SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The No. 24/23 Nicholls State University football team fell behind 24-0 in the first half at No. 11 Sacramento State and despite its second defensive touchdown of the season coming before the break, the Colonels could never mount a comeback in their 34-7 loss Saturday night at Hornet Stadium.

Defensive back Ty Marsh provided the scoring for the night as he returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. The Colonel defense held Sacramento State (1-2) to a field goal for most of the second half until the Hornets threw a touchdown pass with less than two minutes remaining to make the final.

In addition to being held scoreless, the Colonels (0-3) were limited to 186 total yards but a large chunk was negated as the Hornets registered seven sacks on the night. 

Quarterback Pat McQuaide was 20 of 31 for 162 yards passing with Terry Matthews leading the team with 64 yards receiving on four catches. Collin Guggenheim rushed for 55 yards on 16 carries.

Defensively, Eli Ennis racked up double figures in tackles for the third time in as many games and also blocked a field goal in the second half. Alex Villavaso added nine stops and Quinton Sharkey had eight.

Sacramento State wasted no time in taking the lead, scoring on an 11-yard rush by Elijah Tau-Tolliver on the opening possession of the game. Nicholls then had another special team gaffe when punter Kylan Dupre mishandled the snap and gave the Hornets the ball at the Colonel 13. But the defense limited Sac State to a field goal to go down 10-0. 

The defense came up with another stop before the end of the quarter, forcing an incompletion on 4th-and-4 inside the 10. But the Hornets returned the favor by stopping a Colonel drive at the Sac State 32 on a fourth-down incompletion.

After a 34-yard touchdown catch by Danny Scudero gave the Hornets a 17-0 lead, Nicholls had a chance for points after Quincy Brown made a leaping catch for 35 yards at the Hornet 8. But Gabe Showalter's field goal was blocked to keep the Colonels off the board.

Sac State added another touchdown and got the ball back with just over a minute remaining in the half. On the first play, a tipped pass was hauled in by Marsh at midfield and he scampered down for the field to make the deficit 24-7.

In the second half, Nicholls was held to 69 total yards as they fell to 0-3 for the second straight season. Both campaigns consisted of two FBS losses and a loss to Sacramento State.

The Hornets totaled 408 yards of offense with Tau-Tolliver rushing for 111 yards on 21 carries. Carson Conklin threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns.

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Nicholls will make its home debut against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Sept. 21 for Family Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.