Photo by: Bert Miller

Nicholls football helmets lined up on the grass

Nicholls State University football takes on the Southeast Missouri State University RedHawks in its last non-conference matchup of the season at 2 p.m. on Oct. 28.

The game at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, La will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 2 p.m.

Quick Facts

• The series is tied at 1-1

• SEMO won last year’s matchup 42-16
• SEMO running back Geno Hess is 336 yards away from having 5,000 career rushing yards
• Nicholls is third in the Football Championship Subdivision in red zone defense allowing 13 scores in 20 opposing team red zone trips (.650)
• Nicholls is third in the FCS in turnovers forced with 18

SEMO comes to Thibodaux at 3-4 with a 3-0 conference record that has it tied for first place in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association with number 13/14 University of Tennessee-Martin.

After losing four of its first five games SEMO has won two games in a row.

Its last game was a 28-3 win over Tennessee Tech, its biggest margin of victory and least points allowed this season.

Nicholls quarterback Pat McQuaide has taken notice of SEMO’s defense and said its ability to switch things up.

“They are a really good team and they definitely present some challenges we haven’t seen,” McQuaide said. “They do a good bit of different things on defense so we’ve gotta be good at knowing what [formation] they’re in and take what they give us.”

McQuaide had his second-most yards of the season with 240 and added a touchdown against Texas A&M-Commerce.

McQuaide said that believing in his game has helped him improve and added that practices have been important to him and the team.

“It just believing in the guys around me and myself. The first week we had some difficulties, being a new offense, a new group gelling together and I think every week we’ve gotten better,” McQuaide said. “We’ve had some really good practices last couple weeks and I think it’s translated into the games.”

Redhawks receiver Ryan Flournou totaled 203 yards on six receptions and added a first-quarter touchdown.

The performance earned Flournoy the Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Week award.

Throwing to Flournoy this week is quarterback, redshirt freshman, Patrick Heitert, who came in for starter Paxton DeLaurent after he was injured in the game against Tennessee Tech.

After entering the game in the second quarter Heitert threw for 176 yards and a touchdown.

Edge rusher Kershawn Fisher says he hopes to get pressure on the young quarterback.=

“[We want] to put pressure in his face,” Fisher said. “He’s a new quarterback and at the quarterback position you have to learn a lot, see a lot, and pay attention a lot. So, the best thing you can do is get him under pressure.”

Fisher pointed out SEMO’s aggression and their ability to play up-tempo.

“They play with aggression and they play up-tempo,” Fisher said. “You can tell when they walk into the building that they are ready to play.”

Fisher added that his goal is to allow less than 100 rush yards and force Heitert to throw the ball at the Nicholls defensive backs in hopes of forcing interceptions.