Nicholls beat conference opponent Texas A&M-Commerce 27-7.
The win gives Head Coach Tim Rebowe his 50th win as the Colonel’s leader and marks the second 3-0 conference start in team history
Running back Collin Guggenheim reached 2,000 yards rushing in the game and surpassed former Tuskani Figaro for ninth place on Nicholls’ all-time rushing list.
Commerce scored on a 33-yard Josh Magana touchdown pass caught by Keith Miller III on their first drive to take a 7-0 lead over Nicholls.
It would be Commerce’s only touchdown of the game.
Nicholls responded four minutes later after Neno Lemay broke a tackle on a 35-yard touchdown reception to tie the game 7-7.
Nicholls scored its first rushing touchdown of the game on a 14-yard rush by Guggenheim that put Nicholls up 14-7.
Running back Jaylon Spears scored Nicholls’ second rushing touchdown of the game on a 17-yard run with 50 seconds remaining.
Commerce was unable to connect on a 40-yard field goal as time expired and Nicholls took a 21-7 lead into the half.
After a Kershawn Fisher sack on third down, Commerce looked to punt, but a bad snap forced punter Mitchell McGarry to pick up the ball and run for 20 yards and the first down.
Commerce was able to march down to the Nicholls 16-yard line, but a Devonte’ Mathews interception ended the drive and gave Nicholls the ball back at its own 1-yard line.
Kylan Dupre was forced to punt after Nicholls was unable to get a first down.
After loss of three yards on 2nd down swing pass, forced Commerce to throw the ball on 3rd-and-13.
The pass by Lake Bennet was intercepted by Nicholls’ Ethan Lee at the Nicholls 2-yard line.
Nicholls got two first downs on the drive, but a third down stop by Commerce forced another Dupre punt.
Commerce found success on its first play of the drive when Bennet completed a 26-yard pass to receiver Micaelous Elder, but lost yards on the following set of downs and punted the ball back to Nicholls on 4th-and-15.
On the third play of the ensuing Nicholls drive, Pat McQuaide completed a 59-yard pass to receiver Terry Mathews who was tackled at the Commer 5-yard line.
After an incompletion on first down, Guggenheim lined up in the wildcat formation and ran in for his second touchdown of the game.
Kicker Gavin Lasseigne missed the extra point and kept the score at 27-7.
Quinton Sharkey ended the next Commerce drive with an interception that gave Nicholls its third of the game.
Nicholls was unable to score on the following drive and punted it back to Commerce.
On the next Nicholls’ drive, a 15-yard rush helped Guggenheim pass 2,000 yards rushing in his career.
Guggenheim is one of only 11 players to achieve the feat at Nicholls.
Both defenses stood tall for the last few minutes of the game and Nicholls took the win 27-7.
The win gives Nicholls a share of first place in the Southland Conference standing.
Guggenheim led the team in rushing with 76 yards and two touchdowns.
He now has six touchdowns on the season and over 400 rushing yards.
Terry Mathews led the team in receiving with 62 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season.
McQuaide passed for 240 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Defensive back Tyler Morton led the team in tackles with nine and linebacker Eli Ennis led the team in tackles for loss with 2.5.
Return to the Nicholls Worth for a more in-depth recap tomorrow.
