Colonels ready to enter conference play

It’s only four games into Nicholls’ football season, but sixth-year head football coach Jay Thomas believes his team’s off week could not have come at a better time.

The Colonels have gone through the grueling grind of their non-conference schedule, consisting of two Division I-FBS opponents and two Division I-FCS opponents, with one (Jacksonville State) being ranked.

And while the Colonels’ record sits at 1-3 and the offense has failed to put points on the board, Thomas is not ready to give up on his young team.

That’s why the Colonels’ bye week has come at the most opportune time, according to Thomas.

“It’s great to have it right where it is,” he said. “Everyone has to go through that healing process. When we had the team meeting (last) Sunday night, they were obviously disappointed, but we have conference to play for. This is what you play for now.”

“These games should have prepared us for what’s down the road in the next seven, which is going to be a very tough and competitive conference schedule,” he added. “It’s what you work for and it’s an opportunity to win a conference championship.”

All last week the Colonels used the off week to heal their battle wounds, reevaluate their game plan and begin their new season – Southland Conference play.

Even though the Colonels are off to a slow start, Thomas said the team has been in the position before. In fact, he’s turning to the handful of players – such as senior offensive lineman Aric Flowers, still on the team from the 2005 Southland Conference championship squad that started out 1-4 before winning their last five games.

The coach has looked to those guys to remind his younger players that conference play is a fresh start.

“It has happened before. We were 1-4 in 2005 and won five straight. So it can happen,” he said. “As long as we continue to believe and we have the work ethic, we’ll be ok. If we believe that it’ll happen then it’ll happen for us.”

But with their conference trip to Huntsville Saturday against the Sam Houston State Bearkats comes the realization that, now, the Colonels are back to 0-0. But how does the rest of the Southland Conference stack up against the Colonels?

Here’s a peek at how the other teams match up against the Colonels.

SAM HOUSTON STATE

If there is one team who has been a thorn in the Colonels’ side, that team has to be the Sam Houston State Bearkats.

Thomas is 1-4 lifetime against the Bearkats. The Colonels are 3-7 overall in Huntsville and trail the all-time series 10-13-1 heading into Saturday’s showdown.

Sam Houston State head coach Todd Whitten has a career record of 3-1 overall against the Colonels and has won the last three meetings.

The Bearkats are led by senior quarterback Blake Joseph and senior running back James Aston. Joseph has passed for 742 yards and two touchdowns. Aston has rushed for 237 yards and scored four touchdowns. He has also caught eight passes for 99 yards, one for a touchdown through three games.

The team has enjoyed wins over North Dakota State and St. Joseph’s. Its two losses were at the hands of Western Illinois and Tulsa.

The Bearkats won the last meeting between the two teams 47-37 in Thibodaux.

TEXAS STATE

Unlike the Bearkats, the Texas State Bobcats have had their share of trouble with the Colonels in recent years.

In fact, Thomas is 3-2 in the “Battle for the Paddle,” and the Colonels own the series record 14-13.

Prior to the Bobcats’ 34-10 win over the Colonels last season, Nicholls had won three straight meetings.

The two renew their rivalry Oct. 17 in Thibodaux, where the Colonels hold an 8-5 edge.

Right now, the Bobcats hold a 2-2 overall record with wins over Angelo State and Texas Southern. Their two losses came at the hands of Texas Christian University and Southern Utah this past Saturday.

Leading the charge for the Bobcats is senior quarterback Bradley George, who has thrown for 852 yards and six touchdowns, mainly to his favorite target, junior receiver Da’Marcus Griggs (261 yards, two touchdowns).

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

The Bears are proverbial newcomers to the Southland Conference, but left their mark in a big way last season, finishing with the second best scoring offense, averaging 37.5 points per game.

Head coach Clint Conque, a Nicholls alumnus, is 1-2 against the Colonels after the Colonels upset the Bears 17-14 on a last second field goal a year ago.

The last time the two teams met in Conway, Ark., the Bears won a thriller in overtime 49-42. The Colonels return to Conway on Oct. 24.

Currently, the Bears’ record sits at 3-1 following victories over Western Kentucky, Glenville State and Missouri S&T. The lone loss of the season came to Division I-FBS member Hawaii.

Normally known as a high-powered offensive team, it’s been the Bears’ defense that has stepped up, allowing 332 yards per game, placing them second in the conference.

