Photo by: Ryker John Emnace

Nicholls linebacker Kershawn Fisher (#20) celebrates after a play

The Nicholls State University football team kicks off Southland Conference play on Saturday against McNeese State University.

Quick Facts:

• 48th meeting all-time
• McNeese leads the series 31-16
• Nicholls has won four of the last six meetings
• Nicholls won the last game 40-35

The Colonels are coming into this game with losses in all three games this season. Last week, Nicholls faced Tulane, their second straight Football Bowl Subdivision team, in New Orleans and lost that game by a score of 36-7.

The importance of this game in Nicholls’ SLC run is not lost on Head Coach Tim Rebowe.

“One game at a time[…]” Rebowe said. “We need to come back 1-0 to have a shot at winning this conference.”

Two players for McNeese are ranked highly in the Southland Conference and even the Football Championship Subdivision.

McNeese linebacker Micah Davey leads the conference in total tackles (59), solo tackles (34), and tackles per game (14.8). Davey is also ranked 2nd in the FCS for both total tackles and tackles per game.

“We gotta find some things that we can do and that we can be successful at,” Nicholls head coach Tim Rebowe said.

McNeese running back D’Angelo Durham is ranked 3rd in the conference in total rushing yards (258), 4th in rushing yards per game (64.5), and 8th in yards per gain (8.0). Durham is also ranked 50th in the FCS in total rushing yards.

“McNeese has always had great running backs,” Rebowe said. “Those couple guys they had the last couple of years were really really good, and we’re going up against some new guys that they are trying to plug into that mold.”

Rebowe says the game will be a battle between Nicholls’ defensive line and McNeese’s offensive line. 

“Our defensive line has been up to a task,” Rebowe said. “[…] it’s gonna come down to fundamentals and technique[s[.”

Nicholls’ defense has given up 1291 yards, but Rebowe thinks the defense is ready for conference play.

Nicholls has only scored 37 points this season, and Rebowe has noticed that. He says field position has been a big challenge for his team.

Nicholls is 14-46 on third-down conversions, and Rebowe says there needs to be improvement on that front.

“We gotta[…] get the other team off the field on third down, and on the other side, we gotta convert on third down plays,” Rebowe said. “That’s gonna help us sustain some drives and put the ball in the endzone.”

Rebowe says the team needs to protect the football and try to back McNeese far down the field when punting.

Nicholls quarterback Pat McQuaide has thrown for 646 passing yards and 4 touchdowns this season, including 279 passing yards and a touchdown last week. Coach Rebowe is happy to see his confidence growing.

“I thought Pat had a great game last week,” Rebowe said. “I know the interceptions stand out but he is doing a lot of nice things. Him and the receivers are starting to get on the same page and I think we can be that much better.”

Rebowe says special teams have been a big emphasis this season, but says he’s hoping for a better special teams performance this weekend.

“Our guys gotta step up,” Rebowe said. “We gave up a big return last week and we can’t be giving up the big plays. You wanna have these big, explosive plays… but sometimes, doing the simple ordinary things isn’t so bad.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, La. ESPN+ will broadcast the game.