Colonels officially out of playoff hunt after 34-10 loss

Turnovers can make or break a game. As the Nicholls State Colonels found out this weekend, they can prove very costly.

Nicholls led 3-0 after the first quarter, but back-to-back Colonel turnovers helped fuel Texas State in scoring 31 unanswered points as the Bobcats went on to win 34-10 Saturday evening in Bobcat Stadium.

“You have to really give coach Wright and his staff credit. They really came to play today, and caused some confusion for us on defense,” said head coach Jay Thomas. “We are obviously disappointed in the loss. Our guys fought hard and never gave up; granted, we dug ourselves a hole, but we never stopped fighting to get out of it.”

The Colonels (2-6, 2-4 SLC) were limited to 118 yards rushing on 44 attempts in the game, while Texas State accumulated 269 yards on the ground on 43 attempts. The Bobcats (7-4, 4-2 SLC) were also effective through the air, as Bradley George tossed three touchdowns and completed 10-of-14 passes for 136 yards.

Senior quarterback Vincent Montgomery led the Colonels in passing and rushing yards, throwing for 75 and rushing for 29. Montgomery also added one touchdown pass, while senior wide receiver Patrick Gordon had three receptions for 73 yards.

“Next week we will be playing for pride, and we have a lot of seniors playing their final collegiate game who have meant a lot to this program. I know they will be giving it everything they have to go out with a win,” said Thomas.

Nicholls was the first on the scoreboard via a 40-yard field goal by junior Ross Schexnayder. The successful attempt came after the Colonels put together their second-most lengthy drive of the season, eating up 7:27 off the clock in the first quarter. The drive only covered 53 yards, but took a total of 13 plays.

Although the Colonels drew first blood with the Schexnayder field goal, it was the last time Nicholls would put points on the scoreboard in the first half. Texas State scored 24 unanswered second quarter points heading into the intermission. Of the Bobcats scoring onslaught in the first half, 14 points came off Colonel turnovers, and all three touchdowns went 4 plays or less.

At the midway point, Nicholls was held to 90 yards of total offense, while Texas State piled up 236, despite running four fewer plays than the Colonels.

The Bobcats scored on their opening possession of the third quarter, extending its lead, 31-3, with 7:25 left in the period. However, Nicholls cracked the scoreboard on the ensuing possession via a 13-yard touchdown reception by junior Antonio Robinson. Montgomery was responsible for the throw, as he just squeezed it past a Bobcat defender into Robinson’s hands. Schexnayder added the extra point as Nicholls trailed 31-10.

The fourth quarter consisted of a Bobcat field goal by Andrew Ireland at the 14:52 mark to make the score 34-10. Neither team found the end zone or split the uprights for the remainder of the game.

The win by Texas State was their first victory at home in Southland Conference play this season, and it also marked the first time in three seasons that the Bobcats claimed rights to the Paddle that the two schools play for every year.

Nicholls will be back in action Saturday at home.