just 118 penalty yards in three games, good for 13th in the FCS. Nicholls had 18 yards against Georgia, 54 vs. UIW and 46 at South Alabama.



ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...

•  Nicholls has a 2-4 all-time record on Oct. 1. One of the wins came in 1988 against McNeese in a 23-19 decision. The Colonels went 7-4 that season and were 4-1 at home.

1977    Cameron Univ.  -- L --  0-13  --  A
1983    Jackson State -- L -- 20-27 -- H
1988    McNeese -- W -- 23-19 -- H
1994    Samford -- W -- 24-6 -- A
2005    #11 North Dakota St. -- L -- 13-26 -- A
2011    Texas State -- L -- 12-38 -- A


SCOUTING THE COWBOYS

• McNeese is 2-2 overall and 1-1 in league play, picking up wins over Tarleton State and UIW. The Cowboys had a similar outing against UIW as the Colonels, fending off a late by the Cardinals for a 42-35 victory. 

• The Cowboys are led by first-year head coach Lance Guidry. A three-time All-Southland defensive back for McNeese, Guidry took over at his alma mater after Matt Viator was named head coach at ULM. Guidry was the defensive coordinator for the previous three seasons.

• McNeese's offense is led by Arkansas State transfer QB James Tabary, who has passed for 1,062 yards (265.5 avg) and 8 TDs vs. just one interception. Tabary replaced fellow FBS transfer Daniel Sams, who threw for over 1,600 yards and ran for nearly 1,000 last season after starting his career at Kansas State.

• Historically known for its stout defense, the 2016 edition has not disappointed as the Cowboys rank in the top three of five defensive categories in the Southland. McNeese is allowing just 331.5 yards, ranking second in the SLC.


ALL-TIME SERIES vs MCN

Series Record    McNeese leads 29-11
in Lake Charles    McNeese leads 14-7
First Meeting    10/21/72 @ NICH; MCN 24-7
Last Meeting    10/3/15 @ NICH; MCN 37-7 (RECAP)
Most Points Scored (by both)    91, 2003
Most Points Scored by NICH    39, 2005
Most Points Scored by MCN    63, 2003 


LAST OUTING
Sept. 24, 2016
South Alabama 41, Nicholls 40 (OT)

MOBILE, Ala. – After two touchdowns by South Alabama – one in the final minute of regulation to force overtime, and the other to take the lead in the extra period - the Nicholls State University football team went for the win after scoring on their possession in OT, but the Colonels were stopped twice on two-point conversion attempts as South Alabama escaped with a 41-40 victory Saturday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.  (RECAP)

NICHOLLS-MCNEESE CONNECTIONS
With the schools being only three hours apart, McNeese and Nicholls' rosters are filled with players from the same areas of the state. For the coaching staff, Colonel defensive line coach Anthony Camp graduated from McNeese and served as a graduate assistant in 2006-07.

SANDERS NAMED LSWA DEFENSIVE POW
Defensive back B.T. Sanders was named Player of the Week by the Lousiana Sports Writers Association after an outstanding performance in the Colonels' overtime 41-40 loss against FBS South Alabama. Sanders finished with a game-high 13 tackles, a forced fumble, and his interception in the fourth quarter led to the Colonels' final touchdown of regulation for a 34-27 lead. 

JEFFREY FROM THE BLOCK
With the Colonels trailing 14-0 in the second quarter at South Alabama, CB Jeff Hall got around the edge and blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt. The ball bounced and was scooped up by Christian Boutte, who raced 51 yards for a touchdown. It marked the first FG block return for a TD since the Colonels' four-overtime victory against Texas State in 2010 when Bobby Felder had a 70-yard return. 

TAYLOR MADE
Freshman running back Dontrell Taylor joined the early list of award winners for the Colonels as he received FCS STATS National Freshman of the Year honorable mention after his performance at South Alabama. Taylor rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries at USA, giving him a third straight game with a rushing TD. On the season, he is averaging 80.7 yards rushing per game and 4.3 per carry.

BREAKING BAD
Since Coach Rebowe arrived, he has been putting an end to several losing streaks. With the win over Houston Baptist in 2015, the Colonels not only gave Rebowe his first career win, but also closed the books on a 23-game losing streak. A few weeks later at Lamar, Nicholls put to rest two road skids - 18 Southland road games and 16 straight away games. The Colonels currently have lengthy losing streaks against Sam Houston (9 games), Stephen F. Austin (8), and McNeese and Central Arkansas (7).

IT'S HALL GOOD MAN
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 added another big pick in the win over UIW, stopping the comeback attempt in the final minute. He had two picks last season against HBU, and also had a 53-yard fumble return against SFA.



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