Nicholls heads to San Antonio on Saturday, November 14, looking to build some momentum following a thrilling 32-31 Homecoming victory over East Texas A&M. The Colonels will face one of the hottest teams in the Southland Conference when they take on Incarnate Word at 2 p.m. at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.

Nicholls enters the matchup at 4-6 overall and 3-4 in conference play, while UIW sits at 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the Southland. The Cardinals have won four consecutive games and are playing some of their best football of the season.

For Nicholls, Saturday presents another opportunity to show improvement after a difficult stretch earlier in the year. The Colonels have won two of their last three games, including a road victory over Northwestern State and last weekend's one-point win over East Texas A&M. However, this week's opponent presents a much different challenge.



UIW Offense Presents a Major Challenge

The Cardinals have one of the most productive offenses in the Southland, averaging 38.5 points and 475.5 yards per game. UIW has been effective both through the air and on the ground, averaging more than 300 passing yards and 170 rushing yards per contest.

Quarterback Emmett Brown leads the offense, completing 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,811 yards and 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Brown has several weapons around him, making it difficult for opposing defenses to focus on one particular player.

Isaiah Champagne leads the receiving group with 49 receptions for 526 yards and three touchdowns. Roy Alexander has added 507 yards and three touchdowns on just 24 catches, while Jacob Emmers has 403 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

The Cardinals also have a strong rushing attack led by Jayden Hibbler, who has rushed for 607 yards and six touchdowns. Lontrell Turner has added 404 yards and eight scores.

What makes UIW difficult to defend is its ability to spread the ball around. The Cardinals have multiple players who can make big plays, and their offense has shown it can score quickly.

Over their four-game winning streak, UIW has outscored its opponents 180-52, including a 38-6 victory over McNeese and a 35-16 road win over Southeastern Louisiana last weekend.

For Nicholls, limiting explosive plays and forcing UIW into longer drives will be important. The Colonels cannot afford to give the Cardinals short fields or allow them to establish a rhythm early.

Nicholls Looking to Build on Recent Success

While the overall record may not show it, Nicholls has shown signs of improvement over the last few weeks, particularly with its ability to run the football.

The Colonels are averaging 156.6 rushing yards per game this season, but that number has increased recently. Nicholls rushed for 202 yards against Northwestern State, 261 against McNeese and 221 against East Texas A&M.

Quarterback Chase Richardson has provided a spark to the offense with his ability to make plays using his legs. Richardson leads Nicholls with 469 rushing yards while adding 446 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Against East Texas A&M, Richardson helped lead the Colonels back from a 24-7 halftime deficit. Trailing 31-24 late in the fourth quarter, he directed a 65-yard scoring drive, finishing it with a one-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point conversion gave Nicholls the lead with 47 seconds remaining.

That type of performance is something Nicholls will need to carry into Saturday.

Patrick Gales has also emerged as a contributor in the rushing attack, totaling 264 yards in four games, while Tamaj Hoffman and Shane Lee have helped provide depth in the backfield.

The challenge against UIW will be finding a way to maintain that rushing success while generating enough production through the passing game to keep the Cardinals honest.

Nicholls is averaging just 16.4 points per game this season. Against a UIW offense capable of putting up points quickly, the Colonels will likely need one of their better offensive performances of the year.

UIW Defense Has Been Impressive During Winning Streak

While much of the attention surrounding UIW goes to its offense, the Cardinals have also made significant strides defensively.

UIW is allowing 25.6 points per game for the season, but that number has been much lower during its current four-game winning streak.

The Cardinals have allowed just 52 combined points during that stretch, holding McNeese to six, Northwestern State to 14 and Southeastern Louisiana to 16.

Jeremiah Young has been one of the biggest difference-makers defensively, recording 9.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Christian Barney leads the team with 79 tackles, while Patrick Batiste has three interceptions.

As a team, UIW has recorded 25 sacks and 74.5 tackles for loss while allowing opponents to convert just 30.5 percent of their third-down opportunities.

Those numbers are concerning for a Nicholls offense that has struggled with consistency, particularly on third down, where the Colonels are converting just 29 percent of their opportunities.

Nicholls will need to stay ahead of the chains and avoid situations where UIW can turn its defensive front loose.

Keys to the Game

For Nicholls, the biggest priority has to be controlling the football and limiting the number of opportunities UIW has offensively.

The Colonels have shown they can establish a running game, and that could be their best opportunity to keep this matchup competitive. Sustaining drives, converting third downs and finishing possessions with touchdowns rather than field goals will be critical.

Defensively, Nicholls faces an offense that can attack in several different ways. UIW has enough balance to make it difficult to simply load the box or focus on stopping the passing game.

One area where Nicholls could create opportunities is turnovers. Brown has thrown nine interceptions this season, while UIW has lost 11 fumbles. The Colonels have recorded 10 interceptions of their own, and creating a few extra possessions could go a long way toward keeping them in the game.

Nicholls also has to avoid falling behind early. UIW has scored 251 of its 385 points in the first half this season, showing just how quickly the Cardinals can establish control of a game.

Final Thoughts

There is no question UIW enters Saturday as the favorite. The Cardinals are playing their best football of the season, have one of the most productive offenses in the conference and are coming off an impressive road victory over Southeastern Louisiana.

However, Nicholls has something it did not have a few weeks ago: some momentum.

The Colonels have won two of their last three games, and the comeback against East Texas A&M showed a team that continued to battle even when things were not going its way.

The biggest question is whether Nicholls can put together four quarters of consistent football against a quality opponent.

UIW has the advantage on paper, but Nicholls has shown improvement in its rushing attack and the ability to make plays when needed. If the Colonels can establish the run, limit turnovers and prevent UIW from producing explosive plays, they could make things interesting in San Antonio.

A victory would be a significant step forward for Nicholls as the Colonels approach the end of the season. Regardless of Saturday's outcome, the Colonels will close out their season on Thursday, November 19, when Southeastern Louisiana visits Thibodaux for the River Bell Classic.

Saturday's matchup kicks off at 2 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+.