Senior running back Brent Grimes has given the Bears’ offense a spark, rushing for 206 yards and four touchdowns while senior linebacker Jacob Bane has anchored the stout defense with 20 total tackles, placing him eighth in the Southland Conference.

McNEESE STATE

Revenge has to be on the mind of the McNeese State Cowboys when they travel to Thibodaux on Halloween to play the Colonels for the 34th time in history.

It was the winless Colonels who spoiled the Cowboys’ homecoming last year with a 38-35 shocker in Lake Charles.

Thomas is 2-3 against the Cowboys, the other win coming in the 2005 hurricane-shortened championship season.

But even the friendly confines of home haven’t been too friendly for the Colonels when they play the Cowboys. The Cowboys own the series record 11-4 in Guidry Stadium and the all-time series 22-11.

The Cowboys’ record currently sits at 3-1 following victories over Henderson State, Appalachian State and Savannah State. Tulane provided the Cowboys with their lone loss of the season.

Leading the charge for the Cowboys is senior running back Toddrick Pendland whose 517 yards rushing and seven touchdowns leads the Southland Conference. He’s also contributed to senior quarterback Derrick Fourroux’s 889 yards and eight scores by hauling in 171 yards receiving and scoring twice.

The last time the Cowboys were in Thibodaux, they left with a 28-7 victory over the Colonels.

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Another place the Colonels don’t like to see is Nacogdoches, Texas where they are a mere 2-10 all time. However, the Colonels return Nov. 7 looking for revenge of their own against the Lumberjacks.

Currently, their record sits at 3-1, including a 92-0 thrashing of Texas College, and two other victories over Western Illinois and North Dakota. The SMU Mustangs handed the Lumberjacks their lone loss in the season opener.

Thomas is 2-3 all time against the Lumberjacks, while the Colonels trail the series record 18-7

Leading the way for the SLC’s top-rated offense thus far this season is junior quarterback Jeremy Moses, who has passed for 1,309 yards with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Moses’ primary target this season has been senior receiver Duane Brooks, who has caught 28 passes for 363 yards and three scores, as well as senior receiver Aaron Rhea (379 yards, five touchdowns).

NORTHWESTERN STATE

Awaiting the Colonels on Nov. 14 is a Demons team that regained the NSU trophy with a 36-28 win last season in Natchitoches. The Colonels are 3-14 all time.

The Demons currently sit at 0-4 on the season, losing to Houston, Grambling, North Dakota and Baylor.

So far this season, senior running back William Griffin has carried the load on offense, rushing for 293 yards and two touchdowns, putting him at fourth in the SLC.

Much like the Colonels, the Demons have also struggled putting points on the board and are ranked seventh in total offense and are sixth in total defense.

The Colonels are 12-23 lifetime against the Demons, but have won four of their last six against them.

Head coach Jay Thomas is 3-2 all time against the Demons and is 2-1 at home. Northwestern State head coach Bradley Dale Peveto has never coached against Nicholls.

The series is tied at 9 in Thibodaux.

SOUTHEASTERN (La.)

Four years ago, the “River Bell Classic” was renewed when the Lions rejoined the Southland Conference.

After losing to the Lions for the first time since 1985 during the 2007 season, the Colonels returned the River Bell trophy to Thibodaux with a 35-28 win to close out last season.

The two teams once again close out the season against each other Nov. 19 in Hammond where the series is tied 4-4.

However, the Colonels lead the all-time series between the two 10-8 and Thomas is 3-1 against the Lions. Thomas’ lone loss against the Lions was during their last trip to Hammond 17-13.

Southeastern coach Mike Lucas is 1-2 all time against the Colonels.

At this point in the season, the Lions are 2-2 overall with wins over Texas A&M- Commerce and Union College (Ky.) The losses were to Ole Miss and South Dakota.

The Lions’ prolific passing attack, ranked second in the conference, is led by senior quarterback Brian Babin who has thrown for 1,058 yards and nine touchdowns. His top targets in the offense have been senior receivers Simmie Yarborough (325 yards, five touchdowns) and Merrick Lanaux (214 yards, once touchdown).

Thomas is confident that, as always, the Southland Conference will produce more unpredictability.

“This is what we shoot for,” he said. “It’s a new season. I’m excited about it and I think the guys are ready for that fresh start.”

After a much needed week off, the Colonels look to get their offense rolling this week against Sam Houston State. From here on out, every game is a conference game, making Saturday’s game against the Bearkats that much more crucial. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF