No. 24/24 Nicholls Colonels (6-4, 4-2 SLC) vs. UR/RV McNeese Cowboys (6-4, 4-3 SLC)
Thibodaux, Louisiana (Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium)
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3:00 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes (PDF) | McNeese Game Notes
TV: Cox Sports TV
Video Stream: ESPN+ (Available only outside of CST territory) (Link)
Audio: ESPN Radio New Orleans Tunein | 100.3 FM KLRZ | 105.9 FM KBZE
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Order online or call 985-448-4790
Gameday Information
FIRST FIVE
• The No. 24 Nicholls State University football team will play at home for the final time in the regular season, hosting long-time rival McNeese on Saturday, Nov. 16. The game will be the Thibodaux finale for the storied 2019 Senior Class, which posts an 17-4 record at Guidry Stadium in its four seasons. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will air on CST and an ESPN+ stream will be available outside of CST's viewing area.
• Nicholls put together back-to-back wins and returned to its winning ways at home with a 48-27 victory against HBU last weekend.
Julien Gums rushed for three touchdowns in the first half to give Nicholls a 27-20 lead at the half, and the Colonels went on to score the next three TDs after the break to take a commanding lead. Facing the league's top scoring and passing offense, the defense allowed just two touchdowns, including one that was a result of a botched punt which led to an HBU scoring drive starting at the Colonel 2.
• McNeese started out conference play at 0-2 but have since won its last three games, taking down HBU, Stephen F. Austin, and Northwestern State. Against the NSU Demons, the Cowboys trailed 20-9 in the third quarter before scoring 21 unanswered points for a 30-20 victory. Cody Orgeron tossed a pair of TD passes and the Cowboys closed it out with a pair of field goals.
• Despite the win in the last home matchup with McNeese in 2017, the Colonels still trail by a significant margin, 31-12, in the all-time series against the Cowboys. With the loss in the conference opener last year, Nicholls was unable to secure back-to-back wins against its in-state rivals for the first time since 1987-88. The Cowboys saw their eight-game winning streak in the series end in '17 following the Colonels' game-winning field goal as time expired.
• Before the game, Nicholls will honor its 22-member 2019 Senior Class. The group has been a part of one of the greatest eras in Colonel history, earning back-to-back FCS playoff appearances for the first time in program history, and claiming the second Southland championship. The members of the class are
Morell Bartholomew,
Charles Brooks,
Bradston Burnside,
Kendall Bussey,
Darrion Cook,
Mikey Corcoran,
Alonzo Craighton,
Brandon Fontenot,
Chase Fourcade,
Stefano Guarisco,
Laryon James,
Sully Laiche,
Garret LeBlanc,
Khristian Mims,
Michael Mosley,
Bry'Kiethon Mouton,
Allen Pittman,
Dion Ray,
Patrick Riley,
Mason Roberts,
Jordan Talley, and
Dontrell Taylor.
BY THE NUMBERS
33.5 - Senior defensive lineman
Sully Laiche continues to climb the Southland all-time sacks list and currently sits at fourth with 33.5 sacks. Laiche missed the first two games and has since started in eight, recording at least a sack in all but one. Laiche is also just 0.5 behind Wagner's Cameron Gill for the FCS active leader.
34 - With all of the quarterback records locked up,
Chase Fourcade added a rushing record to his resume as he became the all-time leadering in rushing touchdowns with his 33rd and 34th in the win against HBU. Broderick Cole, who played from 2004-07, crossed the goal line 33 times as he racked up 2,111 yards. Fourcade is also approaching the all-time rushing list, needing just 61 yards to crack the top 10.
110 - The 2019 roster consists of 116 players, and 110 are Louisiana natives. When
Tim Rebowe was hired after the 2014 season, he wanted to put an emphasis on recruiting locally. Not only are the student-athletes from the Pelican State, but the majority are from a 50-mile radius which includes New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the River Parishes. The Colonels have had the most Louisianans in Division I football by a wide margin over the past few seasons.
210 - With his 34 career touchdowns, Fourcade is now just six points from tying the school record for career points of 210 - held by running back Oscar Smith and kicker Jose Bran . Fourcade already holds the record for touchdowns responsible for, which he broke last season.
