• The Nicholls State University football team will take on Lamar University for a chance to secure its seventh appearance in the FCS playoffs, hosting the Cardinals for Senior Day on Saturday, November 11. Lamar (4-1 SLC) is looking to not only spoil Senior Day, but a win would create a three-way tie for first place with just a week remaining.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.

• In arguably its biggest Southland game since the de facto championship bout with Southeastern to close out 2019, Nicholls squared off against No. 8/4 UIW in a battle of the unbeatens and came home with a convincing 45-32 victory. After falling behind 10-0, the Colonels scored 24 straight points and eventually led 45-19 in the fourth quarter before UIW rallied late with two touchdowns. Nicholls relied on a familiar recipe, run the ball and cause turnovers, as the offense racked up 331 yards rushing while the defense came up with three takeaways including one for a touchdown. Nicholls went on to be named FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week and Collin Guggenheim and Devonte' Mathews both garnered SLC and LSWA Players of the Week.

• Nicholls will be hosting Lamar, which has been one of the few surprises in the Southland Conference this season. After suffering a 15-game losing skid, which the Cardinals ended last season against the Colonels, Lamar brought in a new head coach Pete Rossomando and he has quickly turned the program around. After being selected second-to-last in the preseason poll and starting the season 0-3, Lamar has won five of its last six with the lone loss coming to nationally-ranked UIW. The Cardinals' win last year over Nicholls gave them a 7-6 advantage in the all-time series, putting a halt to the Colonels' five-game winning streak against LU.

• Saturday will be the final regular season home game for 12 Colonels as Nicholls celebrates the 2023 Senior Class. The program will recognize right tackle Mark Barthelemy, running back John Carrington III, defensive lineman Perry Ganci, receiver Mike Gray Jr., cornerback Jordan Jackson, linebacker Brandon Lairy, kicker Gavin Lasseigne, lineman Owen Melville, receiver Tyren Montgomery, linebacker Jacob Parker, linebacker/long snapper Elijah Reames, and receiver David Robinson Jr. A handful of Colonels were members of the 2019 championship 2019, including Robinson who is in his sixth year with the program.

A WIN OVER LAMAR WOULD...

... would clinch the SLC's auto bid, securing the program's 7th appearance in the FCS playoffs.
... give Nicholls at least a share of the Southland title. The Colonels would enter the River Bell Classic with a chance to win the championship outright with a victory or a UIW loss to HCU. 
... would give the Colonels a five-game winning streak in league play -- which would be the second longest under Coach Tim Rebowe. Nicholls won six straight Southland games in 2017 and then had four-game streaks in each of the championship '18 and '19 campaigns. Nicholls made the playoffs in all three seasons.
... even up the all-time series at 7-7. Nicholls won five straight before last season's 24-17 loss in Beaumont. LU won the previous five before the Colonels' win streak.
... improve the Colonels' record to 19-7 in November under Coach Rebowe.
... keep the Colonels perfect in league play. Nicholls has never went undefeated in conference since joining the league in 1991.
... improve Rebowe's record vs. Texas schools to 31-16.

BY THE NUMBERS

4 -- Running back Collin Guggenheim found the end zone four times on the ground for the second time this season in the win at UIW. He also scored four TDs in the victory over HCU, tying the school'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).

11 -- Cornerback Kendarius Smith leads the Southland with 11 pass breakups this season. Smith has been locked in the last three games, totaling eight with four coming in the win against HCU. His total is good for 9th in the FCS. Smith is in his first season after transferring from East Mississippi.

21 -- The Colonels continue to rack up turnovers, now with 21 on the season. The 14 interceptions are second best in the FCS and the defense/special teams has totaled seven fumble recoveries. The defense also has two touchdowns with Quinton Sharkey returning an interception at McNeese while Devonte' Mathews picked up a fumble recovery for a score at UIW. 

58 -- With Nicholls leading 24-13 in the third quarter, safety Devonte' Mathews scooped up a fumble forced by Perry Ganci/Joe Mason and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. It marked the second defensive score this season and was the first fumble returned for a TD since Kevin Johnson's scoop and score in the 2021 win over North Alabama. 

160 -- While Collin Guggenheim garnered all the weekly honors, redshirt sophomore Jaylon Spears led the team in rushing at UIW with a career-high 160 yards on 23 carries. Spears averaged 7.0 yards per carry and his longest rush of the day went for 20 yards. The New Orleans native also converted two third-and-longs in the second half with rushes of 14 and 19 yards. The performance was his second 100-yard game of the season and for his career. 

331 -- Nicholls turned in its first 300-yard rushing effort of the season in the win at UIW, fueled by 160 yards from Jaylon Spears and 153 by Collin Guggenheim. Both backs had 23 carries in the victory, and the longest rush was Guggenheim's 43-yard touchdown to give Nicholls a 45-19 lead. The Colonels improved to 15-1 under Coach Rebowe when rushing for 300 yards.

LAST MEETING
Oct. 29, 2022
@Lamar -- 24
Nicholls -- 17

BEAUMONT, Texas - The Nicholls State University football team fell behind by two touchdowns in the first half against Lamar and the Cardinals would never relinquish the lead as the Colonels suffered a 24-17 loss Saturday afternoon at Provost Umphrey Stadium. (FULL RECAP)

SLC TITLE
With the win at previously unbeaten UIW, Nicholls has positioned itself in the driver's seat for the third Southland title under head coach Tim Rebowe.
- A win over Lamar would secure the SLC's auto bid for the FCS playoffs and at least a share of the regular season title. 
- Nicholls would have to win the River Bell Classic to secure an outright title, or could finish with an outright championship if UIW falls in its finale against HCU.
- A win by Lamar would create a three-way tie for first place heading into the final week of the season. 
- Nicholls is aiming to become the first squad to have an unblemished league record in a full season since Central Arkansas went 9-0 in 2017.


THE SERIES
Nicholls and Lamar have both reeled off five-game win streaks in the series with LU holding a 7-6 edge in the all-time series.
- Lamar brought back football in 2010 and after winning the last meeting in 1984, went on to defeat Nicholls the next four times from 2011-14.
- Tim Rebowe began his career with a 5-0 mark against LU, starting with a thrilling 30-28 victory on the road in his first season in 2015.
- But after Nicholls won five in a row and following a brief exit from the conference, Lamar returned and picked up a 24-17 last season in Beaumont to snap a 15-game losing streak.
- Nicholls leads the series in Thibodaux, 4-2, with its last win being a 55-0 shutout in the spring '21 campaign.


STAY SOCIAL
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