NEW ORLEANS – The Nicholls State University football team churned out a season-high 335 yards of offense but four turnovers and another mishap on special teams were too much to overcome as the Colonels were defeated by Tulane, 36-7, Saturday night at Yulman Stadium.
The Colonel defense posted a solid effort by totaling three turnovers, highlighted by a two-interception night from
Markeyvrick Eddie. Both of his picks came in the endzone.
Quarterback
Pat McQuaide notched his first 200-yard passing game with 273 on 27 of 39, but all four Colonel turnovers were interceptions. The lone touchdown of the night was a 13-yard pass to
Neno Lemay that cut the deficit to 24-7. Lemay led the Colonels on offense for the second straight game, totaling 75 yards on eight receptions.
Like last game at TCU, a mistake on the first punt allowed the opposition to take an early lead. A high snap went over punter
Kylan Dupre's head and after he was able to recover, he got of a low punt that was fielded behind the line of scrimmage and returned for a 27-yard touchdown.
The Colonel defense kept Tulane out of the end zone on their next possession, but two interceptions made way for a pair of Green Wave touchdowns. Former Colonel Jarius Monroe recorded the first one and it was followed by a Michael Pratt touchdown pass on the next play.
Early in the second quarter, a McQuaide interception was returned 52 yards by Lance Robinson and it set up a short touchdown pass from Pratt to Lawrence Keys III for a 24-0 advantage.
Nicholls got on the scoreboard before the half with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Tight end
Connor Venetis helped fuel the drive with a 32-yard catch and following a fourth-down conversion, McQuaide found Lemay in the endzone for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Tulane added a field goal for a 27-7 halftime lead.
The Green Wave drove into the red zone on their first drive of the third quarter, but Eddie snatched his first interception of the season. But on the Colonels' opening play of the ensuing possession, McQuaide was picked off by Jesus Machado. Pratt finished off the short drive with a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. After missing the last two games with an injury, Pratt threw for 190 yards and two TDs with one interception.
Eddie's final interception came early in the fourth quarter. Tulane's Valentino Ambrosio finished off the scoring with his third field goal.
On defense, Nicholls kept Tulane out of the endzone in four of the six trips to the red zone. All three Green Wave touchdown drives started in Colonel territory following interceptions, and the only two scoring drives over 40 yards resulted in field goals.
Kershawn Fisher and
Joe Mason each had a sack for the defense while
Jordan Jackson and
Ethan Lee paced the team with six tackles.
Nicholls was limited to just 62 yards rushing with
Collin Guggenheim racking up 56 yards on 14 carries.
UP NEXT
Nicholls opens league play on Saturday at McNeese. Kickoff in Lake Charles is scheduled for 7 p.m.
