The Nicholls State University Colonels want to get back to basics after falling 38-20 against the University of Incarnate Word Homecoming night.
The Colonels are now 0-10 and have lost 16 consecutive games since last season.

“We just lost to two teams in our conference that have only had one win prior to us playing them,” Interim Head Coach Steve Axman said. “It is certainly very disappointing to me to know that is what we have accomplished since I’ve been here. I’m disappointed in myself, and I need to find a way to motivate these guys and get them better in the next two weeks.”

Nicholls had a season high of 12 penalties for 107 yards Saturday night and will try to eliminate those mistakes this week.

“We will be getting back to the fundamentals,” Axman said. “We have solid practices this week, and the players will have some days off to recuperate.”

The Colonels got off to a slow start against Incarnate Word and was held to 60 yards of total offense in the first quarter.

Nicholls started picking up the pace in the second quarter and kept Incarnate Word’s defense on their heels.

Junior running back Mike Henry led the team in rushing yards with 96 yards on 20 carries. He also punched in the Colonel’s first touchdown with 10:12 left in the quarter.

Cardinals’ quarterback Jordan Scelfo fumbled on his 45-yard line, and Nicholls’ defensive back Byron Cobb recovered it and stopped at the 38-yard line. Taking advantage of the turnover, Nicholls scored a go-ahead 34 yard run by Tobias Lofton to put them only down by three points with 5:03 left to play in the first half.

Incarnate Word quickly answered Nicholls with a 22-yard passing touchdown, leading 24-14 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Nicholls senior defensive lineman Andrew Carter intercepted the ball and ran it back 19 yards when senior linebacker Dwayne Mitchell hit Scelfo as he was releasing the ball. The Colonel’s offense were on the 37-yard line, but were unable to execute the miscue when quarterback Beaux Hebert was sacked on fourth down.

The defense produced turnovers three times, but the offense only took advantage on one of the three.

“When the defense gets a good turnover, we have trouble feeding off the momentum that was gained, and we can’t have that,” Hebert said.” “We have to be able to sustain momentum, because the talent is there.”

In the fourth, UIW marched down the field and scored a two-yard rushing touchdown with 9:30 left to play in the game.

In the next possession, Hebert connected with wide receiver Keenan Canty on a 25-yard touchdown. Hebert completed a two point conversion to freshman tight end Stephen LeBouef, but a penalty set the offense back 15 yards and were forced to replay the down. The Colonels were unsuccessful on the second attempt and left the score at 20.

Hebert finished the night passing 209 yards on 16 of 29 attempts with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Linebackers Davin Bovie and Ronnie Walker led the defense with 10 tackles.

As a leader, Bovie strives to tell the defense to never give up after a game like this one.

“We can’t give up, because we have two more games. We have to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off,” Bovie said.

The Colonels will have a bye week before they take on Northwestern State University in Natchitoches on Nov. 15.

“We still have practice this week, and we are going to come to work just like it’s another work week to prepare for Northwestern,” Carter said.