Thibodaux Regional Medical Center’s North Hospital project complete
October 20, 2006Nicholls State got the kind of start it wanted in its 31-21 loss at Division I-A Louisiana Tech. After receiving the opening kickoff, it took the Colonels just five plays and 1:56 to drive 45 yards for the game’s opening touchdown. Louisiana Tech answered on its next drive, but the Colonels responded with 14 unanswered points to take a 21-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Then a fourth-and-one gamble by Colonels’ coach Jay Thomas turned the momentum in the Bulldogs’ favor when Dwayne Jones was stopped for no gain at Nicholls’ 39-yard line.
Louisiana Tech only got a field goal off of the turnover on downs, but the failed attempt seemed to deflate any momentum the Colonels had. “We needed to make that play on fourth down,” said Colonels’ coach Jay Thomas. “Our offense was moving the ball well, and we were trying to keep our defense off the field.”
The Bulldogs went on to score 24-unanswered points en route to a 31-21.
The Colonels got on the board first on Michael McLendon’s 17-yard touchdown run, and the extra point made it 7-0.
It did not take long for Louisiana Tech to answer. On the Bulldogs’ next drive, they took the ball 80 yards in eight plays. They capped it off with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Zac Champion to Eric Newman. The point after tied it at seven.
The Colonels immediately responded, with an uncharacteristic 50-yard touchdown pass from Vince Montgomery to Grant Thorne. “We are going to need to throw the football to be successful,” said Thomas. “Everyone is loading up the box to stop Broderick Cole and the rest of our rushing attack.”
Still, Cole capped off a nine-play, 31-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Colonels’ their largest lead of the game, 21-7. After Louisiana Tech fumbled the ball on its next drive, the Colonels turned it over on downs. From there the Colonels managed just 14 yards in the remainder of the first half.
A Bulldogs’ touchdown pass with 3:06 in the first half, and two third quarter touchdown runs by the Bulldogs gave them the final margin, 31-21.
On the game, Louisiana Tech outgained Nicholls 381-224.
Nicholls’ soccer falls
to No. 8 Texas
Despite being down 1-0 at halftime, Nicholls could not overcome No. 8 Texas, falling 5-0 in a hard-fought match Friday evening in Austin, Texas.
“The girls played well and stuck to game plan,” said head coach Cindy Piper. “We started out flat in the second half, and Texas came out on fire. We fought to the end, which is a great sign for this young team.
The morale is high and we should be ready for conference next week. I am proud of the heart and fight they showed tonight. It was a great experience for the girls.”
The Colonels fell to 2-5-1 overall. The Longhorns improved to 5-2.
Michelle Branscome recorded the lone shot on goal for Nicholls. Sarah Neunzig had six saves.
Ashley Foster led Texas with two goals scored and one assist.
Kelsey Carpenter gave the Longhorns an early 1-0 lead with a goal in the 19th minute. Neither team scored for the remainder of the first half.
However, things changed quickly to start the second half as Texas netted two quick goals within the first 3:03 of the second half to open up a 3-0 lead.
They later struck with two additional goals, coming within a minute and a half of each other, extending their lead to 5-0.
The Colonels return to action on Tuesday as they host LSU-Shreveport at 4 p.m.
Colonels run at
Ragin Cajun Invite
Eunice Jepkogei and Jory Billiot paved the way for the Nicholls cross-country teams at the Ragin Cajun Invite Friday in Lafayette.
On the women’s side, Jepkogei led the Lady Colonels with a time of 21:26.15, good for a 12th place finish. Rounding out the Lady Colonels were Lanation McCray (45th, 24:55.39), Shanea Jenkins (52nd, 28:20.79), Sabrina Henkes (54th, 28:55.72) and Rahjanaye Bailey (55th, 29:17.91).
In men’s action, Billiot finished in the 25th spot, with a course run of 30:24.24. Thomas Bourne (38:19.83) and Calip Jenkins (42:46.79) followed in 56th and 59th place, respectively.
The Colonel cross country teams return to action on September 23, as they participate in the LSU Invitational in
Lady Colonels’ participate in LOCO Invitational
The Lady Colonels’ volleyball team went 1-2 at the LOCO Invitational held this weekend on the campus of Birmingham Southern College. The Lady Colonels opened the weekend with a 3-0 loss to Central Michigan. In the loss, Mallory McInnis led the Lady Colonels with six kills, while Atina Porter added eight digs, and Amy Whitehead posted 18 assists.
In the second day of tournament action the Lady Colonels split with host Birmingham Southern and South Alabama.
Birmingham Southern defeated the Lady Colonels 3-1, but Nicholls answered with 3-2 win over South Alabama.
In the Birmingham Southern game, Porter led all players with 27 kills. Kindra Halverson added 10 kills. Amy Whitehead added 48 assists.
In Nicholls’ lone victory on the weekend, over South Alabama, Porter contributed 22 kills and McInnis added 11. Whitehead led the Lady Colonels with 49 assists.
Matt LeBlanc can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or matt@tri-parishtimes.com.
