Nicholls football faces Lumberjacks on the road

With two away games left in the season, the Nicholls State University football team travels to Nacogdoches, TX, where they will face the Stephen F. Austin University Lumberjacks this Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Colonels head into the matchup tied second in Southland Conference with a 7-2 overall record and a 6-1 SLC mark. The Lumberjacks are currently holding onto a 4-5 overall record and a 4-3 SLC record with a sixth place conference ranking.

In the hard-fought game between these two teams last year, the Colonels prevailed in double overtime, winning the game at John L. Guidry stadium 35-28.

Combining on the offensive and defensive fronts, sophomores Chase Fourcade and Sully Laiche provided the extra push in overtime that the Colonels needed to seal the victory.

In the first overtime, both teams scored touchdowns. In the second overtime, Fourcade, who threw for 195 yards that night, found the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game. On the next possession, Laiche hit an SFA running back who then bobbled the ball which was recovered by the Colonels to secure the win.

Last Monday, Fourcade was named the LSWA Offensive Player of the Week. With 11 conference wins under his belt as the starting quarterback for the red and grey over the last two seasons, he has proved he will be a key factor in the Colonels’ success as they close out their season in pursuit of the conference title.

In an interview with WDSU News this week at the team’s practice, Fourcade said, “I’m just out here doing my job and I have teammates around me doing the same thing. I have to trust in them and they have to trust in me. I really love this team and how far we have come from last year to this year.”

Fourcade mentioned, discipline and trust among teammates has remained a crucial aspect for the Colonels this season as they have fought and succeeded in keeping their home record clean and maintaining a spot in the FCS Coaches Poll.

The Colonels are coming into the weekend with the third-best defense in the league. Giving up just 25.6 points and 358.1 yards per game this season, Nicholls is averaging 57.2 penalty yards per contest, which is the second-lowest in the Southland.

The Lumberjacks are coming off their bye-week and aim to bring fresh energy to the competition for their senior night at Homer Bryce Stadium. This will mark the 34th meeting between the two teams with SFA dominating the series 25-8.

Although the Colonels are riding the crest of a five-game winning streak, they must push through this two-week extended road trip as they face SFA and then Southeastern Louisiana State University next Thursday to end their season on a high note.

Between now and next weekend, the Colonels have the opportunity to spoil two senior days back-to-back while fighting to earn the Southland Conference Title and a trip to the FCS playoffs.