It's just different.

Validation is not always warranted but rarely turned down. For athletes, the ultimate team goal is winning championships. And what comes with being the champs - rings, banners, and in most cases, trophies.

Saturday's matchup against Northwestern State is one of those games on the schedule that's a little different. One of the contests where the winner not only gets to place a W on their schedule but the winning team receives a little validation of the triumph. Some actual proof. 
    
The Nicholls State University Colonels and the Northwestern State University Demons are set to play for the 47th time, dating back to their first meeting in 1973. It's the longest rivalry for the Colonels, with the McNeese series not far behind at 43 games. But unlike only playing for bragging rights against the Cowboys, the winner of the NSUs gets to take home a rivalry trophy.
    
The wooden "N-S-U" trophy was introduced to the series in 1993 when the student government leaders came up with the idea. Since the hardware has been up for grabs, neither team has won more than three consecutive games in the series. But Nicholls will have a chance to become the first as it carries a three-game winning streak into Saturday's matchup.
    
Senior quarterback Chase Fourcade has been a part of all three wins for the Colonels, but almost wasn't. After taking a hard hit in the first half at Lamar in 2017, Fourcade missed the rest of the game and then didn't practice all week because of a bum shoulder. That week's game was a home matchup against Northwestern State and is the only time Fourcade has not started since arriving on campus.
    
But Fourcade subbed into the game in the fourth quarter with Nicholls trailing the Demons, 10-7. After a perfect Tyler St. Germain punt was downed inside the 1, the defense forced a three-and-out and the Colonels started the game-winning drive in Demon territory. Fourcade kept the drive alive with a long pass to Dai'Jean Dixon on third-and-17, then classmate Dontrell Taylor dove into the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run. Nicholls finished off the game with a 14-10 victory.
    
The other two meetings were also close. 
    
"The last three years have been very competitive," Fourcade said. "We know them and they know us. We've had a lot of games just go back-and-forth." 
    
In 2016, the score was knotted at 14-14 at the break before Fourcade and C.J. Bates connected on two touchdown passes - one going for 74 yards. Bates had a monster game with 10 receptions, 179 yards receiving and three touchdowns. And with Taylor out of the lineup, Mason Boudreaux rushed for a career-high 85 yards on 21 carries, helping the Colonels to a 31-14 win.
    
Last season, Nicholls held a slim advantage in Natchitoches, 14-10, before the defense pitched another shutout after halftime for the second consecutive year in a 28-10 victory. In the last three meetings combined, the Colonel defense has allowed only a lone field goal following the intermission. 
    
Growing up in the New Orleans area, Fourcade was familiar with the rivalry prior to making his way to Thibodaux. Before attending Rummel High School, he was a manager for the Holy Cross football team where Ed Eagan starred, who later went on to put together an impressive career for the Demons. With Northwestern State being an in-state school, its current roster also features players Fourcade faced during his high school days, including Demon running back Jalen West who prepped at Brother Martin.

"It does mean a lot when we play for the trophy," Fourcade said. "But the records just go out the window. It doesn't matter if they're 0-5, or we're 0-5. Both teams are going to play hard."

Taylor, who will be appearing in his third NSU Challenge after missing the game in his freshman season, completely agreed with Fourcade's sentiment. 

"With rivalry week, Coach [Tim] Rebowe talked about how we have to expect their best. We've always had a tough game with them since we've been here."

Along with Taylor's game-winning TD run in '17, he also had a nice showing in last year's win on the road. Although he carried the ball only 11 times, Taylor notched his first of five 100-yard games that season, finishing with 103. He didn't cross the goal line in the win but had a key 36-yard rush.
    
Taylor also has a friend he'll see on the other sideline, Demon wide receiver Gavin Landry. While both are from White Castle, Louisiana, Landry attended St. John and Taylor played at White Castle.
    
"I played against Landry when he was at St. John," Taylor said. "He's a good friend of mine off the field, but we're competitors on the field."
    
For Northwestern State quarterback Shelton Eppler, it will be his second trip to Thibodaux this year. Along with Fourcade, Eppler was among the elite group of quarterbacks selected to serve as camp counselors for the Manning Passing Academy over the summer. 
    
While Fourcade and Eppler both came up empty-handed in the camp's annual passing competition, one of them is guaranteed to walk away with a trophy on Saturday.