Nicholls Colonels (2-3, 2-0 SLC) at Texas A&M-Commerce (1-5, 1-1 SLC)
Commerce, Texas (Memorial Stadium)
Saturday, October 21 at 3:30 p.m. CT 
Nicholls Game Notes (PDF) | TAMUC Game Notes
TV: ESPN+ LINK 
Audio: ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM   |   TuneIn  
Live Stats: Link

• The Nicholls State University football team looks for a 3-0 start in the Southland Conference for just the second time as the Colonels hit the road for their first ever trip to Texas A&M-Commerce. Nicholls is coming off an unexpected bye week after its rivalry game versus Northwestern State was canceled following the passing of NSU's Ronnie Caldwell. The Lions suffered their first league loss with a 28-11 setback at home against ranked UIW and will be looking to extend their Homecoming winning streak to nine games. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.

• Playing at home for the first time in over a month, Nicholls put on a show for the hometown fans with a 38-7 victory over Houston Christian University. The win was not only the ninth consecutive in the series against the Huskies, but 31 points was the fifth largest margin of victory for the Colonels in their Southland history. While several individuals had breakout performances on offense, the defense paved the way with three more turnovers including two interceptions by two-time SLC Player of the Week Tyler Morton. HCU came in with the top rushing offense and was limited to 46 yards in the loss. On offense, Collin Guggenheim tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns, David Robinson Jr. totaled 127 yards receiving on seven receptions and Jaylon Spears logged his first career 100-yard game with 113 yards rushing on just eight carries.  

• Nicholls and Texas A&M-Commerce will be meeting for only the second time with the Colonels taking last year's matchup in Thibodaux, 12-10. After surrendering 10 points in the first period, the Nicholls defense kept the Lions off the scoreboard the rest of the way and secured the game-winning safety in the fourth quarter for the third league win of the season. Gavin Lasseigne kicked a field goal for the first Colonel points before the half and Al'Dontre Davis tied the game up in the third with a touchdown catch. Eli Ennis was then credited with a safety to cap an outstanding day for the defense. Linebacker Brandon Lairy led the way with 14 tackles including 3.5 for loss and a sack while also forcing a fumble. Julien Gums sparked the offense with 124 yards rushing on 21 carries.

• Running back Collin Guggenheim not only claimed his second career Southland Offensive Player of the Week following the HCU win, but he also made a little history. His four rushing touchdowns tied the program's single-game record, last accomplished by Julien Gums in the Spring '21 season. He also moved up to 10th place on the Colonels' all-time career rushing list, passing quarterback Chase Fourcade and running back Michael Henry. With 1,941 yards rushing, Guggenheim is looking to become the 10th player in school history to reach 2,000 yards. 




A WIN OVER TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE WOULD...

... give the Colonels a 3-0 start in league play for the second time under Coach Rebowe ('19). Nicholls had not started 3-0 in the Southland before Rebowe's arrival.
... be Coach Rebowe's 50th career victory. With being the all-time leader in wins, he would be the first coach in program history to reach 50. 
... improve the Colonels' all-time record to 2-0 in the series vs. Texas A&M-Commerce.
... give Nicholls a 18-14 record in October under Rebowe. 
... secure at least three wins in conference in each of Rebowe's nine seasons. Nicholls won a total of one SLC game in the previous four seasons combined and had three or more wins eight times in the Southland before Rebowe's arrival.
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 29-16.
... would be the sixth time under Rebowe that the Colonels have won three or more Southland games in a row. The program had only previously accomplished it twice since joining the SLC in 1991 (1996, 2005).

BY THE NUMBERS
 

4 -- Running back Collin Guggenheim found the end zone four times on the ground in the win over HCU, tying the program's single-game record. Guggenheim is the fifth Colonel to reach the mark, joining Julien Gums (Spring '21), Jesse Turner ('10), Broderick Cole ('07) and Oscar Smith (1985).

10 -- Not only did the Colonels make it difficult for HCU to run the ball, but the secondary racked up 10 pass breakups to go along with their three interceptions. Kendarius Smith totaled four breakups while Jordan Jackson had two along with his interception. Tyler Morton had two picks and a breakup while Markeyvrick Eddie broke up two passes. The unit's high in breakups last season was seven vs. UIW and Northwestern State.  

12 -- Nicholls scored 12 points in the win last season against Texas A&M-Commerce, which was its fewest points in a victory since 1996. The Colonels had not won a game scoring less than 14 points since a 10-3 win at Samford in the '96 campaign. 

50 -- Already the winningest coach in program history, head coach Tim Rebowe is one away from win No. 50 of his career. He has a 49-46 overall record in his eight-plus seasons and holds a 42-25 mark in the Southland. 

1,941 -- Running back Collin Guggenheim inched closer to the 2,000-yard mark for his career after rushing for 64 yards in the win over HCU. The Kenner native has totaled 1,941 yards rushing in his four seasons and now ranks 10th on the all-time rushing list. 

LAST MEETING
Nov. 12, 2022
@Nicholls -- 12
Texas A&M-Commerce -- 10

THIBODAUX, La. - After allowing 10 points in the opening quarter, the defense for the Nicholls State University football team pitched a shutout the rest of the game and then scored the winning safety in the fourth as the Colonels picked up a hard fought 12-10 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce in their first Southland Conference meeting Saturday evening on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. (FULL RECAP)

 

TURNOVERS GALORE

Through the first five games of the season, the Colonel defense/special teams has 14 turnovers and ranks 5th in the FCS.

- The unit has nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries. The nine picks is 5th in the FCS.
- Tyler Morton leads the team with three interceptions and is 2nd in FCS with 0.6 per game.
- Markeyvrick Eddie and Jordan Jackson have two picks, while Kershawn Fisher and Quinton Sharkey each have one. Sharkey scored on his via a 22-yard return.
- The Colonels have three unforced recoveries while safeties Morton and Josh Wax caused one each.
 

DAVE'S BIG DAY

Sixth-year wideout David Robinson Jr. had a breakout performance in the win over HCU.

- Robinson finished with career highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (127) and caught a touchdown pass for the second straight game.
- Robinson's TD grab on the Colonels' opening possession went viral on social media and ended up being the No. 3 play on SportsCenter Top 10. On the 14-yard score, Robinson drew an interference flag while falling back in the end zone, but was still able to snag the ball with one hand for the TD.
- He also started the second half with a 63-yard catch-and-run to set up another touchdown.
 

T-MO

Junior safety Tyler Morton has made a huge impact for the defense, leading the team with three interceptions while ranking third in tackles.

- Morton has already garnered SLC Player of the Week twice this season, earning it back-to-back weeks following the Colonels' two league wins. He had a highlight interception and a forced fumble at McNeese, then had two picks against HCU.
- The St. Rose native started last season and led the team with two interceptions while ranking second in tackles.
 

SPEARS LOOKING SHARP

Redshirt sophomore Jaylon Spears has been an asset in the kick return game the last one-plus seasons, but he contributed in a big way in the win over HCU with his first career 100-yard rushing effort.
- Spears needed only eight carries to rack up 113 yards, highlighted by a 58-yard run in the third quarter.
- Spears ranks 12th in the FCS with a 26.9 average on kick returns this season. He upped his average with his lone return of 31 yards against the Huskies.


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