HOUSTON - A 50-yard field goal with a minute remaining gave HCU its first lead of the day and Nicholls was unable to tie it back up after its own attempts as the Colonels suffered a 24-21 loss on Saturday afternoon at Husky Field.

Nicholls (4-6, 2-3 SLC) moved into field goal range in the final seconds but Gabe Showalter pushed a 39-yard attempt to the right. However, HCU (4-6, 2-3) was flagged for running into the kicker but the Colonels could not capitalize as the 34-yarder also sailed right as time expired.

The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak in the series against HCU. Nicholls entered the matchup with a 9-1 record all-time versus the Huskies.

The Colonels outgained HCU on offense, 342-293, but the bulk of the Huskies' total came in the second half as they erased a 14-0 halftime deficit. Nicholls had chances to score twice in the opening period but missed on 51- and 44-yard field goal tries.

After another long field goal miss in the second quarter, Kendarius Smith tallied an interception to give Nicholls the ball back. The Colonels were able to turn that into a 1-yard touchdown run by Collin Guggenheim for a 7-0 lead. Guggenheim totaled 50 yards rushing on 20 carries. 

The defense forced another punt with two minutes remaining and Terry Matthews doubled the lead with a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown. It marked the Colonels' first punt return TD since 2014.

Nicholls started the second half with the ball and moved inside the HCU 10. Jason Barnes Jr. sparked the drive with a 35-yard catch and finished the day with a career-high 10 receptions for 91 yards. But the offense was stuffed on runs on third and fourth down, leaving the score at 14-0.

It then only took two plays for the Huskies to strike for their first points of the day. After being limited to 35 yards of offense in the opening half, HCU nearly tripled the production on one play as AJ Wilson caught a short pass and went 97 yards for a touchdown.

Later in the third, Cutter Stewart found Champ Dozier for a 35-yard score which tied it at 14-14. But Nicholls responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive early in the fourth that ended on Guggenheim's second rushing TD.

HCU found the end zone for the third time when Stewert rushed for a 9-yard score with 3:46 remaining, tying it back up at 21. Then after forcing a three-and-out, HCU grabbed the late lead on Dillon Fedor's 50-yard field goal and held on for the win.

Eli Ennis had 14 tackles to lead the Colonels while Hayden Shaheen totaled eight stops with two tackles for loss with one sack. Ty Marsh added six tackles and an interception.

Showalter pulled triple duty with punter Kylan Dupre out for the game. Along with field goal and kickoff, Showalter punted seven times with a 36.4-yard average.

Pat McQuaide completed 26 of 47 for 246 yards. Scrappy Osby finished with six receptions for 79 yards.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will head to Lamar for its final road game on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.