Late field goal lifts Black to 17-14 win over Red in Nicholls spring game

THIBODAUX, La. – A late field goal and an interception lifted Team Black to a 17-14 win over Team Red in the Nicholls State University football program’s Spring Game Thursday night on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.

Behind two touchdown passes by quarterback Kohen Granier, Black led 14-7 in the fourth before Red running back Jaylon Spears found the end zone on a 1-yard run. David Robinson Jr. hauled in two long passes from Dillon Monette and drew a pass interference, leading to a 27-yard field goal by Patrick Vanderbrook.

Red looked to answer with less than two minutes remaining, but linebacker Kylin White came up the football on a crossing route for a game-ending interception.

The teams were scoreless through the first quarter thanks to a pair of defensive plays. Tyreke Boyd caught a pass in the red zone for an interception, and Red answered with a fourth-and-short stop by linebacker Quinton Sharkey.

The first TD of the night came in the second quarter when Granier hooked up with Robinson for a 46-yard touchdown.

In the third, Granier found K.J. Franklin for a long pass to the Red 8, and then hit Al’Dontre Davis for a 6-yard touchdown.

Red then put together a scoring drive to cut the deficit in half. Quarterback Leonard Kelly scrambled on a third-and-long to midfield to move the chains. He followed with completions to Terry Matthews and Dany’e Brooks that moved the ball to the 5. After three stops, Jake Dalmado was able to punch it in on a fourth-and-goal from the 1.

For the final quarter, Red had another defensive highlight when Jordan Jackson intercepted a pass at Black’s 35. Matthews hauled in another clutch grab on fourth down all the way to the 1-yard line, and Spears tied the game with his short TD run.

But the rest of the way, the defense for Black picked up a pair up crucial turnovers. Before the game-clinching pick by White, the Black defense ended a drive at its own 25 on a catch and forced fumble.

UP NEXT
The team will begin summer workouts in June. After reporting for camp in early August, the season opener is set for September 9 at South Alabama