Photo by: Ryker John Emnace

The Nicholls State University football team kicked off their 2023 season at home against the Sacramento State Hornets.

The Hornets scored a touchdown on their opening drive. Runningback Marcus Fulcher was the responsible party, scoring on a five-yard rush. Fulcher ran for a total of 37 yards on the drive.

Two punts by both teams and a Sacramento State interception would see the quarter end without another score.

On the first drive of the second quarter, the Hornets would find the endzone on a second Marcus Fulcher rushing touchdown with 13:06 remaining in the first half.

Pat McQuaide’s 48-yard completion to Neno Lemay on third down of the following Nicholls drive would be called back after a pass interference. The penalty led to a Colonels’ punt on fourth and 22.

A 36-yard punt return from Anderson Grover gave the Hornets the ball at the Colonels’ 29, putting them in scoring position. The Hornets were stopped on third and goal by Tyler Morton and settled for a field goal, making the score 17-0.

Nicholls would get on the board with a 30-yard Gavin Lasseigne field goal with 21 seconds left in the first half.

The Colonels received the ball to start the second half but could not cross the 50-yard line and punted the ball back to the Hornets. The Hornets drove 31 yards down the field before Kershawn Fisher forced an interception and gave the Colonels the ball at the Hornets’ 12-yard line.

The Colonels needed three plays to score their first touchdown of the game. The score came on a quarterback run by Pat McQuaide from four yards out, making the score 17-10.

Nicholls stopped Sacramento State on the Hornets’ next drive, but could not capitalize on the Hornets’ punt.

Sacramento State took four plays to score after a Nicholls punt. Sacramento State completed a 41 and a 40-yard pass on the drive, the latter scored a touchdown and increased the Hornet’s lead to 24-10.

The Hornets would start their first drive of the fourth quarter with a 47-yard pass to receiver Devin Gandy. The drive ended with a five-yard touchdown rush from quarterback Kaiden Bennett, making the score 31-10.

A wild snap on a Nicholls punt attempt the following drive gave Sacramento State the ball at the Nicholls six-yard line. The special teams play led to an Anderson Grover touchdown on the next play that made the score 38-10 Hornets.

The Colonels would score on their final two drives of the game. A two-yard rushing touchdown from runningback Jaylon Spears ended the first drive and an 84-yard Pat McQuaide touchdown pass to receiver Terry Mathews ended their second.

Sacramento State kneeled on the ball to run out the clock after Nicholls failed to recover an onside kick.

Final score: Sacramento State 38 Nicholls 24.