THIBODAUX, La. - Redshirt freshman running back Shane Lee carried the offense with a career-high 134 yards and three touchdowns but it was a senior duo that came up with the game-winning stop as the Nicholls State University football team defeated rival Northwestern State, 26-21, on Senior Day at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.

Lee gave Nicholls (4-7, 4-3 SLC) the lead with his final touchdown run with seven minutes remaining before Northwestern State moved just outside the red zone after a fourth-down conversion. But facing a 4th-and-12 from the 24 with less than a minute to go, the Demons threw to the end zone and the pass was broken up by senior Ty Marsh, and classmate Laurence Sullivan Jr. came up with the interception to seal the victory.

With the win, Nicholls finished its home slate with a perfect 4-0 record in league play. The Colonels also claimed the N-S-U Rivalry trophy for the second straight year as they knocked off the Demons for the eighth time in the last nine meetings. Northwestern State (1-10, 0-7 SLC) fell short of its first Southland win since 2022.

Lee needed just 14 carries to notch his second 100-yard game of the season. His first touchdown put the bow on an eight-play, 71-yard drive as he scored from six yards out. Then after the Colonels forced a punt, Lee scored on the opening play, going untouched for a 59-yard score. Nicholls failed on a two-point conversion on the first touchdown and missed the extra point on the second to lead 12-0.

The Demons answered on their next drive, scoring on an Abram Johnston 8-yard touchdown run. Johnston found Ty Moore for a 39-yard catch on fourth down and three plays later, scampered in for the Demons' first touchdown of November. 

The momentum continued to be in the visitors' favor as they forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at the Nicholls 24 after a 10-yard punt. Johnston followed up with a 10-yard touchdown run as NSU took a 14-12 advantage early in the second quarter.

But Nicholls regained the lead with another long drive, going 75 yards over five minutes. A Miequle Brock Jr. catch-and-run for 21 yards moved the ball inside the 10, then on third down, Ean Rodrigue found freshman tight end Alec Haynes wide open for his first career touchdown catch.

But before the half, another special teams gaffe doomed the Colonels. A muffed punt return gave the Demons another short field and after converting on two fourth downs, Johnston and Moore connected on a 6-yard touchdown catch, going up 21-19. Nicholls had a chance to put points on the board by reaching the red zone but Rodrigue threw his first interception of the season to end the threat.

The score remained the same through the third. NSU went for another fourth-down try but was stuffed at the line of scrimmage for no gain. The Colonels came up empty on the ensuing possession as Gabriel Showalter misfired on a 41-yard field goal.

The Colonels' go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth lasted over seven minutes. A big sequence during the possession was on 4th-and-4, Rodrigue had a pass picked off and returned 79 yards. But the Demons were flagged for holding and Nicholls had a penalty as well, leading to replaying the down. Rodrigue then scrambled to pick up the first down, and four players later, Lee punched it in for his first career three-touchdown game. 

Down but not out, the Demons started their rally with a 50-yard kick return by Amaaz Eugene. But after reaching the Nicholls 22, the Colonel defense stuffed NSU on three consecutive runs before Sullivan's team-high fourth interception of the season ended the drive.

Marsh totaled two breakups, including his game winner, and finished with a team-high 11 tackles. Jake Dalmado (2 TFL) and Hayden Shaheen racked up eight stops while Aidan McCowan also had a pair of tackles for loss. 

For the offense, Rodrigue completed 12 of 21 passes for 156 yards. Jackson Dufrene registered 55 yards receiving on three catches while Scrappy Osby caught three passes as well for 51 yards. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will head to Southeastern for the River Bell Classic on Thursday, Nov. 20 for the regular season finale. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.