No. 8 UIW clips Nicholls on Homecoming

THIBODAUX, La. – A fast start by the nationally-ranked UIW put the Nicholls State University football team in an early three-touchdown deficit and the No. 8 Cardinals went on to defeat the Colonels, 49-14, on Homecoming Saturday on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.

The loss dropped Nicholls to 1-6 overall while UIW improved to 6-1 and evened up the all-time series at 5-5. The matchup did not count towards the teams’ Southland Conference record.

Leonard Kelly made his second straight start at quarterback and recorded his first career touchdown — scoring on a sneak early in the fourth quarter. He finished 12 of 26 for 114 yards and had two interceptions in his first career start at home. Kohen Granier played briefly and led Nicholls to its first touchdown, connecting with tight end Lee Negrotto for a 17-yard score that made it 21-7 UIW in the second quarter.

Despite having some momentum heading into halftime, the Colonels were unable to slow down UIW’s offense as it started the second half like it did the first — scoring three consecutive touchdowns. Former Colonel quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. added two more touchdown throws as UIW grabbed a commanding 42-7 lead through three quarters. Scott racked up 327 yards passing on 27 of 36 and threw for five touchdowns to lead the Cardinal offense.

Nicholls had an opportunity for points right out the gate, but misfired on a field goal on its opening drive. Kelly led the Red and Gray to a five-minute drive just outside the red zone, however, kicker Gavin Lasseigne missed right on a 35-yard field goal.

UIW answered with the first Scott TD pass, this one going to CJ Hardy for 30 yards. Taylor Grimes followed with a touchdown grab before Marcus Cooper caught a short pass early in the second for a 21-0 lead. Grimes was the leading receiver for UIW with 10 receptions for 125 yards and a pair of scores.

After three straight punts, Granier subbed in at quarterback and orchestrated a seven-play scoring drive. He found Negrotto three times for 46 yards and tossed a strike to the tight end for a TD with six minutes until the half.

The Colonel defense found its groove as well, forcing a pair of punts leading up to the half. In UIW’s final drive of the second quarter, the unit stopped a fourth-down try in the red zone to keep the deficit at 21-7. Logan Scott and Kylin White paced the defense with eight tackles each, and Zach Bernard added a pair of stops behind the line. Along with Bernard, Jacob Parker and Elinus Noel III added seven tackles.

UIW’s third-quarter barrage featured a touchdown run by Cooper and two more Scott touchdown passes. Cooper rushed for 137 yards on 20 carries as UIW totaled 633 yards of total offense to nearly double up the Colonels (320).

On the ground, Nicholls rushed for 160 yards with Collin Guggenheim totaling 78 yards on nine carries. Julien Gums ran the ball 18 times for a net of 62 yards.

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Nicholls will welcome McNeese next Saturday for its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.