Colonels deliver big win

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Nicholls State University knows it must finish strong to make the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs for the second-straight season.


So far, so good.

Out of their bye week, the Colonels put a hurtin’ on one of the top teams in the Southland Conference — making a clear statement that the team will not go down without a fight.

Nicholls beat Incarnate Word 48-21 on Saturday at John L. Guidry Stadium — knocking the Cardinals off their perch at the top of the conference standings.


Nicholls was unstoppable offensively in the win, generating 566 yards of total offense, while converting 9-of-14 third down attempts.

Coach Tim Rebowe said during the bye week, the Colonels rested, but got in efficient work. Out of it, the team looked fresher and energetic, scoring a huge win against a quality foe.

“I think the guys still knew — and we talked about it a lot — we’re still a good football team,” Rebowe said. “We had a little hiccup two weeks ago. It’s really tough when you lose and then you have two weeks before you play. It feels like we had to wait forever before we played another game. But those guys answered the challenge. We challenged them to come out and keep swinging and keep punching and it was a big bounce-back week for us.”


The Colonels pounced Incarnate Word from the opening whistle.

Nicholls received the football first, then found gold on the first play from scrimmage — a 66-yard touchdown run from Dontrell Taylor to put the Colonels up 7-0.

The score ignited the crowd and gave Nicholls early momentum, which never relented.


After getting consecutive defensive stops, the Colonels added to their early lead with two more first-quarter touchdowns — both on short touchdown passes from quarterback Chase Fourcade to Jordan Talley, which put the Colonels up 21-0 just 12 minutes into the game.

Fourcade was dominant in the win, playing arguably the best game of his collegiate career. He completed 15-of-18 passes for 266 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. On the ground, he rushed 7 times for 42 yards and a score.

His offense helped keep Nicholls on the field, which more importantly, kept Incarnate Word’s powerful offense off it.


The Cardinals scored a touchdown late in the first quarter to cut Nicholls’ lead to 21-7, but Nicholls’ efficient offense dominated the rest of the first half and virtually put the game to bed before halftime, pouring on 17 more points to secure a 38-7 halftime lead.

The first score was another pass from Fourcade, who connected with Gabe Fuselier on a 42-yard pass to put the Colonels up 28-7.

After a series of empty possessions by both teams, the Colonels finished the half with a flurry, converting a short field goal to go up 31-7, then getting a stop and quick score before half on a 10-yard run from Fourcade — the icing on the cake of a short, 4-play, 88-yard touchdown drive.


In the second half, Nicholls drove in the dagger, striking first midway through the third quarter on a 48-yard pass from Fourcade to Damion Jeanpiere to go up 45-7.

Incarnate Word had moments late, getting yardage and points on a softened Colonels’ defense, but they never challenged victory. The Cardinals scored on a fumble recovery and a short touchdown pass late to get their final points of the game.

In between those touchdowns was another kick from Fonseca, which gave the Colonels’ their final tally for the day.


Fourcade set the tone for the Colonels’ big day, but Nicholls won at the line of scrimmage, as well.

The Colonels rushed for 300 yards in the win, while limiting Incarnate Word to just 50 yards.

Seven players touched the football for Nicholls, led by Taylor, who had 117 yards on six carries.


Also getting work were quarterback Charles Brooks (6 carries, 44 yards), freshman Julien Gums (11 carries, 44 yards), Fourcade (7 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD), halfback Kyran Irvin (8 carries, 32 yards), fullback Mason Boudreaux (7 carries, 22 yards) and Kendall Bussey.

Rebowe said the Colonels will need all of their weapons in the final weeks of the season to finish with a bang.

Nicholls is 5-3 on the season and now 4-2 in Southland play.


The Colonels finish with a favorable schedule. They’ll travel to play Houston Baptist on Saturday before hosting Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana in consecutive weeks to end the year.

The three opponents are all struggling this year, owning just a combined 5-15 record in Southland Conference games this year.

Nicholls also has an outside chance to win a share of the league championship, as they are in a four-way tie for second-place right now, trailing McNeese, which sits at 5-1.


But the Cowboys will have difficult games coming home, including at Southeastern Louisiana, at Northwestern State and a home date against Lamar.

Football vs Lamar 2018 (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) 9/29/18

Misty Leigh McElroy


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