No. 9/13 Nicholls Colonels (1-1, 0-0 SLC) at Stephen F. Austin (0-3, 0-0 SLC)
Nacogdoches, Texas (Homer Bryce Stadium)
Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes
Audio: ESPN Radio New Orleans Tunein | 100.3 FM KLRZ | 105.9 FM KBZE
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats
FIRST FIVE
• The Nicholls State University football team officially begins its Southland Conference title defense with a matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Sept. 21. It marks the third straight road game to open the season, and is the second of three straight in Texas. Kickoff at Homer Bryce Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+ and on the radio via ESPN New Orleans 100.3 FM and 105.9 FM KBZE.
• Nicholls had its two-game winning streak in Southland Conference openers snapped last season and will be aiming to improve its 8-20 record in SLC openers. Head coach
Tim Rebowe is 2-2, picking up wins over UIW in 2016 and McNeese in '17. The two losses were both on the road and the Colonels have not won their first Southland road game since a 47-45 victory in four overtimes at Texas State in 2010.
• Stephen F. Austin returns home with hopes of ending a six-game losing streak. After dropping the final three games in 2018, including a loss to the Colonels, the 'Jacks opened '19 with a loss at Baylor, a home setback against Tarleton State, and an overtime loss at Southern Utah. First-year head coach Colby Carthel's SFA squad led at SUU in the final 90 seconds last weekend, but the Thunderbirds tied the game before the end of regulation and went on to claim a 45-38 victory in overtime.
• With the 47-14 win over Stephen F. Austin last season, the Colonels won three consecutive games against the 'Jacks for the first time in the series history. Despite the winning streak, SFA still holds a commanding 25-10 advantage all-time against the Colonels. The only other back-to-back wins before the current streak for Nicholls was in 1990 and '91, but the win in '90 was a result of a forfeit.
• Not only does Nicholls play its first four games on the road, but the final three games of the stretch are in Texas. The Colonels will play in the Lone Star State five times in 2019, including conference games at SFA, Sam Houston State, and UIW. With the opening win over Prairie View A&M, the Colonels are now 18-7 against Texas schools under head coach
Tim Rebowe. Seven of the victories have been on the road, including one in league play last season at HBU.
BY THE NUMBERS
4 - The Colonels defense came up with four turnovers in last Saturday's win over Prairie View A&M, including three in the third quarter.
Jarius Monroe started it off with an interception in the end zone in the opening period, then in the third,
Allen Pittman recovered a fumble, and Kevin Moore had an interception and forced a fumble. It was the first four-turnover game for the defense since 2016 against South Alabama.
5 - The Colonels' comeback at Prairie View A&M was win No. 5 under head coach
Tim Rebowe when Nicholls trailed at halftime. The 15-point deficit was the largest halftime deficit in the Rebowe era that resulted in a win, with the previous being a 17-3 comeback in the Colonels' 27-24 victory at Southeastern Louisiana to close out his first season (2015).
9 - After winning for the first time in 2019, Nicholls climbed up to No. 9 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, which is the highest ranking in team history. Nicholls earned a No. 10 ranking a few times over the past year-plus, but were never in single digits.
29 - Nicholls' impressive rally was fueled by a 29-point third quarter, while the defense pitched a shutout in the 15 minutes. The 1994 team had a 35-point quarter en route to a school record 77 points against Livingston (West Alabama), but the Colonels had not found the end zone four times in a quarter since 2007. On Nov. 10, Nicholls scored 28 points against Texas State in the opening period before going on to defeat the Bobcats, 52-28.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
• Stephen F. Austin is searching for its first win after losses to Baylor (56-17), Tarleton State (37-26) and Southern Utah (45-38 in OT). All three opponents compete in different levels with Baylor in the FBS, Tarleton is a nationally ranked Division II program, and SUU is a FCS program.
• Colby Carthel is in his first season at the helm of the Lumberjack program. Carthel came from Division II Texas A&M-Commerce where he spent six seasons with the Lions. While at Commerce, Carthel led his program to a 2017 national championship and a total of six playoff appearances.
• The 'Jacks are led on offense by quarterback Trae Self and running back Da'Leon Ward. Self threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns in the loss at SUU, while Ward racked up a season-high 149 yards rushing on 28 carries against Tarleton. Ward ranks third in the Southland with 77.0 yards per game.
• SFA is without the services of its All-Southland defensive back Alize Ward, who suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp. The 'Jacks also lost quarterback Jack Blumrick to an injury after he started 13 games over the last two seasons.
A WIN OVER SFA WOULD...
... give Nicholls a 9-20 record in Southland openers, and up head coach
Tim Rebowe's record to 3-2.
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 19-7.
... be the 12th road win in Rebowe's tenure. Colonels had 10 from 2005-14.
... extend the Colonels' longest winning streak in the series to four games.
... improve the Colonels' record to 5-2 all-time on Sept. 21.
... be the first victory in the opening road conference game since 2010.
... give Nicholls just its fifth victory on the road in the series vs. the Lumberjacks in 19 games.
LAST MEETING VS. SFA
Nov. 10, 2018
Nicholls 47, Stephen F. Austin 14
THIBODAUX, La. – Needing a win to stay in the hunt for the Southland Conference championship, the No. 16/17 Nicholls State University football team continued to dominate the opposition at home with a 47-14 victory over Stephen F. Austin Saturday night at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. (
RECAP)
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls has a 4-2 record on Sept.21, including wins in its last two contests. The last Southland matchup was in 2002 with the Colonels defeating Jacksonville State, 14-6.
| YEAR |
OPPONENT |
W/L |
SCORE |
H/A |
| 1974 |
Jacksonville State |
L |
29-0 |
A |
| 1985 |
McNeese |
W |
37-15 |
A |
| 1991 |
Troy |
W |
25-17 |
A |
| 1996 |
Troy |
L |
37-7 |
A |
| 2002 |
Jacksonville State |
W |
14-6 |
H |
| 2013 |
Langston |
W |
42-22 |
H |
LAST GAME
Sept. 14, 2019
Nicholls 42, Prairie View A&M 35
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Trailing 21-6 at the half, the No. 11/12 Nicholls State University football team scored 29 unanswered points in the third quarter and went on to hang on for its first win of the year, taking down Prairie View A&M, 42-35, Saturday night at PVAMU Football Stadium. (
RECAP)
UP NEXT
Nicholls will head back to Texas for the third consecutive weekend to face former league member Texas State. Kickoff in San Marcos is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN3.
HOME OPENER
Following their first four games on the road, the Colonels return to Louisiana for their home opener against Central Arkansas on Oct. 5. Nicholls has won 11 of its last 12 home games, including all six last season. Fans can order tickets by contacting the Nicholls Athletics Ticket Office at 985-448-4790 or on
NichollsTickets.com.
NICHOLLS FOOTBALL ON TWITTER
For the latest news and in-game updates, be sure to follow the team on Twitter
@Nicholls_FB.
