NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Nicholls State University football team took a 12-point lead with just over three minutes remaining at Northwestern State, but the Demons rallied with two late touchdowns to stun the Colonels with a 36-33 comeback victory Saturday afternoon at Turpin Stadium. 

Nicholls (0-5, 0-1 SLC) made it a two-possession game with 3:17 remaining after Julien Gums scored on a 37-yard rush for a 33-21 advantage. Northwestern State (2-3, 2-0 SLC) needed just 1:43 to travel 65 yards, scoring on a Javon Antonio 27-yard catch. The Demons then recovered an onside kick and Zachary Clement hooked up with Antonio again with nine seconds remaining. NSU converted the 2-point try to grab a 36-33 lead.

The Colonels moved to midfield on a Al'Dontre Davis catch and after a Demon penalty, had one last play. Kohen Granier lofted a pass into the endzone but it was intercepted, giving the Demons their first win in the rivalry since 2015.

The game served as the Southland opener for the Colonels, who remained winless on the season. Nicholls has not started the season 0-5 since Coach Tim Rebowe's inaugural 2015 campaign. 

Despite the loss, Nicholls churned out season highs on offense with 555 total yards, 324 passing and 231 on the ground. Granier completed 20 of 41 passes for his first 300-yard outing and accounted for three touchdowns -- two passing and one rushing. Davis was his top target with 92 yards on four catches, while Terry Matthews and Tank McMath each hauled in their first career TD receptions.  

Gums led the rushing attack with his first 100-yard game of the season and 12th of his career, finishing with 104 yards on 18 carries. Collin Guggenheim added 53 yards on nine carries. Granier rushed for 61 yards and his 6-yard keeper in the opening quarter gave Nicholls an early 7-0 lead.

The second quarter featured a total 31 points with the Demons scoring on a pair of 1-yard rushes. They converted on a 4th-and-goal from the 1 for the first TD and followed on a third-down score on the next drive. Nicholls had its own fourth-down score on the next drive on a McMath 4-yard catch that tied it up at 14-14.
 

Gavin Lasseigne gave Nicholls back the lead with a 39-yard field goal with 2:49 remaining until halftime. The defense forced a three-and-out and the Colonels took advantage of the extra possession as Granier hit Matthews for a 35-yard touchdown and a 24-14 lead. Kylin White and Ethan Lee led the Colonel defense with 10 tackles each, and Perry Ganci added nine with 1.5 for loss. 

In the third, Northwestern scored on the opening possession on a LC Greenwood TD catch. The Colonels got three points back via Lasseigne's second 39-yarder of the game. The Nicholls defense then stepped up after NSU went for a fourth down inside the Colonel 10 as Jordan Jackson batted a pass away in the endzone. 

Over the next six possessions, both defenses kept the score at 27-21. But Matthews was able to convert a third down with a 19-yard catch and on the next play, Gums broke free for a Colonel touchdown with just over three minutes to go. 

After NSU cut the deficit to a one-score game and recovered the onside, Nicholls forced the Demons to a 4th-and-10 try from midfield. But Clement escaped pressure and was able to heave a pass for 19 yards to Ke'Nard King for a first down. Four plays later, Clement hit Antonio on a 3-yard slant for the game-winner.  Antonio finished with a game-high 132 yards receiving on nine receptions. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will head to Houston for its fifth road game of the season, taking on Houston Christian University. Kickoff at Husky Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.