No. 12 Nicholls Colonels (3-2, 2-1 SLC) vs. Northwestern State Demons (2-2, 1-1 SLC)
Natchitoches, Louisiana (Turpin Stadium)
Saturday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes | Northwestern State Game Notes
Audio: 100.3 FM KLRZ | 105.9 FM KBZE
TV Broadcast: Cox Sports Television (Affiliates) | DirecTV - Channel 790
Stream: ESPN3 (Blackout Map)
Live Stats
FIRST FIVE
• The Nicholls State University football team is back on the road for a rivalry matchup against Northwestern State on Oct. 6 at Turpin Stadium. Nicholls won its last two contests at home but will now play the next two games as the visitors, concluding a road-heavy start to 2018 with five of the first seven games away from home. Kickoff in Natchitoches is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the matchup will be aired regionally on Cox Sports Television, and on ESPN3 outside of the CST viewing area. The radio broadcasts include ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM and KBZE 105.9 FM.
• Nicholls pulled away from Lamar in the second half last weekend to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in conference. The Colonels put 50 points on the board, thanks to a robust 613 yards of total offense.
Chase Fourcade was a yard shy of his fourth career 300-yard game, but totaled five touchdowns in the win - three passing and two rushing. Freshman
Julien Gums also had a career debut, rushing for 152 yards and a score on just 10 carries. The defense, which had a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by
Austin Dickerson, limited Lamar to only 10 points in the second half.
• Northwestern State is looking to get back on track following a 24-17 loss to Southeastern Louisiana last weekend. NSU scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make it a one possession game, but a fumble with less than four minutes remaining ended up stalling the comeback. The Demons left points off the board all game, scoring on just 2 of 6 chances in the red zone.
• The Demons have a 28-17 advantage in the all-time series, but Nicholls has won the last two meetings. The "N-S-U Trophy" remained in Thibodaux last year after the Colonels won a defensive struggle, 14-10. In 2016, the Red and Gray picked up a rare victory in Natchitoches, winning 31-14 for just their fifth win on the road in the series. The Colonels are aiming for their first three-game winning streak against the Demons since Nicholls won the first three meetings from 1973-75.
• The Southland Conference has four teams in the top 20 of both FCS polls - the AFCA Coaches and STATS FCS. McNeese continues to lead the way with a No. 10/9 ranking, with Nicholls ranked at No. 12 in both. Sam Houston State (16/17) jumped ahead of Central Arkansas (18/20) after defeating the Bears on Saturday.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 - Wins have been tough to come by for the Colonels in Natchitoches as they have only five wins on the road in the series against Northwestern State. Nicholls is 3-3 in its last three trips to Turpin Stadium, but had a 2-14 record before 2005.
20.0 - The Colonel defense has recorded 20 sacks through five games, ranking third in the FCS with 4.00 per game.
Evan Veron ranks eighth in the nation with 6.0, and is followed behind by
Kenny Dotson (4.0) and
Sully Laiche (3.5). Nicholls had 6.0 sacks in the win at Kansas, which were the most for the program in a single game since the 2009 season (9 vs. Duquesne).
613 - The Colonels racked up an impressive 613 yards of total offense last weekend against Lamar. While the Colonels have reached 500 yards several times over the last few years, it was the highest output since the school record was set with 751 yards against NAIA Evangel in 2012. The 613 yards was also the most against a Division I opponent since a 579-yard effort at Portland State in 2003.
SCOUTING THE DEMONS
• Northwestern State is coming off a 24-17 loss to Southeastern Louisiana, which dropped the Demons to 2-2 overall and 1-1. NSU played Lamar the week before, winning in a 49-48 shootout on the road in Beaumont.
• The Demons feature the Southland's top passing attack at 347.0 yards per game. After being limited to 230 in the opener at Texas A&M, NSU has thrown for 359, 474, and 325. An even more impressive stat is they have 12 touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
• In his first season, juco transfer quarterback Shelton Eppler has accounted for 11 TD passes while averaging 277.5 yards per game and completing 63 percent of his passes. His main target, LSU transfer Jazz Ferguson, has hauled in 21 receptions for 462 yards and four touchdowns.
• The Demons are led by first-year head coach Brad Laird. The all-time leading passer at NSU, Laird returned to his alma mater last season to serve as defensive coordinator under former Colonel head coach Jay Thomas. He was then appointed head coach two days after the completion of the 2017 season.
A WIN OVER NORTHWESTERN STATE WOULD...
... improve Coach Rebowe's overall record to an even .500 at 20-20. He started his career 0-5.
... duplicate the Colonels' record from last season through six games at 4-2.
... improve the Colonels' record in the all-time series to 18-28.
... give Nicholls its first three-game winning streak in the series since winning the first three matchups.
... be the ninth road win under Coach Rebowe. Nicholls had 10 road wins from 2005-14.
