In their first game under interim head coach Steve Axman Saturday, the Nicholls State University Colonels loss to the University of North Texas Mean Green.

The Colonels, who have not played the Mean Green since 2002, left Denton with a 77-3 defeat and remain winless against their conference opponents.

This was the Colonels’ first game since former head coach Charlie Stubbs resigned last week.

“I think the players have gone through a rough week with coach Stubbs resigning and then being without a coach, and the next day having a new coach,” Axman said. “I think there was a lot of distracting things that affected them.”

Nicholls (0-4) struggled on both sides of the ball and did not have an answer for North Texas (2-2). The Mean Green scored 21 points in the first five minutes. The Colonels’ only score was a 23-yard field goal towards the end of the first quarter. UNT scored four more touchdowns in the second quarter making the score 49-3 at half time.

The offense was shut down for most of the game making it very difficult for the defense to catch their breath. Quarterback Kalen Henderson was sacked six times in the first half and was on the bench for the second half of the game. He threw for 50 yards on 7 of 15 passes with two interceptions.

“It was a mess and our passing game was at a standstill, but if we do all the things coach Axman asks us to do we will be on track,” Henderson said.

Quarterback Beaux Hebert checked in for the second half and was 10 of 16 throwing for 116 yards with one interception.

“If we get on the same page, I think that everything will fall in to place,” Hebert said.

The Colonels will travel to Conway, Ark. to open up conference play versus the University of Central Arkansas Bears this weekend.

“I am very excited about starting conference play this weekend. This is what matters now; the preseason is over. It’s like we can start off fresh and now play guys that are just like us,” Hebert said.

The Bears are coming into this game at 1-3 overall. They have fallen short in three out of four games they have played, including their season opener against Texas Tech, which was decided by one touchdown.

“The goal is to win the conference and make it to the playoffs, and that is still possible at this point. The point is to win this first game and win the conference,” Axman said.

UCA played Missouri State University at home last Saturday and came up short two points. Quarterback Ryan Howard led the bears on a 54 second, 76-yard drive that put them ahead 31-30. Missouri State place kicker, Marcelo Bonani, kicked a 53-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game lifting MSU over the Bears 33-31.
The Colonels are looking forward to the start of conference play this weekend.

“It’s now time to play guys just like us and win,” Hebert said.