THIBODAUX, La. - For most of the first half, the Nicholls State University football team looked to be in another heated battle in the River Bell Classic against rival Southeastern, but the 23rd-ranked Lions scored two touchdowns in the final 70 seconds and went on to score 10 more unanswered points after the break to defeat the Colonels, 40-17, Thursday night on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.
With the win, SLU (8-3, 5-1 SLC) secured the Southland Conference title and the automatic berth into the FCS playoffs. The Lions also took a 17-16 lead in the all-time series with a third consecutive victory in Thibodaux.
Nicholls wraps up the season with a 3-8 overall record and 3-3 in Southland play -- marking a seventh straight year of being .500 or better in conference.
One of 13 seniors playing for the final time at Guidry Stadium, running back
Julien Gums set the school record for total career touchdowns (37) and rushing touchdowns (36) with a 6-yard score early in the first quarter. Gums rushed for 95 yards on 21 carries to move up to ninth all-time in Southland Conference history with 3,429 career rushing yards.
Another pair of seniors,
Kohen Granier and
Al'Dontre Davis, set up the scoring drive with a highlight 42-yard pass and catch as Nicholls took a 7-0 lead. However, Southeastern answered with two touchdowns and a field goal for a 17-7 advantage. Later in the second quarter, Granier found
Marquese Albert in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown before
Gavin Lasseigne tied it up on a 28-yard field goal.
But things went downhill in a hurry for the Colonels after that.
Perry Ganci picked up a strip sack on 3rd and 9 but the ball trickled up field eight yards and it was recovered by Southeastern. Facing a 4th and 1, Lion running back Jessie Britt found an open seam and ran 33 yards for a touchdown.
On the ensuing kickoff,
Jaylon Spears broke free for a 78-yard kick return but it was brought back on a penalty. Two plays later, SLU's Zy Alexander picked off a Granier pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown with just 25 seconds remaining in the half. The Lions went from being tied to going up 30-17 in a matter of 46 seconds.
In the second half, Nicholls was never able to get going on offense and Southeastern scored in each of the final quarters to secure the victory.
SLU outgained Nicholls on offense, 423-270, and had a 4-0 advantage in turnovers. Granier had three of the turnovers, throwing two interceptions and fumbling once on a rush. He finished with 124 yards passing on 11 of 21. Receiver
K.J. Franklin had the other turnover on a fumble in the opening quarter that made way for a short touchdown drive for the visitors.
Eli Sawyer tossed three touchdown passes for the Lions, completing 19 of 24 for 228 yards. He connected with Ivan Drobocky for two of the scores -- one in the first quarter and the lone touchdown of the second half in the third. Britt paced the rushing attack with 90 yards on 11 carries.
The Colonel defense was led by another double-digit tackle effort by
Kylin White. The redshirt freshman linebacker totaled 10 for the second straight game and ended the season with a team-high 79 stops. Ganci also had a solid outing with eight tackles, 3.5 for loss, and two sacks.
