Carroll P. Matherne
November 25, 2008
RoseMary Smith Giron
November 28, 2008
On a day where 21 seniors put on the Nicholls colors for the final time it was the underclassmen that ensured their careers ended the right way.
Fullback Trey Hopson (13 caries, 90 yards) had the best game of his Colonels career reaching the paydirt two times while Corey Buchanan reached the 100-yard barrier for the first time in his career with 107 yards on 18 carries to propel the Colonels to a 35-28 victory over the Southeastern Lions. Defensively, true freshman Bobby Felder stood out amongst the senior-oriented defensive backfield with seven tackles, one interception and one pass break-up. With the win, the Colonels brought the River Bell back to Thibodaux.
“I’m proud of this team for fighting,” head coach Jay Thomas said. “The defense just had to come out and had to make a play, and they did. But overall I’m proud of the guys for getting a win.”
The Colonels compiled 263 net yards rushing, while the Lions were held to only 27.
It was only fitting that much like the Colonels’ (3-6, 3-4, SLC) other victories, this one also came down to the final minutes. Despite jumping out to a 35-7 lead in the fourth quarter, the Lions roared back, pulling within seven.
Facing a fourth and five at the Nicholls 40 with just over two minutes remaining, Southeastern (5-7, 2-5) quarterback Brian Babin rolled right but was chased down by Jordan Nevels and sacked for a loss of 15 yards, sealing the game for the Colonels.
The defense held Southeastern All-Conference running back Jay Lucas to 62 yards on eight carries, something credited to great line play.
“He is a great back,” Nicholls safety Lardarius Webb said. “I have to give it to the defensive line. They made it easy for us to come downfield. We had to hit him with a lot of hats, and we came to play. We filled the gaps and made plays.”
After a strong opening stand by the Colonels; defense, which forced the Lions to a three-and-out, the Colonels’ offense started things off on a high note. Behind the bruising of fullback Hopson, the Colonels put together a nine-play, 72 yard drive. Hopson gave the Colonels the spark they needed with an 8-yard run on fourth-and-one. Hopson added another big run two minutes later with an 18-yard scoring run to put the Colonels ahead 7-0 after Ross Schexnayder’s extra point with 8:43 to play.
Both teams traded possessions the remainder of the first quarter before making things interesting in the second.
After trading punts the Lions moved the ball inside Colonels territory to the seven yard line, quarterback Brian Babin’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by freshman Bobby Felder. The Colonels responded with the senior connection as Chris Bunch found Patrick Gordon for 12 yards. Schexnayder’s extra point extended the Colonels lead to 14-0 with 10:10 left in the first half.
The stout Colonel defense forced the Lions to punt, but the reward was short-lived. Corey Buchanan put the Colonels in good field position at their own 33 yard line. However, an errant pitch from Vince Montgomery to A.J. Williams was recovered by Southeastern’s Quinten Pierre and returned 65 yards to the Colonels, one. On the very next play, Mike Neville ran up the middle to cut the lead to 14-7 with 5:14 showing in the first half.
In spite of giving up their first points of the game, the Colonels weren’t fazed, rebounding on their possession.
On their ensuing possession the Colonels turned to their power once again as Hopson notched his second score of the night from 35 yards out to cap off a three-play, 46 yard drive. The Colonels led 21-7 with 3:51 left before half.
The Lions had one final chance to get on the scoreboard before half, but Jeff Turner’s 43-yard kick attempt sailed wide right, and the Colonels carried a 21-7 lead into halftime.
In an effort to get the momentum back in the second half, the Lions tried an onside kick. The ball bounced off a Lions defender and the Colonels pounced on it, giving them the ball at the 39 yard line. From there the Colonels went on an 11 play, 61-yard drive over the next 5:15 that ended with a two-yard scamper by sophomore Corey Buchanan. Schexnayder’s extra point put the Colonels ahead 28-7 with 9:35 left in the third quarter.
After going scoreless the final 9:35 of the third the Colonels started the fourth quarter with a 38 yard pass from Bunch to Antonio Robinson. Buchanan carried the ball 12 yards two plays later, before Bunch scurried in from two yards out to extend the Colonels lead to 35-7 with 14:11 left in the game.
However, the Lions refused to go down.
The Colonels defense held Southeastern’s Jay Lucas scoreless until the fourth quarter when he capped off a six play, 80-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Babin to make the score 35-14 with 11:41 left in the game.
On the Colonels’ ensuing possession, the turnover bug bit again as another errant pitch from Bunch to Isa Hines was recovered again by Pierre and taken 20 yards for the score. The Lions cut the lead to 35-21 at 10:13.
After the Colonel offense failed to produce, they were forced to punt on a three-and-out. Following that, the Lions put together an eight play, 87 yard drive set up by a pass interference call in the endzone. Babin found Cole Wardell in the endzone for a three yard pass and suddenly the Colonels lead was cut to seven at 35-28 with 5:08 remaining.
The Lions held the Colonels in check one final time but the Colonels defense stood proud on the Lions last possession to preserve the win.
In his final game as a Colonel, Webb had a quiet but productive day, finishing with eight tackles and one sack.
“This team didn’t quit all year and I’m so proud of them for that,” he said. “We held tough and came through in the end.”
Thomas said he looks to take the adversity for this season and use it as a stepping stool headed into next year.
“This season for us is probably one of the most difficult seasons we had to deal with as for as adversity goes,” he said. “We had to come out and get the guys ready to play every week despite being behind. These guys came together this season, they are a family. Hopefully we can use this as a lesson and come back even better next year. I’m just glad they finished the way they did today.”
Nicholls State fullback Trey Hopson breaks away from Southeastern defenders on his way to scoring his first touchdown of the day. Hopson finished the day with 90 yards and two scores to help lead the Colonels to a 35-28 victory on senior day. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
