HCU Huskies (2-3, 1-1 SLC) vs. Nicholls Colonels (1-3, 1-0 SLC)
Thibodaux, Louisiana (Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium)
Saturday, October 7 at 3 p.m. CT 
Nicholls Game Notes (PDF) | HCU Game Notes(PDF)
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• The Nicholls State University football team returns home for the first time in over a month to host Houston Christian University for Homecoming. Each team has a Southland win and Nicholls is looking to build off of its 31-10 road victory at McNeese. HCU won its opener at Southeastern but fell to Lamar last weekend. Kickoff s scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.

• Nicholls notched its first win of the season with a 21-point victory against rival McNeese. The Colonels grabbed the early lead after a muffed punt return by the Cowboys made way for a short touchdown. Nicholls led 24-7 after a pick-six by Quinton Sharkey before the half and the defense allowed just a field goal the rest of the way. Running back Collin Guggenheim led the offense with 103 yards rushing and had his first career touchdown pass, while Tyler Morton was responsible for two of the Colonels' four turnovers on defense. Kylan Dupre also chipped in with three punts inside the 10 and he and Morton went on to be named Southland Players of the Week.  

• Nicholls and HCU are two of the three teams in the Southland with a league victory. Nicholls and Lamar are 1-0 while the Huskies are 1-1 following a tough home loss to the Cardinals last weekend. HCU trailed 21-6 early in the fourth quarter before rallying for two touchdowns. They scored the final one with four minutes to go but came up short on the game-tying two-point conversion try. In their two league games, HCU is averaging an impressive 228.0 yards rushing while allowing just 73.5. The Huskies are led by first-year head coach Braxton Harris, who took over the program after serving as associate head coach at Campbell.  

• The Colonels and Huskies are matching up for the 10th time with Nicholls riding an eight-game winning streak in the series. HCU won the first-ever meeting in 2014 before Coach Rebowe took over the program and led Nicholls to a wins in the next eight. With the exception of 2021's two lopsided victories by the Colonels, the series has featured several thrilling games and memorable moments. HCU's win in 2014 was the program's first Southland victory and in the next meeting, Nicholls won 38-17 for not only Tim Rebowe's first win as a head coach, but it snapped a 23-game losing streak. The next two meetings ended in dramatic fashion with the Colonels winning in double overtime in Houston in '16, then Dai'Jean Dixon caught a 44-yard touchdown pass, his only reception of the game, as time expired for the Colonel victory in '17. Although Nicholls won by 21 in the '19 meeting, Julien Gums broke the single-season record for rushing touchdowns while former quarterback Chase Fourcade set the mark in career rushing scores. In the home victory for the Colonels in '21, it was Tim Rebowe's 40th career win which passed Sonny Jackson's program all-time mark of 39. The series drama continued last season when HCU took the lead with 43 seconds remaining but the Colonels were able to get close enough for a 43-yard field goal by Gavin Lasseigne as time expired for a 19-17 victory in Houston.




A WIN OVER HCU WOULD...

... give the Colonels a 2-0 start in league play for the third time under Coach Rebowe ('19 &'20). Nicholls has started 2-0 three times in conference since joining the SLC in 1991 ('07).
... be the ninth straight win against the Huskies, improving the all-time record to 9-1.
... improve Rebowe's record to 9-0 all-time against the Huskies. The first meeting was won by HCU in 2014.
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 28-16.
... give Nicholls a 17-14 record in October under Rebowe. 
... put Nicholls at 29-14 at home in the Rebowe Era.
... avoid three consecutive home losses for the first time since the winless 2014 season.

BY THE NUMBERS
 

4 -- The Colonel defense totaled four turnovers in the win over McNeese, coming away with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. The first was a muffed punt following the Colonels' opening possession, then right before the half, Quinton Sharkey intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. In the second half, Tyler Morton intercepted a pass and had a forced fumble. The four turnovers were the most for the defense since causing four in the home '21 finale against UIW. 

6 -- After four games, the Colonel defense has a total of six interceptions which ranks 8th in the FCS and is first in the SLC. Nicholls had just five picks a year ago, six in the fall '21 campaign and five in the spring. The last time the defense had double figures was a 10-interception season in 2019.

8 -- Nicholls carries an eight-game winning streak in the series against HCU after it's last-second victory in Houston last season. Trailing 17-16, Gavin Lasseigne drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired for the Colonel victory. The winning streak is the longest for the Colonels against any opponent in program history, surpassing a seven-game streak over Southeastern. 

