Colonel football faces rival for season finale in pursuit of playoff spot

The Nicholls State University football team will face in-state rival, Southeastern Louisiana University,
tonight in Hammond at 6:00 p.m. for the River Bell Classic to close out the 2017 regular season.

Riding the high of a six-game winning streak, the Colonels hope to carry the momentum with them as
they face one more opponent who stands in the way of them possibly earning a share of the regular
season title, as well earning a spot in the playoffs.

Although this is the longest winning streak the Colonels have had since the 1986 season, it hasn’t
secured them a spot in the playoffs just yet. While a win over Southeastern could secure a playoff spot,
a loss could leave Nicholls out of a postseason bid.

According to the STATS FCS Poll which currently ranks the Colonels 25th, Nicholls is right on the edge of
the FCS playoffs bubble. The Colonels head into the season finale ranked 17th on the Coaches Poll as
well.

After coming off a dominating 34-13 win over Stephen F. Austin University, two Nicholls players received
recognition within the conference and nation. The league announced on Monday that junior Kenny
Dotson and redshirt freshman Tahj Smith were named Southland Conference Defensive and Offensive
Players of the Week, respectively. Smith was also recognized as the STATS FCS National Freshman of the
Week after his impressive night against the Lumberjacks.

In the exact same situation the SFA Lumberjacks found themselves in last week, the SELU Lions
welcome the Colonels to Strawberry Stadium for senior day and following their bye-week.
In the overall series between the two teams, the victories and losses have been shared evenly among
the rivals at 13-13 all-time. In the last meeting between the Lions and the Colonels at John L. Guidry
Stadium last fall, the Red and Grey fell victim to a last-minute maneuver that secured a 44-42 Lion
victory.

The Colonel defense (which ranks 2nd in the Southland with 31 sacks on the season) will be tested
against the Lion attack which currently leads the Southland in rushing yards, averaging 284 yards per
game. Even though they rely on their ground game, sophomore quarterback Lorenzo Nunez has equaled
things out on the offense, totaling 1,083 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.

While there is a lot riding on this final game for the Colonels, senior tight end Stephen LeBouef said the
team knows what is expected of them in the contest if they truly aspire to change history.

“We are very confident heading into the game. We know the type of game we want to play; it is just a
matter of executing the gameplan,” LeBouef said. “They are a solid team and have gotten the same
amount of preparation as they have in years past. We are excited for the opportunity to do something
that hasn’t been done in a very long time here at Nicholls.

Catch the game on Cox Sports Television, ESPN3, 100.3 KLRZ or help the Colonels red out Strawberry
Stadium tonight at 6:00 p.m.