RV/RV Nicholls Colonels (2-2, 1-1 SLC) at Lamar Cardinals (1-3, 0-2 SLC)
Beaumont, Texas (Umphrey Stadium)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | 7:00 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes | Lamar Game Notes
Video Stream: ESPN3
Audio: 100.3 FM KLRZ
Live Stats
FIRST FIVE
• Following a disappointing performance last weekend, the Nicholls State University football team will look to rebound as they head back to Texas for the third time this season for a matchup against the Lamar Cardinals on Saturday, Sept. 30. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN3 and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM and KBZE 105.9 FM.
• Nicholls cracked the Coaches Top 25 Poll last week at No. 23, but quickly fell back out after being defeated at No. 3 Sam Houston, 66-17. The Colonels had a rough night in all three phases as Sam Houston rolled out to a commanding 59-3 lead in the third quarter. The Colonels scored two late touchdowns, including a 57-yard catch by
Damion Jeanpiere Jr.
• LU holds a 6-3 lead in the all-time series vs. the Colonels, but Nicholls has claimed victories in the last two matchups. Lamar and Nicholls played three times before LU shut down its program and the teams have squared off each season since the Cards returned in 2011. LU won the first four after returning but since head coach
Tim Rebowe arrived to Thibodaux, Nicholls is 2-0. In his first season, the Colonels rushed for 415 yards and escaped with the 30-28 victory on the road after Lamar missed a field goal as time expired. Last season, the Colonels dominated at home with a 35-10 win, which was the program's third largest margin of victory in Southland play.
• Offensive lineman
Brian Hernandez was one of 181 semifinalists named for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes college football's top scholar-athlete. A graduate of Dutchtown, Hernandez posted a 3.75 grade point average as a biology/pre-med major and earned his undergraduate degree in the spring. A starter on the offensive line, Hernandez plans to attend veterinary school following his playing career at Nicholls.
• Despite the loss at Sam Houston, Nicholls is still receiving votes in both FCS Top 25 Polls. The Colonels had 25 votes in the Coaches Poll to place 28th, while the STATS pollsters gave Nicholls 30 votes.
BY THE NUMBERS
-14 - The Colonel defense held Lamar to -14 yards rushing in last season's 35-10 victory. Nicholls recorded three sacks for -24 yards and the LU offense lost yardage on a few bad snaps. It was the fewest rushing yards allowed since a 10-yard effort vs. Azusa Pacific in 2007
1 - The Colonels have one native of Texas on their 2017 roster - junior wide receiver
Mason Roberts. A graduate of Cy-Woods, Roberts hauled in a two-point conversion to tie the game at Texas A&M and followed up with a career-game against Prairie View, which included his first career TD on a 62-yard catch.
8 - The Colonels will take on eight programs from Texas this season. Both nonconference games were against Lone Star teams - Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M. In league play, Nicholls will face Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word, Lamar, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin.
10 -
Damion Jeanpiere Jr. added 95 yards receiving to his career total last week, putting him at 1,160 yards in just his third season. The yardage puts the Kenner native at No. 10 on the Colonels' all-time receiving list. With 456 receiving yards on the year, Jeanpiere has a chance to become just the second Colonel to have a 1000-yard campaign.
11 - Sophomore
Chase Fourcade has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 consecutive games. Last season at McNeese was the lone time he did not have a TD pass in his 15 career games.
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls has never won a game on Sept. 30, holding an 0-4 record. The last contest on the date came in 2000 in a 28-10 loss at Samford.
| YEAR |
OPPONENT |
W/L |
SCORE |
H/A |
| 1972 |
Southeastern La. |
L |
31-9 |
A |
| 1989 |
McNeese |
L |
28-14 |
A |
| 1995 |
Samford |
L |
36-20 |
H |
| 2000 |
Samford |
L |
28-10 |
A |
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
• Lamar heads into the matchup with a 1-3 record overall and an 0-2 mark in the SLC. LU's last outing was a 49-21 loss at Southeastern Louisiana.
• LU's win came in a blowout against Division II Texas-Permian Basin, 72-6. The Cardinals rushed for nearly 400 yards in the victory and averaged 7.2 yards per play on offense.
• Darrel Colbert Jr. heads the offense with 738 yards passing and 8 touchdowns. Colbert has also rushed for 216 yards and five scores. He accounted for 6 touchdowns vs. UT-Permian Basin, with four passing and two on the ground.
• Lamar is led by first-year head coach Mike Shultz. A native of Houston, Shultz became just the second head coach since Lamar returned to football, joining LU after serving as offensive coordinator at Texas State.
LAST MEETING
Nov. 3, 2016
Nicholls 35, Lamar 10
THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University football team held Lamar to -14 yards rushing while the offense rushed for a season-high 235 yards in a convincing a 35-10 victory Thursday night at John L. Guidry Stadium. (
RECAP)
LAST OUTING
Sept. 23, 2017
No. 3/3 Sam Houston State 66, No. 23/RV Nicholls 17
THIBODAUX, La. – Playing as a ranked team for the first time in 10 years, the Nicholls State University football team struggled against top-5 Sam Houston State as the Colonels were handed a 66-17 setback Saturday night at Bowers Stadium. (
RECAP)
A WIN OVER LAMAR WOULD...
... put the Colonels at 3-2, matching their start from 2013.
... give
Tim Rebowe his 11th career victory.
... be the third straight win over Lamar. Nicholls had only one victory vs. LU in previous seven matchups.
... put Rebowe at 3-0 all-time vs. Lamar.
... be the 10th SLC win in the Rebowe era (2015-). Colonels had nine victories in league play in the previous 7 seasons,
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 9-6.
LOUISIANA'S OWN
Tim Rebowe vowed to build a winning program with local talent and this year's roster sports 97 Louisiana natives - the most of any Division I school in the state. In addition, most of the players come from within a 100-mile radius of Thibodaux with several hailing from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas. LSU has the second-most players with 71 and McNeese has 68.
KEEPING IT 100
WR
Damion Jeanpiere Jr. had just one 100-yard game in his first two seasons, but started 2017 with back-to-back 100 yard-games. He opened with a 3-catch, 145-yard effort against McNeese, scoring on 62- and 77-yard touchdowns. At Texas A&M, he struck for 174 yards on 5 receptions, highlighted by a 54-yard catch in the fourth. Jeanpiere is 6th in the FCS in receiving yds (456) and second in yds per catch (35.1).
NICHOLLS FOOTBALL ON TWITTER
For the latest news and in-game updates, be sure to follow the team on Twitter
@Nicholls_FB.
