No. 24/23 Nicholls Colonels at No. 11/11 Sacramento State Hornets
Sacramento, California (Hornet Stadium)
Saturday, Sept. 14 -- 8 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ LINK
Audio: ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM | TuneIn
Live Stats: Link
• The Nicholls State University football team wraps up its three-game road swing to begin the season with its longest trip by far, heading to California for a return trip to Sacramento State. The teams squared off in Thibodaux last year to open the season with the Hornets earning the win, and both squads will be looking for their first win again after a pair of FBS losses. Kickoff in Hornet Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. central and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.
• Playing in Tiger Stadium for the first time in school history, Nicholls put on a show for the Colonel faithful by trailing by single figures at the half against No. 18 LSU before making it a 23-21 game early in the third. LSU answered by scoring the final three touchdowns to stave off an upset bid but had to keep its starters on the field for the majority of the night. For the Colonels, Collin Guggenheim stole the spotlight by rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns for his 10th career 100-yard game. The other TD came on a double pass that resulted in receiver Quincy Brown finding tight end Lee Negrotto for an 18-yard score. Although the defense had trouble slowing down LSU's passing game, they were stout once again against the run by allowing only 64 yards on 21 carries.
• Both teams enter the matchup ranked in the Top 25 despite going winless in their two FBS contests. Nicholls is 24th in the media poll and 23rd in the coaches while Sacramento State is 11th in both. The Colonels stayed within their state's border in their setbacks to Louisiana Tech (25-17) and LSU (44-21), and the Hornets did the same thing will losses to San Jose State (42-24) and Fresno State (46-30).
• The matchup with Sacramento State will be the second straight year the teams will play after having never played one another prior to last season. The Hornets made the trip for a Thursday night season opener and left with a 38-24 victory. Nicholls made it a 17-10 deficit in the third quarter before the Hornets scored three straight touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
A WIN OVER SACRAMENTO STATE WOULD...
... avoid a second straight 0-3 start for the Colonels. Last season, Nicholls lost to Sacramento State along with two FBS losses before going on to win the Southland title.
... be the ninth win over a ranked opponent under Tim Rebowe. The last ranked win came in last season's quasi championship bout with No. 4 UIW where the Colonels traveled to San Antonio for a 45-32 victory to take sole possession of first place.
... give the Colonels a 5-5 record all-time against programs currently in the Big Sky. Nicholls is 2-0 vs. Weber State, and 1-1 vs Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona. The Colonels lost their lone games with Montana, Portland State, and last season against Sacramento State.
... secure a nonconference victory for the Colonels for the sixth time in 10 years under Rebowe. After the first two campaigns, Nicholls won a nonconference game in five straight seasons before going 0-for in the last two years.
BY THE NUMBERS
2.9 -- Despite playing a pair of FBS teams, the Nicholls defense is allowing just 2.9 yards per carry. The Colonels gave up only 64 yards rushing on 21 carries last game at LSU.
8 -- After struggling somewhat with his accuracy in the opener at LA Tech, quarterback Pat McQuaide completed his first eight pass attempts at LSU. His first incompletion did not occur until midway through the third quarter. He finished the night 12 of 16 for 113 yards.
13 -- Nicholls pieced together two 13-play touchdown drives in the first half at LSU. A fourth-down catch by Quincy Brown made way for a 2-yard touchdown run by Collin Guggenheim for the first score. The second drive was capped on a double pass that resulted in Brown finding Lee Negrotto in the end zone for an 18-yard score. The drives chewed up an entire quarter's worth of time.
67 -- On the second play of the third quarter at LSU, Collin Guggenheim rushed straight up the middle for a career-long 67-yard rush and had just enough gas to find the end zone. Guggenheim, who moved up to second all-time in rushing, had a previous long of 59 yards.
COLONELS IN CALI
The trip to Sacramento will be just the second time in program history that Nicholls will play a game in California. The Colonels made their first trip to Cali in 2010 with a contest at FBS San Diego State where they fell 47-0 to the Aztecs.
STAY SOCIAL
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