Nicholls Colonels vs. Northwestern State Demons
Thibodaux, Louisiana (Guidry Stadium)
Saturday, Oct. 19 -- 11 a.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ LINK
Audio: ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM | TuneIn
Live Stats: Link
• The Nicholls State University football team will play the first of three consecutive home games with an early morning matchup against Norhtwestern State. The Colonels will be looking for another strong performance at Guidry Stadium while the Demons come to town searching for their first win. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.
• Nicholls has played just once at home this season but it was a dominating 66-0 win over Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 21. Last year, the Colonels went 2-0 at Guidry Stadium in league play with a 38-7 win over HCU before a 37-24 victory against Lamar to clinch the SLC title. Since Tim Rebowe took over the program, Nicholls is 31-15 at home.
• Norhtwestern State is in a rebuilding season under first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle. The Demons have had 30 first-time starters this year with12 being freshmen. Although they are winless on the season, the Demons came up just inches short in their 37-31 loss to Prairie View A&M and they also put together a strong defensive effort at nationally-ranked SEMO in a 19-0 setback. Dating back to 2022, Northwestern State has lost its last 15 games.
• The Colonels won the previous six meetings against Northwestern State before the come-from-behind victory by the Demons in Natchitoches in 2022. Julien Gums looked to have put the game away with a rushing TD with three minutes remaining for a 33-21 advantage, but NSU stormed back with two touchdowns to win 36-33. The Demons found the end zone with 90 seconds to go and then recovered an onside kick. With nine seconds remaining, Javon Antonio caught his second touchdown in the final two minutes for the win. The winning streak for Nicholls chipped into the all-time series deficit which now stands at 21-29. The Colonels also have a winning record at home vs. the Demons at 14-11 after taking four of the last five in Guidry Stadium. The team did not play last year after the Demons canceled their season.
A WIN OVER NSU WOULD...
... give Nicholls a 32-15 record at home in the Rebowe Era.
... improve the Colonels' all-time record to 22-29 in the series vs. NSU.
... be the seventh win in the rivalry against the Demons out of the last eight meetings. The Colonels won six straight before NSU claimed a comeback 36-33 victory in 2022.
... be the seventh time under Rebowe that Nicholls has started 2-0 at home.
BY THE NUMBERS
13 --With 13 interceptions on the season, Nicholls is tied for first in the FCS. At UIW last weekend, Kendarius Smith became the latest Colonel to tally a pick as 12 different players have one this season. Nicholls has an interception in each game this year with the exception of LSU.
72.5 --The Nicholls defense has been one of the best in the FCS against the rush, averaging 72.5 yards rushing per game despite facing two FBS opponents. The Colonels rank 2nd in the FCS after holding MVSU to -7 yards rushing and Southern to 32.
93 -- The Nicholls roster features 93 Louisiana natives, which is the most of any Division I roster this season. The Colonels have held the distinction for most of Tim Rebowe's career, usually having at least 90 players from the Pelican State.
STAY SOCIAL
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