Nicholls State Univerity’s football team won their Southland Conference opener against McNeese State University Cowboys 31-10 on Saturday, Sept. 30.
The game was Nicholls’ first win of the season and snapped a four-game losing streak dating back to last year’s loss to Southeastern Louisiana in the Riverbell Classic.
Nicholls opened up the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Collin Guggenheim to Neno Lemay. The score came after a Kylin Dupree punt was muffed by McNeese returner Johnathan Harris and recovered by Nicholls’ Maurquel Price at the McNeese 5-yard line.
Just over a minute into the second quarter, Nicholls extended its lead with a 25-yard touchdown reception by David Robinson from a Pat McQuaide pass.
McNeese’s only touchdown would come on its next drive after Nate Glantz connected with Jon McCall for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Nicholls converted on a Gavin Lasseigne field goal with 2:57 left in the second quarter to take a 17-7 lead over the Cowboys.
Nicholls would extend their lead again after Quinton Sharkey returned an interception for a touchdown that gave the Colonels a 24-7 lead going into halftime.
McNeese scored their last points on a 44-yard field goal from Garrison Smith that made the score 24-10.
After driving down to the McNeese 9-yard line a Nicholls fumble at the 14-yard line recovered by McNeese would kill the Colonels’ drive.
The game’s last score would come on a 2-yard touchdown run by Nicholls’ running back Jaylon Spears that made the score 31-10.
Nicholls was able to run out the clock after a McNeese was recovered by Nicholls’ linebacker Ethan Lee and returned 38 yards to the 50-yard line.
Guggenheim led the Colonels in rushing yards with 104 and tied for the lead in passing touchdowns with one.
Lee led the Colonels in tackles with seven and had the team’s only fumble recovery.
Nicholls is back at home next weekend for the team’s homecoming game against Houston Christian University.
![Nicholls Garrett Felix [#6] advances to first base after drawing a walk against Louisiana on April 2.](https://thenichollsworth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FelixWalk-at-UL-1200x800.jpg)
