Photo by: Nicholls Athletics

Head Coach Tim Rebowe hoisting the Southland Conference football trophy

Nicholls defeated Lamar University 37-24 to take a share of the Southland Conference Championship.

The championship win is Nicholls’ first since 2019.

Lamar started the game fast scoring a touchdown on its first drive, which took five minutes off the clock.

Nicholls did not waste much time either. Jaylon Spears responded for Nicholls with a 29-yard touchdown reception on its first offensive possession.

The defense took over on the next drive when Perry Ganci tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage that landed in Rasheed Lovelace’s hand for an interception.

Nicholls found the endzone after the interception when McQuaide connected with receiver Quincy Brown for an acrobatic touchdown catch in the right corner of the endzone to take the Nicholls’ first lead of the game.

The celebration did not last long for Nicholls, Lamar returned a blocked extra for a two-point conversion that cut Nicholls’ lead to 13-9.

Lamar looked to have the momentum after Damashja Harris returned the Nicholls’ kickoff 67 yards to the Nicholls’ 11-yard line, but a Robbie Coleman fumble gave Nicholls the ball back at its own 14-yard line.

Spears capped off an 86-yard drive with his second touchdown of the day from nine yards out and extended the Nicholls lead to 12 points.

Lamar got two points back with a sack safety on McQuaide late in the second quarter.

Lamar mounted a 61-yard drive at the end of the half that ended at the one-yard line after a Nicholls goal-line stand

Lamar opened the second half with a Devin Gibbs touchdown that brought Lamar within two points of Nicholls.

McQuaide threw his second touchdown of the game to David Robinson Jr, that made the score 27-18.

A Tyler Morton interception on the next drive led to a Spears touchdown that gave Nicholls the 34-18 lead, its biggest of the game.

Lamar took its next drive into the fourth quarter and scored on a Coleman touchdown pass to Gibbs.

Lasseigne’s field on the ensuing drive turned out to be the final points of the game.

Nicholls’ defense forced turnovers on downs on the last two Lamar drives.

The game ended on a Pat McQuaide kneel as the team rushed the field to celebrate the trophy returning to Thibodaux.

Nicholls is back in action on Thursday night in Hammond, La. for the Riverbell Classic against Southeastern Louisiana.