Junior " To-To" Pellegrin
November 10, 2006
Quilts auction to benefit local groups
November 15, 2006
Tri-Parish Times
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks scored with 40 seconds left in the game to escape with a 16-13 win in Southland Conference play Saturday in Thibodaux.
After being held to only a field goal, through three quarters of play, the Lumberjacks scored 13 points in the final quarter for the come back win.
“We’re very comfortable when we get into the two minute offense,” Stephen F. Austin Head Coach Robert McFarland said. “They did not panic and got lucky at the end.”
The Lumberjacks out-gained the Colonels 307-280.
Leading 10-9, the Colonels put together a 15 play, 79-yard drive and took a 13-9 lead with 2:13 to play.
The Lumberjacks however, went 73 yards on seven plays on the ensuing possession to score the winning touchdown when Lumberjack quarterback Danny Southall connected with Dominique Edison from 42 yards out.
Lester Brooks said he felt like he was pushed off on the final touchdown.
“The ball hung in the air for a long time so I knew if I looked back, the receiver would have a chance to make a play,” Brooks said. “He might have gotten away with a little push off, but if it happens like that he made a good catch.”
On their final possession, the Colonels got the ball on their own 46-yard line following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Lumberjacks. Colonels quarterback Vincent Montgomery connected with receiver Michael Okoronkwo for 18 yards before being intercepted on the next play with three seconds to play on the three-yard line.
Despite having three timeouts left, the Colonels did not use them on the final drive.
“If I could do it all over again I would definitely call timeout,” Montgomery said.
After playing a scoreless first quarter, the Colonels put up the first, and last points of the half in the second quarter after Montogomery found the end zone from 26 yards out with 6:20 to play.
The Colonels increased their lead to 10-0 in the second half after a seven- play 43-yard drive ended with a 37-yard field goal from Alex Romero, but the Lumberjacks responded with a 32-yard field goal by Cory Long on their next possession.
The Lumberjacks added two more field goals, a 29-yard kick and a 20-yard field goal on their next two possessions to cut the lead to 10-9.
Nicholls State Head Coach Jay Thomas said losing close games are always tougher.
“When we lose games like this it seems like it is tougher than those that we are out of early,” Thomas said. “They all hurt but when you lose like this it hurts a little bit more.
Thomas added that with the lost of Norm Swanner, it has been a very emotional weekend for his team.
“Big Boy was family,” Thomas said. “It’s just been a tough week.”
With the loss the Colonels dropped to 4-6 overall and 2-3 in the Southland Conference, while the Lumberjacks improved to 3-7 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
Despite the loss Colonels offensive lineman Jacob Bender said the team still has something to play for against McNeese next week.
“Nicholls State does not like McNeese too much,” Bender said. “I don’t like them so I would love to go over there and spank them.”
Photo by Doug Keese/NSUs Vince Montgomery dives for the pylon on a 26-yard touchdown run in Nicholls’ 16-13 loss to Stephen F. Austin, on Saturday. With the loss, the Colonels were officially knocked out of contention for a repeat Southland Conference championship.
