No. 9/9 Nicholls Colonels (4-2, 3-0 SLC) at Sam Houston State (4-3, 3-1 SLC)
Huntsville, Texas (Bowers Stadium)
Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes | Sam Houston State Notes
Audio: ESPN Radio New Orleans Tunein | 100.3 FM KLRZ | 105.9 FM KBZE
Stream: ESPN+ ($) | Play by Play: Tom Franklin | Analyst: Gerald Sanchez
Live Stats
FIRST FIVE
• Following two weeks at home, the No. 9 Nicholls State University football team heads to Texas for the fourth time this season to take on second-place Sam Houston State on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Bowers Stadium. Nicholls looks to stay perfect in league play with a win against the Bearkats, who are one of three teams in the SLC with one loss. The game will air on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.
• Nicholls improved to 3-0 in the Southland after its 45-35 win over rival Northwestern State last Saturday. The Colonels relied on their running game with a season-high 349 yards rushing and crossed the goal line five times on the ground. Nicholls continued its fast start and built a 31-7 lead early in the third quarter before Northwestern State got its passing game going and pulled within 10 points twice in the second half. Nicholls went on to keep the N-S-U Trophy with its fourth consecutive win against the Demons - a first in the series dating back to 1973.
• Sam Houston State came up short at home against Lamar last weekend, falling to the Cardinals, 20-17, in triple overtime. The game was deadlocked at 7-7 at the end of regulation, and after the teams traded scores in the first two overtimes, Lamar kicked a field goal in the third before ending the game with an interception. The Bearkat defense held LU to 34 yards rushing and had seven sacks, and also did not allow an offensive touchdown until the second overtime.
• Nicholls and Sam Houston State first played in 1979 and this Saturday will be the 34th meeting between the two schools. The Bearkats have a 21-11-1 advantage in the all-time series thanks to an impressive 11-game winning streak that was only snapped last season with a 27-7 win by the Colonels in Thibodaux. Nicholls has won just three times in Huntsville all-time, last winning in 2002.
• Following last weekend's action, Nicholls stands alone in the Southland Conference as the league's only undefeated team. Sam Houston State dropped its first SLC game against Lamar and is now one of three teams in the standings with one loss. Nicholls (9/9) and Central Arkansas (13/13) are the only Southland squads ranked in both top 25 polls, and UIW is ranked No. 25 in the coaches poll.
BY THE NUMBERS
0 - The Colonels did not punt in their win against Northwestern State last weekend. It was the first puntless game for Nicholls since its 73-17 win over Evangel on Sept. 22, 2012.
4 - The Colonels have had success on the road under head Coach
Tim Rebowe, but there are four stadiums in the Southland where Nicholls has yet to win during his tenure. Under Rebowe, the Colonels are 0-2 at Sam Houston and McNeese, and 0-1 at Central and Abilene Christian.
58 - With his 10-yard pass to running back
Julien Gums last week against Northwestern State, quarterback
Chase Fourcade tied the program record of 58 career touchdown passes set by Doug Hudson in 1986. Fourcade is already the program leader in passing yards, completions, and total offense.
300 - In the win last Saturday against Northwestern State, the Colonels rushed for a season-high 349 yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. Since the start of 2017, Nicholls has had 300 yards rushing in seven games. It's best mark was 418 yards on the ground in the win at SFA in '17.
2,000 - Dontrell Taylor nearly eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards last season and now has his sights on 2,000 for his career. With 1,961 yards rushing, Taylor needs 39 to become only the eighth Colonel to reach the mark.
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
• Sam Houston State is coming off a hard-fought triple-overtime loss at home against Lamar, 20-17. It was the first setback for the Bearkats in conference following wins against UIW, McNeese, and Stephen F. Austin.
• Once known for its prolific offense, the Bearkats have been one of the best in the FCS on the defensive side this season. The Kats rank first in the nation in tackles for loss and fumble recoveries, third in sacks, and fifth in rushing defense at 75.4 ypg.
• Wide receiver Nathan Stewart became the Southland's all-time leading receiver earlier this season and ranks No. 6 in the FCS with 641 yards receiving in 2019. His six TD catches is also tied for 10th in the country.
• KC Keeler is in his sixth season at the helm of Sam Houston State. After winning a national title at Delaware in 2003, Keeler led the Bearkats to two Southland titles and four appearances in the FCS playoffs. Last season was the only time SHSU did not make the playoffs under Keeler.
A WIN OVER SAM HOUSTON STATE WOULD...
... extend Nicholls' best start in league play since joining the Southland Conference. No team had a 3-0 start until this season.
... give the Colonels their 26th league win under Rebowe and up his record to 23-8 in last four years in the Southland.
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 20-8.
... be Colonels' first in Huntsville since 2002, ending an eight-game skid on the road in the series.
... improve the Colonels' record vs. the Bearkats to 12-21-1.
... be the 13th road win in Rebowe's tenure. Colonels had 10 from 2005-14.
... give Nicholls its fourth win on the road in the series.
LAST MEETING VS. SAM HOUSTON STATE
Sept. 22, 2018
No. 18 Nicholls 27, No. 11 Sam Houston State 7
THIBODAUX, La. – Following a three hour and 19 minute lightning delay, the No. 18 Nicholls State University football team put together a solid effort in all three phases in its home opener against No. 11 Sam Houston State and the Colonels picked up a 27-7 victory Saturday night at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. (
RECAP)
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls has a 2-3 overall record on Oct. 19 and is 1-2 in Southland play. The last two games on the date were played in Texas with the Colonels earning a split. In 2013, Nicholls fell in a shootout against SFA which snapped the Colonels' three-game win streak.
| YEAR |
OPPONENT |
W/L |
SCORE |
H/A |
| 1974 |
Mississippi College |
W |
21-12 |
H |
| 1985 |
Stephen F. Austin |
L |
20-10 |
H |
| 1996 |
Stephen F. Austin* |
L |
27-11 |
H |
| 2002 |
Texas State* |
W |
24-21 |
A |
| 2013 |
Stephen F. Austin* |
L |
55-41 |
A |
LAST GAME
Oct. 12, 2019
No. 12/12 Nicholls 45, Northwestern State 35
THIBODAUX, La. – The No. 12/12 Nicholls State University football team churned out a season-high 537 yards of offense and led by as much as 24 before fending off a second-half comeback by rival Northwestern State in a 45-35 win Saturday evening on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. (
RECAP)
A CLASS OF THEIR OWN
The 2019 Senior Class has already made history with two consecutive FCS playoff appearances, a Southland title, and a Power 5 win - just to name a few. But the group of signees, who were
Tim Rebowe's first recruiting class following a full year at the helm, has the chance to leave Thibodaux as the all-time winningest class. The Class of '88 racked up 28 wins in their four years, and the '19 seniors have tallied 26 victories midway through their final campaign.
TEXAS TWO-STEP
The Colonel roster features two players from the state of Texas - graduate wide receiver
Mason Roberts and true freshman running back
John Carrington III. A native of the Cypress, Roberts received a sixth year after missing 2018 with an injury. He has had several highlights against Texas schools including a 62-yard touchdown catch against Prairie View and the game-tying 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter at Texas A&M in 2017, and a career-high 106 yards with a TD on three receptions at UIW. Carrington hails from San Antonio and has spent time on special teams and as a backup running back.
UP NEXT
Nicholls returns to Thibodaux for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 26. The Colonels host Abilene Christian at 3 p.m. and the game will air on Cox Sports TV.
STAYING SOCIAL
Follow the Colonels all season long on Twitter (
@Nicholls_FB) and Instagram (
@Nicholls_FB).