300 - Senior linebacker
Allen Pittman enters the matchup with McNeese needing only 10 tackles to reach 300 for his career. No other Colonel has more tackles this decade, and the 300 would put him within striking distance of the program Top 10 list (325). Pittman is also 10th on the FCS active career list in total tackles.
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
• McNeese heads into Thibodaux as one of the hottest teams in the Southland, carrying a three-game winning following a victory two weeks ago against Northwestern State.
• The Cowboys once again feature one of the SLC's top defenses, ranking second in rushing yards allowed, third in total defense, and fourth in scoring. McNeese allowed over 100 yards rushing in all three of its nonconference games but has yet to surrender over 100 in Southland play.
• The defense is anchored by lineman Chris Livings, who enters the matchup with 7.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss this season.
• McNeese's offense is headed by dual-threat quarterback Cody Orgeron. In his first year as a full-time starter, Orgeron has thrown for over 2,000 yards with 21 TDs and just seven interceptions, while averaging 42 yards rushing per game. Orgeron joined Colonel QB
Chase Fourcade this summer in Thibodaux as a camp counselor for the Manning Passing Academy.
• The Cowboys are led by first-year head coach Sterlin Gilbert. The Texas native landed his first head job after a career as an offensive coordinator, including the previous two seasons at South Florida.
A WIN OVER MCNEESE WOULD...
... improve the 2019 Senior Class' home record to 18-4 in its four seasons.
... make the '19 Senior Class the winningest in team history, surpassing 28 wins by 1988 Class.
... secure the program's third consecutive seven-win season - a first in school history.
... give the Colonels their 28th league win under Rebowe and up his record to 25-10 in last four years in the Southland.
... give Nicholls only its second win in the series against McNeese in the last 11 meetings.
... be the first time the Colonels won back-to-back matchups at home against McNeese since 1988 and '90.
... improve the team's conference mark to 6-2, with a chance for a third-straight 7-2 finish.
LAST MEETING
Sept. 15, 2018
No. 15/16 McNeese 20, No. 12/13 Nicholls 10
LAKE CHARLES, La. – The No. 12/13 Nicholls State University football team had opportunities to score against the stingy McNeese defense, but the Colonels were limited to just a field goal and a late touchdown in a 20-10 setback Saturday night at Cowboy Stadium. (
RECAP)
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls has a 3-3 record on Nov. 16 and has dropped all three Southland matchups on the date. The last victory was a nonconference win over Harding in 1996.
| YEAR |
OPPONENT |
W/L |
SCORE |
H/A |
| 1974 |
Southeastern La. |
W |
10-0 |
H |
| 1985 |
SEMO |
W |
31-28 |
H |
| 1991 |
Northwestern St.* |
L |
16-10 |
H |
| 1996 |
Harding |
W |
29-19 |
H |
| 2002 |
Central Arkansas* |
L |
17-10 |
H |
| 2017 |
Southeastern La.* |
L |
21-17 |
A |
LAST OUTING
Nov. 9, 2019
No RV/25 Nicholls 48, HBU 27
THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University quarterback
Chase Fourcade and running back
Julien Gums broke a pair of program rushing records as the No. 25 Colonels earned their second consecutive win with a 48-27 triumph over HBU Saturday evening on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. (
RECAP)
TAYLOR REPEATS AS COSIDA ALL-ACADEMIC
Senior running back
Dontrell Taylor earned his second straight CoSIDA Academic All-District honor for his outstanding work in the classroom. Taylor posts a 3.72 GPA as a petroleum services - safety technology major and has earned Southland All-Academic twice in his career. On the field, his senior year has been limited due to injuries; however, he totaled a career-high three rushing touchdowns in the rivalry win over Northwestern State.
TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online to avoid long lines at the gate on the day of the game.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
STAYING SOCIAL
Follow the Colonels all season long on Twitter (
@Nicholls_FB) and Instagram (
@Nicholls_FB).
COLONEL GAMEDAY
For all the information on Colonel Football Gameday, click
here.