26.4 -- Jaylon Spears continues to be a threat in the return game and ranks 16th in the FCS at 26.4 yards per kick return. After the Cowboys cut into the deficit at 24-10 in the third, Spears broke free for a 48-yard return to recapture the momentum. The return matched his career long which he has reached three times in his two seasons.

32:43 -- Nicholls has looked to control the ball since Coach Rebowe took over the program and this season has been no different with the Colonels averaging 32:43 in time of possession. The offense held the ball for over 36 minutes at McNeese, a season best, helped by another high of 7 of 12 on third downs. The time ranks first in the Southland and 16th in the FCS.  

1,877 -- After recording his 7th career 100-yard game with 103 yards rushing at McNeese, running back Collin Guggenheim crept closer to the 2,000-yard mark for his career. The Kenner native has totaled 1,877 yards rushing in his four seasons. He needs just 21 yards to pass Chase Fourcade (1,897) for 11th all-time and 58 to crack the Top 10 (Mike Henry, 1,934).


LAST MEETING
Oct. 8, 2022
Nicholls -- 19
@HCU -- 17

HOUSTON, Texas - Kicker Gavin Lasseigne booted a career-high four field goals including a 43-yarder as time expired, as the Nicholls State University football team earned its first win of the season with a 19-17 victory at Houston Christian University Saturday night at Husky Stadium. (FULL RECAP)

 

SLC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Following the win in the conference opener, defensive back Tyler Morton and punter Kylan Dupre were named Southland Conference Players of the Week.

- Morton was responsible for two of the defense's four turnovers in the Colonels' league-opening win at McNeese. Both happened in the second half, starting with a highlight interception on a deep ball at the Colonels' 20. Then with the Cowboys looking to make a late rally, Morton upended the ball carrier inside the 15 for a forced fumble to seal the win. The St. Rose native filled the stat sheet with five tackles, one pick, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

- Dupre punted just four times at McNeese but had a major impact, averaging 46 yards with three inside the 10. His first punt went for 49 yards and was muffed inside the 10, leading to an early touchdown for the offense. The second punt was downed at the 3, and after a three-and-out, the Colonels scored on a short TD drive. In the second half, Dupre's 59-yarder was fielded inside the 10 for no return, then his final punt went to the 20 for a 3-yard return.

- Morton and Dupre also received honorable mention for the FedEx Ground FCS National Player of the Week in their respective category. 

GOOGS GETS GOIN'

The Colonels have featured an All-Southland running back in each of the last six seasons and will once again have one in the backfield with Collin Guggenheim returning after being an all-league selection in 2021. But for the first time since the 2017 campaign, the offense will not have the services of all-time leading rusher Julien Gums. After earning All-Southland last season for the third time in his career, Gums left the program with over 3,400 yards rushing and a school record 36 rushing TDs. 

- Guggenheim rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in '21 with five 100-yard games, highlighted by a 266-yard performance in the River Bell Classic victory against Southeastern. Last season, he reached double figures in carries in five games and totaled 543 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He notched his sixth career 100-yard game with 119 yards on 13 carries against Jacksonville State. 

- After rushing for 168 yards in the first three games this season, Guggenheim had his first 20-plus carry effort and rushed for 103 yards at McNeese -- his seventh career 100-yard effort. If that wasn't enough, the former high school QB tossed his first touchdown pass, a short 2-yarder to Neno Lemay out of the wildcat. 

- Collin ranks 4th in the SLC in rushing at 67.8 ypg.

TURNOVERS GALORE
Through the first four games of the season, the Colonel defense has 10 turnovers and ranks 12th in the FCS.
- The unit has six interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
- Markeyvrick Eddie leads the way with two picks, both coming at Tulane, while Kershawn Fisher (vs Sac St), Jordan Jackson (vs TCU), Tyler Morton and Quinton Sharkey (vs McNeese) each have one. Sharkey scored on his via a 22-yard return.
- The defense has two unforced recoveries while safeties Morton and Josh Wax caused one each.

STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonel Football, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_FB), Instagram (@Nicholls_FB) and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Football).


TAILGATE UPDATE -- BURN BAN LIFTED
The burn ban for tailgating has been lifted for Saturday's game. 
- There will be NO bon fires allowed in the tailgate area.