HBU vs. NICHOLLS ST.
Who has the edge
Offense — Nicholls
State. The Colonels are 38th in FCS scoring (29.2). They put up a seasonhigh 44 points on Prairie View. They managed only 2.3 yards per carry last week but still generated 435 yards, with Fourcade throwing for a career-high 358 yards and three scores. HBU is 121st in scoring (10.5). The Huskies produced only seven points on a 2-yard TD reception by Peters with a minute remaining last week. Defense — Even. Despite the offense’s continued struggles, Peters’ late TD tied Northwestern State 7-7 thanks to another stout effort by the Huskies’ defense, which supplied three takeaways and held the Demons to 4 yards per carry. Nicholls held Incarnate word to 3.1 yards per rush and 324 total yards. Nicholls’ opponents are 54-of-135 on third down (40 percent). HBU’s opponents are at 39 percent (47-of-120). Special teams – Nicholls State. HBU has two made field goals in the past nine attempts but four of those were from 50-plus yards. Nicholls K Lorran Fonseca missed a 34-yarder last week but went 5-for-5 in a 29-20 win over Abilene Christian.
Notable: Nicholls State won 38-17 two years ago to avenge a 31-21 loss to Houston Baptist in their first meeting in 2014. The Huskies managed only 221 total yards and 10 first downs in that setback. They played to a stalemate through four quarters in last year’s meeting, with Nicholls pulling out a 33-30 win in overtime.
About HBU: The Huskies are on a six-game losing streak after a 10-7 setback against Northwestern State, despite a valiant effort by their defense. Zappe took eight sacks, the ground game produced only 127 yards on 51 rushes and the Huskies lost four fumbles, and with two nationally ranked foes remaining, they’re in real danger of going 1-10, which would be their worst finish in four years of existence. About Nicholls State: The 17th-ranked Colonels secured their first winning season in 10 years with a 38-31 win over Incarnate Word. Fourcade had a career game with help from WRs Mason Roberts (3106, one TD) and Dai’Jean Dixon (4-100, 2 TDs), but they had to hang on after leading 31-14 at halftime. This is the Colonels’ home finale.