LAKE CHARLES, La. — After snapping a four-game losing streak and earning their first road victory since 2024, the Nicholls Colonels will look to build on that momentum Saturday when they travel to Lake Charles to face longtime Southland Conference rival McNeese.

Nicholls enters the matchup at 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play following a 31-27 victory over Northwestern State. McNeese enters with an identical record after suffering a 38-6 loss to UIW last weekend.

Both programs have experienced their share of struggles this season, and with November approaching, Saturday's matchup provides an opportunity for one team to gain some momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season.



Nicholls Offense Looking for Consistency

Nicholls enters Saturday averaging just 16.1 points and 297.1 yards of total offense per game. The Colonels have struggled to consistently move the football, particularly against some of the stronger opponents on their schedule.

Through eight games, Nicholls is averaging 135.5 rushing yards and 161.6 passing yards per contest. The Colonels have scored just five rushing touchdowns this season, highlighting some of the difficulties they have experienced establishing the ground game.

However, last weekend provided some encouragement.

Quarterback Chase Richardson helped lead Nicholls to its most productive offensive performance in several weeks against Northwestern State, accounting for 302 yards of total offense, including 151 rushing yards and 151 passing yards.

Richardson has appeared in four games this season and has accumulated 278 passing yards and 246 rushing yards. While his overall passing numbers remain limited, his ability to create plays with his legs gives the Colonels another dimension offensively.

In the backfield, Tamaj Hoffman leads Nicholls with 315 rushing yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Shane Lee has contributed another 270 rushing yards, while Richardson has become another rushing threat when given the opportunity.

Through the air, Jordan Smith leads the Colonels with 28 receptions for 366 yards and three touchdowns. Greg Donaldson has been one of Nicholls' more explosive receivers, accumulating 246 yards on just 12 receptions, an average of 20.5 yards per catch. Ellis Stewart has added 181 receiving yards, while Jackson Dufrene has contributed 116 yards and three touchdowns.

One of the biggest concerns for Nicholls has been its inability to sustain drives. The Colonels have converted just 38 of their 126 third-down opportunities, a rate of 30.2 percent.

Against a McNeese defense that has struggled throughout the season, Nicholls should have opportunities to move the football. The challenge will be turning those opportunities into points.

McNeese Has Experienced Similar Struggles

While McNeese has been more productive offensively than Nicholls, the Cowboys have also struggled to find consistency throughout the season.

McNeese enters Saturday averaging 23 points and 371.1 yards of total offense per game. The Cowboys have rushed for 165.5 yards per contest while producing another 205.6 yards through the air.

The Cowboys have used three quarterbacks throughout the season, with Devin Lippold leading the team in passing yards despite appearing in just four games. Lippold has completed 64 of 112 passes for 744 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

Jake Strong has also seen significant action, throwing for 619 yards and three touchdowns with four interceptions. Brady Barrier has contributed 282 passing yards and three touchdowns.

McNeese has several offensive players capable of creating problems for opposing defenses.

Running back Omiri Wiggins leads the Cowboys with 477 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Hutch Swilley has added 191 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Marquez Davis has contributed 153 yards on just 18 carries.

In the passing game, Elisha Edwards leads McNeese with 26 receptions for 409 yards and three touchdowns. Curtis Deville Jr. has been another productive target with 362 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Despite those offensive weapons, the Cowboys have struggled to produce points consistently against Southland Conference opponents.

McNeese was held to just 10 points in a loss to UTRGV and managed only six points against UIW last weekend. The Cowboys have also struggled on third down, converting just 34.2 percent of their opportunities.

For Nicholls, limiting the Cowboys' rushing attack and forcing them into obvious passing situations could be important.

Defensive Struggles Could Make This an Interesting Matchup

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Saturday's matchup is how both defenses have struggled to limit opposing offenses.

Nicholls is allowing 39.5 points and 446.1 yards per game. Opponents are averaging 193.3 rushing yards and 252.9 passing yards against the Colonels.

McNeese has not been much better statistically, allowing 29.8 points and 463.9 yards per contest. Opponents are averaging 199.3 rushing yards and 264.6 passing yards against the Cowboys.

While McNeese has allowed fewer points, the Cowboys have actually surrendered more total yards than Nicholls.

For the Colonels, one of the most concerning numbers has been their third-down defense. Opponents have converted 52 of 110 third-down opportunities, a rate of 47.3 percent.

McNeese has been more successful in that category, allowing opponents to convert 36.8 percent of their third downs.

The Cowboys have also generated more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, recording 13 sacks compared to just seven for Nicholls.

Individually, Kennon Loftin leads the Nicholls defense with 63 tackles, followed by Skylar Husband with 47 and Kevin Martin Jr. with 43. Kasai Jones has contributed 42 tackles and two sacks, while Alex Villavaso has recorded four tackles for loss.

Husband has been particularly productive in the secondary, recording three interceptions this season, including the game-sealing interception against Northwestern State.

McNeese is led defensively by Landon Barrett, who has recorded 57 tackles, followed by Cohen Charles with 47 and Sentario Willis with 37.

The Cowboys have several players capable of creating pressure in the backfield. Royce Maloles and Iyioluwa Adekoya have each recorded three sacks, while RJ Staten has added 2.5.

Both teams have recorded seven interceptions this season, meaning turnovers could play a significant role in determining Saturday's outcome.

With both defenses surrendering more than 440 yards per contest, the opportunity for offensive production should be there. The question is which defense can come up with enough stops when it matters most.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

Through eight games, McNeese has held the statistical advantage in most major offensive categories.

The Cowboys are averaging 371.1 yards of total offense compared to 297.1 for Nicholls, a difference of 74 yards per contest. McNeese has also scored nearly seven more points per game than the Colonels.

