Nicholls Colonels at HBU Huskies
Houston, Texas (Husky Stadium)
Saturday, October 23 at 6 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes (PDF)
TV: ESPN+ LINK
Audio: 102.7 FM and KBZE 105.9
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Live Stats: Link
FIRST FIVE
• The Nicholls State University football team wraps up a two-game Texas road swing with its first of three rematches, taking on the HBU Huskies in Houston. The Colonels opened their Southland Conference slate with a 48-17 win over HBU on Oct. 2 but have since lost two straight against ranked opponents. HBU heads into the game searching for its first win of the season. The game will kickoff at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and can be listened to on 102.7 FM and KBZE 105.9.
• After scoring 31 unanswered in an earlier win over North Alabama, the tables were turned as Nicholls let a 21-7 lead slip away at No. 18 UIW, falling to the Cardinals in San Antonio, 38-21. The Colonels had a chance to extend their lead to double figures before the half but a trick play at the goal line was unsuccessful. From then on, the Cardinals relied on the arm of quarterback Cameron Ward who threw for nearly 400 yards passing and four touchdowns to snap the Colonels' five-game winning streak in the series.
• The Colonels have had the upper hand in the series against HBU since dropping the first ever meeting in 2014, winning the last six matchups. Nicholls earned a 48-17 win over the Huskies in early October, mostly thanks to a dominant rushing attack that racked up a season-high 421 yards on the ground. Despite the 31-point differential being one of the largest margins of victories for the Colonels in their Southland history, the series has featured several thrilling games and memorable moments. HBU's win in 2014 was the program's first Southland victory and in the next meeting, Nicholls won 38-17 for not only Tim Rebowe's first win as a head coach, but it snapped a 23-game losing streak. The next two meetings ended in dramatic fashion with the Colonels winning in double overtime in Houston in '16, then Dai'Jean Dixon caught a 44-yard touchdown pass, his only reception of the game, as time expired for the Colonel victory in '17. Although Nicholls won by 21 in the '19 meeting, Julien Gums broke the single-season record for rushing touchdowns while former quarterback Chase Fourcade set the mark in career rushing scores.
• The Huskies welcome Nicholls in search of their first win of the 2021 season. HBU fell to conference-leader Southeastern in its last game, 61-24, but nearly notched its first win two week against at home against Northwestern State. The Huskies grabbed a 17-14 advantage in the fourth quarter before the Demons answered with the game-winning touchdown. After losing starting quarterback Blaise Bentsen to a serious injury in September, Orion Olivas has emerged at the position and now has over 400 yards passing and four touchdowns.
• The Southland Conference and Ohio Valley Conference announced last week an alliance for the 2022 and '23 football seasons. With each league sporting six football members, the planned collaboration will see institutions from each conference fill available nonconference dates on schedules in the next two years with a focus toward competitive balance and reasonable travel.
BY THE NUMBERS
50% - Nicholls has been one of the top teams in the FCS this season at keeping drives alive, converting on 50 percent of its third-down attempts. The mark ranks fifth in the nation and is even higher in conference play at 53 percent. In the loss at UIW, Nicholls had a season-high nine third-down conversions.
124.5 - WR Dai'Jean Dixon continues to be one of the top receivers in the nation, averaging 124.5 yards receiving per game which ranks second in the FCS. Dixon, who also ranks second in receptions per game (8.5), finished with 120 yards receiving and one TD on nine receptions last week at UIW.
204 - While Dai'Jean Dixon has nearly every receiving program record, the Colonel standout receiver needs one touchdown to match the program mark for points scored (210). Dixon's 204 is tied for fifth all-time and he trails Kyle Leisher (208) and three tied for first place - Oscar Smith, Chase Fourcade and Jose Bran.
229.2 - Nicholls has established itself as one of the best rushing teams in the FCS over the last few seasons and currently ranks ninth in the nation at 229.2 yards per game. Led by the duo of quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. (104.7 ypg) and running back Julien Gums (78.3), the Colonels are averaging 280.8 yards on the ground in their four FCS games. Even with Gums sidelined with an injury, Marquese Albert has stepped in at 87.7 yards in his three games.
A WIN OVER HBU WOULD...
... extend the Colonels' winning streak against HBU to seven games, which is the longest against any league opponent.
... give Nicholls a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series.
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 25-12.
... be the 34th Southland Conference win under Coach Rebowe (33-21)
... give the Colonels a .500 record in road games vs. Texas programs (9-10). Losses include two FBS games (Texas A&M and Texas State).
NEXT MAN UP
The Colonel backfield was struck with the injury bug over the last few weeks as all-league running back Julien Gums and backup John Carrington III have been sidelined since the first matchup with HBU.
- Gums rushed for 139 yards in the win vs. North Alabama and had 105 and 2 TDs on six carries vs. HBU before leaving with an injury.
- Redshirt freshman Marquese Albert subbed in vs. HBU and rushed for a career-high 108 yards on 16 carries.
- Albert followed with 85 yards and a TD vs. SLU and 70 yards rushing at UIW.
- Albert is averaging 67.5 yards rushing per game in the four contests he has received at least one carry.
- Freshman Collin Guggenheim has also been in the mix, rushing 18 times for 117 yards in the last three games. He scored his first rushing TD of the season at UIW.
