Heading into the Game
Nicholls (1-2) looks to get back in the win column this week when they travel to play FBS opponent Texas State Bobcats (2-1) Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Colonels are coming off a bye week, during which the focus was on recovery and rest. After the loss to the UWG Wolves the week prior, they faced injuries, notably to defensive star Joe Mason Jr. and Senior leader Ty Marsh.
The team will once again be without Mason Jr., but Marsh will return to the lineup. They will rely on that stout defense that forced three turnovers in their most recent contest.
Players to watch
The Colonels will continue to heavily rely on sophomore star running back Miequle Brock Jr., who leads the team in rushing with 117 yards and a touchdown. Brock Jr. also leads the team’s receiving group with 126 yards and another touchdown through the air.
They will look forward to a big game from quarterback Deuce Hogan. Hogan this season has thrown for 519 yards and three touchdowns with a 116.7 quarterback rating.
However, Hogan has two interceptions. The Colonels will need to limit costly mistakes if they want to beat the Bobcats, and that starts with the quarterback.
The Colonels will need another stellar performance from their defense as well. Ethan Lee (29 tackles, two interceptions) heads a dangerous secondary featuring Ty Marsh, Anthony Rogers III and Aiden McCowan. All of which have interceptions this season.
Hayden Shaheen (29 tackles, one TFL) and Jake Dalmado (22 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) lead the linebacker core.
In the absence of Mason Jr., other defensive linemen have been forced to step up. Rasheed Lovelace, who was on the pre-season watchlist for the Buck Buchanan award, has been living up to that hype.
Dale Smith Jr. was inserted into the starting lineup in the absence of Mason Jr., and the Colonels will be looking for him to have an impact.
The Bobcats’ offense will rely heavily on the duo of quarterback Brad Jackson and wide receiver Beau Sparks.
Jackson has already thrown 684 yards and six touchdowns this season through three games. Five of those six were to Sparks, who leads all receivers with 307 yards on the season.
Along with those two, the Bobcats want a big game from senior running back Lincoln Pare, who is averaging close to 100 yards a game with 299 on the season. The Bobcats will rely on this trio to carry the boatload on offense.
The Defense is being led by senior linebacker Treylin Payne (23 tackles, 1.5 TFL, one sack). Payne is a physical linebacker who has a nose for finding and tackling the ball carrier.
The Bobcats’ secondary is led by junior safety Ryan Nolan (21 tackles, .5 TFL, one PBU and two quarterback hurries). After transferring to Texas State last year as a sophomore, Nolan made an immediate impact. He started in seven games and was second on the team in tackles and fumble recoveries.
Winning Formula (Defensive)
Stop the Air Raid – For the Colonels to win this game, they will need their defensive backs to have another good game. This is the best passing team the Colonels have faced to this point. If they can limit the connection between Jackson and Starks, they give themselves the best chance to win this game.
Slow Down the Phenom – For the Bobcats, the game plan should be simple: keep the ball out of Brock Jr.’s hand. The last time Brock Jr. played an FBS opponent in Troy, he had over 120 scrimmage yards along with a rushing and receiving touchdown. If the Bobcats can shut down the impact of Brock Jr., they give themselves a good chance to slow down the Colonels’ offense.
Winning Formula (Offensive)
Establish Ground Game Early – Both teams will need to establish the run early. For the Colonels, they need to get Brock Jr. in a groove early. When the defense keys in on him running the ball, it will open up the playbook for Hogan to find him or the wide receivers on passes.
For the Bobcats, establishing the run early on will exploit the absence of Mason Jr. The Colonels’ secondary is one of their strongest groups, so passing to start the game may prove difficult. However, UWG was able to rush for more than 340 yards in the Colonels’ most recent contest. If the Bobcats can manage anything close to that, it will open the passing lanes for Jackson and Starks.
Score Prediction
Colonels 24, Bobcats 21 – The Colonels are coming off a bye week, while the Bobcats are coming off a very physical game with Arizona State last Saturday.
The well-rested Colonels return senior defensive back Ty Marsh to the lineup, who was injured in the game against UWG. That dominant secondary can force takeaways at a high level, which could ultimately give them the edge against this air raid offense.
