Last weekend, the Nicholls State University Colonels football team faced the McNeese State University Cowboys in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The game was a one-sided affair, with the Cowboys defeating the Colonels 45-3.

Quarterback Beaux Hebert started the game and threw 8 for 16 and 88 yards in the first half with no touchdowns and one interception. Quarterback Kalen Henderson started in the second half and threw 6 for 10 and 99 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The Cowboys held the lead the entire game, scoring majority of their 45 points in the second and third quarters. At the end of the half, the Cowboys lead 24-0. The Colonels moved the ball very effectively on multiple drives, but were only able to come away with a field goal in the second half.

The Colonels have now gone 0-6 for the season and 0-2 in conference play. The team hopes to turn things around this weekend when they play Stephen F. Austin University, Saturday at 6 p.m. The Colonels are 7-23 overall against the Lumberjacks, who have not lost a game in Thibodaux since the 2004 season.

Nicholls has lost 12 straight games dating back to last season. SFA comes into Saturday’s game with a record of 3-2, with a conference record of 0-1. Both teams will be looking for a win and a chance to start a run at a conference championship.

“Being in the confines of our school, it’s our fans, and the energy should be great,” Interim Head Coach Steve Axman said.

“It’s a home game, so it’s a chance to come out with a better effort. I feel that our team can use the extra effort to get our first win of the season,” Hebert said.

The Colonels will play the next four of their six remaining games in front of the home crowd. This is also Axman’s first home game since taking the head coaching duties Sept. 16.

“We are playing in front of our home crowd, and we have six chances left in a very powerful conference. We just need to take it game by game and play by play,” Hebert said. “We also need to start fast and get ahead early.”

Axman said, “The most important thing going into the game against SFA is the health of the quarterbacks.”

Axman knows the toughness of the schedule is what will determine if Nicholls gets a playoff berth.

“If we can win the rest of our games, there is a chance that we could get a playoff berth,” Axman said. “Right now though, we need to look at the remaining schedule one game at a time, and one week at a time.”

“With the way the season started and where we are now, we are confident that we can finish strong in our conference,” Hebert said.