No. 7 Nicholls Colonels at No. 12 Sam Houston Bearkats
Huntsville, Texas (Bowers Stadium)
Saturday, March 13 at 12:00 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes (PDF) | Sam Houston Game Notes (PDF)
TV: ESPN+ LINK
Audio: ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM | TuneIn
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Tickets will not be sold at the gates. Purchases must be made online
HERE before 10 a.m. on Saturday.
FIRST FIVE
• The No. 7 Nicholls State University football team faces its biggest test of the 2021 spring season so far as the Colonels play their second straight road game, taking on No. 12 Sam Houston. Like last weekend against rival Northwestern State, wins on the road in the series have been few and far between as Nicholls has won only three times in Huntsville with the last being back in 2002. The game will air on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.
• Nicholls did pick up a win on the road at Northwestern State, taking down the Demons for the fifth consecutive time with a hard-fought 31-24 victory. The Colonels found the end zone in the first three drives, but two Colonel turnovers near the end zone - one before halftime and one immediately after - kept things interesting. The Demons made it a one-score game three different times, but the Colonels were ultimately able to run out the clock for the victory. Nicholls relied heavily on its star players as Lindsey Scott Jr. threw for 299 yards with 115 going to Dai'Jean Dixon, and Scott and running back Julien Gums combined for 247 yards rushing.
• Of the Colonels' first four opponents, only one had played a game prior and it is Sam Houston. After having their opener against UIW postponed due to wintry weather, the Bearkats won a shootout at home against Southeastern Louisiana, 43-38, on Feb. 27. Behind the play of quarterback Eric Schmid, the Kats piled up 672 yards in the victory and the defense picked up a stop just outside the red zone in the final minutes to secure the win.
• Nicholls and Sam Houston will be squaring off for the 35th time and the Bearkats hold a 22-11-1 advantage in the series. Looking back at the history, the series was fairly close until Sam Houston put together an 11-game winning streak from 2006-17. The streak was snapped in 2018 with a 27-7 win by the Colonels in Thibodaux. Nicholls has won just three times in Huntsville all-time, last winning in 2002.
• Nicholls continued its streak of weekly individual honors as wide receiver Dai'Jean Dixon was named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Offensive Player of the Week. Dixon found the end zone twice against Northwestern State, hauling in seven receptions for 115 yards and two TDs. Quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. took home the honor following his performance against Lamar. The defense had two winners as linebacker Dellary Oubre won Southland POW in Week 1 and Hayden Shaheen garnered the same award in Week 2.
BY THE NUMBERS
10 - Quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. had a blazing start to his tenure in the Southland Conference, leading Nicholls to touchdowns in his first 10 drives under center. Against Lamar, Scott played just seven drives through 2.5 quarters as Nicholls built a 49-0 lead. Not only did he orchestrate the offense, but he accounted for six scores - three passing and three rushing. The hot start continued at Northwestern with three more touchdowns in the first three drives. He capped the run with two touchdowns passes to Dai'Jean Dixon. Early in the second quarter, Nicholls picked up a first down before finally having to punt.
36 - Running back Julien Gums had his fourth career rushing game of 150 yards or better in the win at Northwestern State, but set a new career high with 36 carries. His previous high was 23 in a 178-yard day at UIW and like Saturday's game against NSU, he put the team on his shoulders to grind out a victory. Holding a one-score lead against the Demons with 5 minutes remaining, Gums carried the ball eight times and picked up two first downs which allowed Nicholls to run out the clock.
47.0 - Through three games, the Colonel defense is allowing an average of 47.0 yards passing. Division II Lincoln threw the ball 21 times, completing 12 passes for only 20 yards. Lamar finished 11 of 14 for 54 yards and Northwestern State attempted the most passes with 30, but had just 13 completions for 67 yards. The Demons did complete a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, which was the first allowed through the air for the Colonel D. Sam Houston feature's one of the FCS' elite passers in Eric Schmid who tossed for 428 yards in the Kats season debut.
A WIN OVER SAM HOUSTON WOULD...
... be the first win at Sam Houston since 2002 (Won 34-16... Lost last 9).
... be the sixth win over a ranked opponent in Coach Rebowe's tenure.
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 23-10.
... give Coach Rebowe his 38th career win, which is one behind Sonny Jackson's program record of 39.
... put the Colonels at 4-0 which would be the third best start in school history -- 8-0 in 1986 and 5-0 in '75.
... give the Colonels their first ever 3-0 start in SLC play.
... be the second March win for the Colonels in school history.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
The Colonel defense has had a strong showing in its first three games, limiting the opposition to a combined three touchdowns and 47.0 yards passing per game.
vs. Lincoln (Mo.)
- 110 yards of total offense, and 20 passing yards.
- Held DII All-American honorable mention running back Hosea Franklin to 32 yards on 13 carries.
- Forced six turnovers - 2 INTs and four fumbles.
- Kept a team out of the end zone for the first time since the 2018 River Bell Classic (44-0 vs. SLU).
- Only points were a result of a bad snap on a punt that gave Lincoln the ball at the Colonel 8.
vs. Lamar
- 91 total yards and 6 first downs
- Lamar did not reach the 50 the entire game
- First shutout since 2018 vs. SLU
- Fifth shutout in SLC play all-time
at Northwestern State
- 304 yards of offense and 12 first downs
- 138 came off of two rushing TDs
- Allowed 67 yards passing on 13 of 30
- Totaled 2 sacks and 6 breakups
