Nicholls State University

HOUSTON, Texas - For the third time in as many road games, the Nicholls State University football team was kept out of the end zone as the Colonels dropped a hard-fought battle against HCU, falling 16-2 on Saturday night at Husky Stadium.

Nicholls (2-4, 1-2 SLC) stayed in the game as the defense limited HCU (3-3, 2-1 SLC) to three first-half field goals. Then the lone touchdown of the night came in the third quarter when the Huskies returned an interception 48 yards and a 16-0 advantage. 

Late in the third, Nicholls was stuffed on 4th-and-goal from the 1 but HCU was flagged for holding in the end zone during the ensuing possession, putting two points on the board for Nicholls via a safety. 

Still with a chance trailing by two scores, Nicholls orchestrated a pair of drives into HCU's red zone but both ended on a turnover on downs. The Colonels got the ball back one last time before a sack ended the drive and HCU was able to run out the clock. 

Nicholls finished with more total yards, 335-292, and more first downs, 18-17, but were held without an offensive point for the second straight road game. Ean Rodrigue played three quarters, completing 14 of 23 passes for 102 yards and had the one interception. Chase Richardson saw snaps in the final quarter, completing 7 of 14 for 84 yards and added 49 yards on nine carries. 

Kennon Loftin led the defense with 11 tackles, followed by Skylar Husband with nine and Kasai Jones with eight. 

Lukasz Smolen did all the scoring for the Husky offense, booting field goals of 48, 28 and 23 yards. He missed his final attempt in the third quarter from 43 yards. Nicholls missed its lone field goal attempt of the night as Wyatt Guidry was wide right on a 57-yarder before halftime.

Tamaj Hoffman led the Colonel rushing attack with 70 yards on 16 carries and Jordan Smith turned in a career-high 122 yards on nine receptions. 

Up Next
Nicholls will have a bye week next weekend before hosting SFA on Saturday, Oct. 17.