LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Nicholls State University football team notched its fourth-ever win against the FBS and first against a Power 5 school as a 4-yard touchdown run by
Chase Fourcade gave the Colonels a 26-23 overtime victory at Kansas Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
The defense, which held KU (0-1) to 56 yards on the ground, forced a three-and-out on the Jayhawks' possession to start overtime, leading to a 41-yard field goal by Gabriel Rui. For the Colonels, Fourcade broke a 13-yard rush to put Nicholls at the 10 and following a pass interference, the junior quarterback cut up the right side and got into the end zone for the game-winner.
Following close calls against Georgia, Texas A&M, and South Alabama over the past two seasons, the Colonels broke a nine-game skid against the FBS with the victory. Since 2000, Nicholls has victories against Arkansas State (2001), Rice ('07), and Western Michigan ('13).
"I am proud of the guys and proud of the effort," said Nicholls head coach
Tim Rebowe. "Big win for our football program, for our school, for our community. I told the guys that I am never more proud of them than I am tonight. They came in here and fought. It is a group of guys that believed and that is where it all starts. Those guys believe they can win every time they step out on the field. I am just super happy for a whole lot of people."
Nicholls (1-0) led for most of the second half, thanks to a 40-yard touchdown run by
Kendall Bussey in the third quarter that made the score 17-10. Bussey, a transfer from Texas A&M, rushed 28 times for 123 yards in his debut for the Red and Gray.
The Colonels had three straight special team blunders, with the last leading to a Kansas touchdown. A snap into the end zone for a safety early in the fourth made it 17-12 before a muffed punt gave KU the ball at the Colonel 10, resulting in a 15-yard touchdown catch by Kerr Johnson. Kansas converted the two-point conversion for a 20-17 lead with 4:26 to go.
On the Colonels' final drive of regulation, Fourcade found
Dai'Jean Dixon for a big 25-yard catch to move into Kansas territory. The drive stalled at the KU 26 and after a missed 43-yard field goal with 52 seconds was negated due to a timeout called by Kansas before the snap,
Lorran Fonseca took advantage and drilled his second attempt to even it up.
Laryon James ended any chance of a late drive with the Colonels' sixth sack of the night, forcing the fourth overtime game for Nicholls since 2016. The Colonels' win in extra time improved their record to 3-1 in OT under Coach Rebowe.
For the game, the defense set the tone right out of the gate, forcing a three-and-out. Nicholls responded with a 9-play, 78-yard scoring drive, capped on a 15-yard touchdown by
Dontrell Taylor. But Kansas answered on the next possession with a 2-yard touchdown catch by Steven Sims.
In the second quarter, the teams traded field goals with Rui making a 54-yarder for KU. Before the break, Fourcade and Damion Jeanpiere Jr. hooked up for a 55-yard reception. The play led to a 28-yarder by Fonseca with 4:06 until the half.
Kansas moved to the Colonel 38 on its final drive of the half, but back-to-back sacks by
Sully Laiche and
Evan Veron ended the threat. The duo caused Kansas problems all night, each finishing with two sacks.
In the third, Bussey was untouched on his 40-yarder for the go-ahead score. Following the safety and with a short field, Kansas moved the ball to the Colonel 36. But the defense answered the call again as
Kevin Johnson ended the drive on a blitz from the right side, jarring the ball loose from Peyton Bender as he looked to pass.
Kenny Dotson pounced on the ball, and after review, the call was upheld.
The Colonels' second special teams miscue was on a blocked punt deep in their own territory. However, the defense once again stopped Kansas from putting any points on the board and forced a punt.
Kansas' final touchdown was set up on a muffed punt return by Jeanpiere. Laiche recorded his second sack to force the punt, but Jeanpiere, who later drew the pass interference in overtime, lost control of the ball at the 10 and Kansas came away with it. On 3
rd-and-goal from the 15, Bender hit Kerr on a slant to give the Jayhawks a three-point lead.
Nicholls outgained KU on offense, 329-255. Fourcade completed 12-of-24 passes for 142 yards and added 44 yards on 11 carries. Taylor finished with 51 yards on 11 totes.
On defense, it was a total team effort as 11 players had three or more tackles.
Darren Evans led the secondary with three pass breakups. For the specialists,
Winston Jones averaged 40.7 yards on six punts and had three inside the 20 in his debut.
UP NEXT
The Colonels will head to New Orleans for their first-ever matchup against Tulane. Kickoff against the Green Wave on Saturday, Sept. 9 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Nicholls Athletics ticket office at 985-448-4281 or by visiting
geauxcolonels.com.
