With their fifth loss coming on the road last Saturday, the Colonels are again looking for their first win of the season. After over 500 yards of offense against Northwestern State, the Colonels are more confident than they may have been all year in getting a win this weekend.

In what will be Nicholls’ second Southland Conference game of the season, the Colonels go on the road to face Houston Christian University, formerly known as Houston Baptist University.

Last week, Houston Christian took on Lamar, as did Northwestern State the week before playing Nicholls. HCU squeaked out a 37-34 win against the Lamar Cardinals powered by a 24-point second quarter and a 13-point third quarter. The team was led to victory by three takeaways.

“They’re 2-2 right now, they’re playing with some confidence,” Rebowe said. “On defense, they are very opportunistic, they caused some turnovers and scored some touchdowns with them.

The key to the Colonels’ win may just be the opposing team’s quarterback. Justin Fomby has thrown for 987 yards, nine touchdowns, and just three interceptions, leading the team to two wins and a one-point loss to Lindenwood in week two.

“We still have to get some turnovers,” Rebowe said. “We have to be able to get the offense some good field position […] it’s hard to go 80 yards every drive, even though our offense is doing that.”

In week five the Colonels, with Kohen Granier, threw for 324 and spread the ball out while doing so, as six Nicholls players caught two or more passes each, and four of those six hauled in 60+ receiving yards. Sophomore Terry Mathews was one of those four, catching three passes for 64 yards with an average of 21.3 yards per catch.

“The mindset of the receivers this week was to execute,” Terry Mathews said. “Every time the ball comes your way, catch it, and try to get a first down or a touchdown if you can.”

The story outside of winning or losing in this game is Julien Gums and his chase for school history. Gums broke the school’s all-time rushing record against Jacksonville State, and last week ran for his first touchdown on the season. The touchdown was Gums’ 34th of his career, leaving him one touchdown shy of tying the rushing and all-purpose touchdown records at Nicholls.

Nicholls plays Houston Christian on October 8, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in Houston. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.