... give Coach Rebowe his 18th win in conference (17-13).
... be just the sixth win in Natchitoches in the all-time series (5-17).
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls is 5-1 on Oct. 6. Two of the wins came against NSU, including the program's largest margin of victory in Southland competition, a 58-0 victory in 2007. In that game, future NFL players Lardarius Webb and Kareem Moore each returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the first half.
| YEAR |
OPPONENT |
W/L |
SCORE |
H/A |
| 1973 |
Northwestern St. |
W |
3-0 |
H |
| 1979 |
ULM |
W |
23-16 |
A |
| 1984 |
Southern |
W |
43-26 |
H |
| 1990 |
Sam Houston St |
W |
28-16 |
H |
| 2007 |
Northwestern St. |
W |
58-0 |
H |
| 2012 |
Central Arkansas |
L |
34-14 |
A |
LAST MEETING
Oct. 7, 2017
No. 25 Nicholls 14, Northwestern State 10
THIBODAUX, La. – For the second consecutive week, the No. 25 Nicholls State University football team had an outstanding showing on defense, holding Northwestern State to 202 total yards, and quarterback
Chase Fourcade subbed in to spark the offense for the game-winning touchdown as the Colonels defeated the Demons, 14-10, Saturday afternoon at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.. (
RECAP)
LAST OUTING
Sept. 29, 2018
No. 15 Nicholls 50, Lamar 27
THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University football team piled up 613 yards on offense and scored its most points in a conference game since 2007, as the Colonels stayed undefeated at home with a 50-27 victory over Lamar University Saturday evening at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. (
RECAP)
NOTES FROM LAST GAME
- Third straight weather issue; game was called with 2:04 remaining due to lightning;
- Rebowe improved to 4-0 vs. Lamar;
- Rushed for over 300 yards for third time in last four meetings against LU;
- Colonels have won last 7 regular season home games;
- 613 yards was most for the team since 2012 vs. NAIA Evangel (school record 751);
- First 50-point game in SLC since 2007;
- Gums made debut, rushing for 152 on 10 carries;
- Guarisco had first 100-yd game, 3 rec. for 110 (65 Lng);
- Fourcade matched career best of 5 TDs responsible for (had 3 pass/2 rush in '16 finale vs. SLU);
- Costly with 1st TD catch of the season;
- Evans had pick for second straight game;
- Dickerson had second career pick 6;
- Jones had a career long 75-yard punt.
PICK'TURESQUE
The Nicholls defense did not have an interception through three games, but has two in each of the last two contests. Against Sam Houston, cornerback
Darren Evans used every inch of his 6-3 frame to dive on a slant for an interception. Later in the quarter with the Bearkats at the 2, QB Mike Dares tossed a quick out route to the left, and
Ahmani Martin dove in front of the receiver and landed at the 1 to maintained the Colonels' 13-7 lead. Last week,
Austin Dickerson caught a tipped pass and returned it 26 yards for a 7-0 lead. Evans then ended the half with his third career INT.
HALF A HUNDO
The Colonels had their best offensive output of the season, scoring 50 points in their win over Lamar. The 50 points was the most in Coach Rebowe's short tenure, and the most since 2007. In that season, Nicholls reached the 50-point plateau twice - a 58-0 win over Northwestern State and a 52-28 victory vs. Texas State.
11 YEARS AGO IN THIBODAUX
The aforementioned 58-0 victory against Northwestern State was exactly 11 years ago on Oct. 6, 2007. In the win, Nicholls tied a conference record with four defensive touchdowns - all interception returns - and set the record of 238 yards gained on interceptions. Kareem Moore had the first two - 49 and 65 yards, and Lardarius Webb's 42- and 72-yarders gave Nicholls a 44-0 advantage at halftime. The defense allowed only 159 yards en route to the program's last shutout in Southland Conference play (3 total).
GUMS DEBUT
True freshman running back
Julien Gums had traveled and dressed out for the Colonels in the first four games, but it wasn't until last Saturday that he actually saw the field. He took advantage of his opportunity, rushing 10 times for 152 yards - highlighted by a 68-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He also had two runs of 11 yards, one for 14 and another for 26.
GUARISCO GETS GOING
Junior wide receiver
Stefano Guarisco has contributed in many ways - kick returns, running the ball - but he was finally able to have a breakout game receiving by recording his first 100-yard game against Lamar. Guarisco had three catches for 110 yards, including a 65-yard catch and run that put the ball at the Lamar 5. He also had a 27-yard catch where he was hit hard by the defender but held on, and the player was ejected after review for targeting.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will make its first trip to Abilene Christian to take on the Wildcats in the program's second-ever meeting. The Oct. 13 game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN3.
NICHOLLS FOOTBALL ON TWITTER
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@Nicholls_FB.