On the ground, the Cowboys are averaging 165.5 rushing yards compared to 135.5 for Nicholls. Through the air, McNeese has produced 205.6 passing yards per game, while Nicholls is averaging 161.6.

Neither team has been particularly effective converting third downs. Nicholls has converted 30.2 percent of its opportunities, while McNeese has converted 34.2 percent.

Defensively, both teams have struggled, although their numbers tell a slightly different story.

Nicholls is allowing 39.5 points per contest, nearly 10 more than McNeese's average of 29.8. However, the Cowboys are allowing 463.9 total yards compared to 446.1 for the Colonels.

McNeese has also recorded 13 sacks this season, almost twice as many as Nicholls' seven.

The Cowboys have been more effective in the red zone offensively, scoring on 16 of 22 trips, including 11 touchdowns. Nicholls has scored on 13 of 18 red-zone opportunities, with 10 resulting in touchdowns.

Both teams have struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone once they reach the red zone. Nicholls has allowed 22 touchdowns on 33 opposing red-zone possessions, while McNeese has surrendered 15 touchdowns on 26 opportunities.

The numbers suggest that while McNeese has been the more productive team offensively, neither defense has consistently been able to limit opponents.

Scoring by Quarter Shows Areas of Concern

One area worth watching Saturday is how each team performs throughout the four quarters.

Nicholls has struggled early in games, scoring just 28 first-quarter points while allowing 84. The Colonels have been most productive in the second quarter, scoring 49 points, but opponents have scored 97 during that same period.

In the third quarter, Nicholls has scored 37 points while allowing 63.

The fourth quarter has been particularly difficult for the Colonels. Nicholls has scored just 15 fourth-quarter points through eight games, while opponents have scored 72.

Those numbers highlight how difficult it has been for Nicholls to finish games offensively, particularly when playing from behind.

McNeese has experienced some similar problems, although its scoring breakdown is somewhat different.

The Cowboys have scored 27 points in the first quarter, 36 in the second, 79 in the third and 42 in the fourth.

Opponents have scored 52 points in the first quarter, 83 in the second, 49 in the third and 54 in the fourth.

Interestingly, McNeese has outscored opponents 79-49 in the third quarter, making it the only period in which the Cowboys hold a scoring advantage this season.

For Nicholls, establishing an early lead and maintaining that momentum coming out of halftime could be critical.

Nicholls Looking to Continue Recent Success Against McNeese

While McNeese holds the historical advantage in the series with 32 wins compared to 18 for Nicholls, the Colonels have controlled the rivalry in recent years.

Nicholls has won five consecutive meetings against McNeese, including a convincing 31-7 victory last season in Thibodaux.

In that contest, Nicholls established the ground game and controlled the line of scrimmage, rushing for 303 yards while holding McNeese to just 94 yards on the ground.

The Colonels finished with 464 yards of total offense and controlled possession for more than 38 minutes.

That victory marked the first time in program history that Nicholls had defeated McNeese in five consecutive meetings.

Saturday provides an opportunity for the Colonels to extend that streak to six games, while McNeese will be looking to end its recent struggles against Nicholls in front of its home crowd.

What Will Decide Saturday's Game?

For Nicholls, the biggest question is whether last week's offensive performance against Northwestern State was a sign of improvement or simply a productive outing against a struggling defense.

The Colonels rushed for 202 yards against the Demons, significantly better than their season average of 135.5 yards per contest.

Against a McNeese defense that is allowing nearly 200 rushing yards per game, establishing the ground game should once again be a priority.

Richardson's ability to extend plays and create opportunities with his legs could be important, but Nicholls cannot become entirely dependent on its quarterback to generate offense.

Hoffman and Lee will need to contribute, while the passing game must take advantage of a McNeese secondary allowing more than 264 yards per contest.

Defensively, the Colonels must find a way to improve.

Despite last week's victory, Nicholls allowed Northwestern State to accumulate 463 yards of total offense, including 340 through the air.

The Colonels have allowed at least 27 points in seven of their eight games this season, and the inability to consistently get off the field on third down has been a major concern.

McNeese has enough offensive weapons to create similar problems, particularly if Wiggins can establish the rushing attack and the Cowboys find success through the air.

Turnovers could also be important. Nicholls has recorded seven interceptions and recovered seven opposing fumbles this season. Creating additional possessions for an offense that has struggled to sustain drives could make a significant difference.

For McNeese, the focus will be on protecting the football, establishing the running game and avoiding another offensive performance similar to what the Cowboys experienced against UIW.

Both programs have shown flashes of potential throughout the season, but neither has consistently been able to put together complete performances.

Final Thoughts

Nicholls enters Saturday with something it has not had much of over the past month: momentum.

The Colonels finally found a way to win on the road, and the offense showed some signs of life against Northwestern State. However, one victory does not erase the struggles that have plagued the program throughout the season.

Nicholls is still averaging just over 16 points per game while allowing nearly 40. Those numbers explain much of the team's difficulties through eight games.

McNeese has been more productive offensively, but the Cowboys have struggled defensively and have experienced their own inconsistencies.

On paper, this appears to be an opportunity for both offenses to move the football. The question is whether either defense can make enough plays to give its team an advantage.

For Nicholls, establishing the running game, limiting turnovers and avoiding another slow start will be critical.

The Colonels have an opportunity to pick up consecutive road victories and continue their recent dominance over McNeese. But accomplishing that will require building on last week's performance rather than simply relying on the momentum of one victory.

With both teams entering Saturday at 3-5 overall and 2-3 in Southland Conference play, this matchup could go a long way toward determining which program can finish the season on a positive note.

For Nicholls, a second consecutive win would be another step toward turning around a season that appeared to be heading in the wrong direction just a week ago.