No. 17/14 Nicholls Colonels vs. #13/15 UIW Cardinals
Thibodaux, Louisiana (Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium)
Saturday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes | UIW Game Notes
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FIRST FIVE
• The No. 17 Nicholls State University football team returns home for the first time in a month to host nationally ranked UIW for an early 11 a.m. matchup on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. After struggling to slow down the Sam Houston offense two weeks ago, the Colonels face another high-octane attack in the No. 13 Cardinals, which feature the Southland's top-ranked offense. The game will air on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.
• Two weeks ago in Huntsville, Nicholls and Sam Houston squared off in a top 15 matchup which featured the two teams atop the Southland preseason poll. After the teams played to a 7-7 tie through the first quarter, the Bearkats exploded for 23 straight points in the second and it was all Sam Houston from then on. The Colonels scored their other touchdown late in the third quarter before Sam Houston scored the final three for a lopsided 71-17 victory. Nicholls was held to 337 yards on offense and had four turnovers - two which resulted in defensive touchdowns for the Bearkats.
• UIW has been the biggest surprise this spring with a 3-0 record after being projected to place fifth in the seven-team Southland preseason poll. Similar to their playoff run in 2018, the Cardinals have featured a potent offense led by true freshman quarterback Cameron Ward. In UIW's three games, Ward has over 1,000 yards passing and has accounted for 14 touchdown passes. In the 56-45 win over ranked Southeastern Louisiana, Ward set the school record with six touchdown passes and added another on the ground.
• Nicholls and UIW will be meeting for only the seventh time with the Colonels leading the all-time series, 4-2, thanks to its current four-game winning streak. The Colonels lost the first matchup under Coach Rebowe in 2015 in a close 20-10 decision but have since won four in a row. With the exception of the 2018 game where Nicholls won handily, 48-21, the wins by the Colonels have been decided by a touchdown or less.
• While former quarterback Chase Fourcade had a few of his best games as a Colonel against UIW, running back Julien Gums and wide receiver Dai'Jean Dixon also had memorable outings in the series versus the Cardinals. In 2017 as a true freshman, Dixon recorded his first career 100-yard game by hitting the mark exactly on four receptions in the win in San Antonio. He scored on an 8-yard catch in the second quarter and had a 55-yard TD in the third. In the last matchup in 2019, Gums carried the ball a then career-high 23 times for 178 yards and scored twice - including the game-winning touchdown with three minutes remaining.
BY THE NUMBERS
11 - Freshman linebacker
Hayden Shaheen posted a career-high 11 tackles in the last outing at Sam Houston. Shaheen, a native of Baton Rouge and graduate of Catholic High, has made an impact in his rookie campaign having already been named Southland Player of the Week after the Colonels' shutout against Lamar. Hayden currently ranks seventh in the Southland with 7.8 tackles per game.
24 - With his 14-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter at Sam Houston, WR Dai'Jean Dixon tied Hall of Fame receiver Mark Carrier's career mark of 24 touchdown receptions. Dixon also needed only four receptions to pass Carrier's career mark and he finished with five for 83 yards. Dixon now only needs 114 yards receiving to pass Carrier in yards for the No. 1 spot.
53.9 - Although the Colonel offense had a rough go at Sam Houston, punter Craig Walker took advantage of his busy day by setting a new single-game program record for punting average with 53.9 yards on his seven punts. Walker blasted a 77-yard punt and also had a 71-yarder downed inside the 20. He had a third punt travel over 50 yards, getting a fair catch on a 53-yard kick. Walker also had three kickoffs with two going for touchbacks.
A WIN OVER UIW WOULD...
... be the sixth win over a ranked opponent in Coach Rebowe's tenure and fourth straight at home (#11 Sam Houston & #18 San Diego in '18, #10 Central Arkansas and #24 North Dakota in '19).
... be the fifth straight win over UIW in the series. Colonels also have streaks against HBU (5), Northwestern State (5), Lamar (4), Stephen F. Austin (4), and Southeastern La. (2).
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 23-11.
... secure a .500 or better record in the Southland for just the eighth season. Rebowe will be associated with six of the campaigns (Head Coach 2016-20, Asst. Coach in 1996)
... give Coach Rebowe his 38th career win, which is one behind Sonny Jackson's program record of 39.
... put the Colonels' record at home under Rebowe to 23-7. Team is 18-2 at Guidry since start of 2017 season.
... be the second March win for the Colonels in school history.
