TEXAS A&M VS. NICHOLLS ST.
Records: A&M 0-1, Nicholls 1-0.
Series history: First meeting.
Key players: Texas A&M — RB Trayveon Williams, WR Christian Kirk, FS Armani Watts; Nicholls State — QB Chase Fourcade, WR Damion Jeanpiere, DB Jonavon Lewis
Who has the edge
Offense — Texas A&M. Clock management was a serious issue for the Aggies’ offense in the second half against UCLA, but running the ball was not. Before the game turned into the Josh Rosen show, it was all about Williams, who ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.2 yards on 22 rushes. His 61-yard touchdown run gave the Aggies a 38-10 halftime lead. RB Keith Ford added 114 yards and three TDs as the Aggies racked up 382 rushing yards.
Defense — Nicholls State. The advantage can’t go to the Aggies’ defense after its collapse at the Rose Bowl. The unit (and A&M’s coaching staff) wasted a 44-10 lead after allowing Rosen to lead five scoring drives in the final 17 minutes. The Bruins racked up 491 passing yards (554 total) and 29 first downs. The Colonels intercepted two passes in their season-opening win, with Lewis returning his pick 67 yards to cut McNeese State’s lead to 16-14 in the third.
Special teams – Even. A&M kicker Daniel LaCamera did his job, going 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 48-yarder to push the Aggies’ lead to 34 points (44-10) with 4:08 left in the third. But LaCamera apparently suffered an injury and did not return to attempt a FG that could have sealed the win with 4:41 remaining. Instead, it was Braden Mann, whose 43-yard attempt was blocked. Nicholl State completed its comeback against rival McNeese on Lorran Fonseca’s 32-yard boot with no time left.
Notable: Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin’s seat is on fire now. Soon after the Aggies inexplicably blew a 44-10 lead to UCLA in a 45-44 loss, Texas A&M regent Tony Buzbee, a prominent Houston attorney, blasted the sixth-year coach on Facebook, saying, “I’m only one vote on the Board of Regents but when the time comes my vote will be that Kevin Sumlin needs to GO. In my view he should go now.” With friends like that, who needs enemies? Ouch.
About Texas A&M: In past years, the Aggies (0-1) started the season and then fizzled down the stretch in November. Now that trend is playing out inside games, leaving Texas A&M clinging to life in the same sinking boat as Texas and Baylor. The Aggies should handle Nicholls State, but the Colonels rallied to a victory as A&M collapsed, finding a way while holding the ball for only 19:54. A&M maintained possession for 36:22 — and it wasn’t enough.
About Nicholls State: The Colonels (1-0) won their opener for the first time in five years thanks to Fonseca’s clutch field goal and the play of Fourcade, the nephew of former NFL QB John Fourcade, under center. The 6-0 sophomore completed 10 of 21 passes for 213 yards and two TDs and ran for 49 yards and a 19-yard TD that gave Nicholls a 34-29 lead with 5:43 remaining. Jeanpiere was his favorite target, hauling in three balls for 145 yards and two scores.