Running game powers Colonels past Lamar, 41-14

BEAUMONT, Texas — The Nicholls State University football team received a pair of 100-yard rushing performances from sophomores Kyran Irvin and Jeremy Rounds and the defense shutdown Lamar as the Colonels claimed their first road win with a 41-14 victory Saturday night at Umphrey Stadium.

Both sophomores had career nights to fuel a season-high 354 yards on the ground. Irvin rushed for 152 and two touchdowns on 24 carries while Rounds turned out 103 yards and a score on 16 totes. It marked the first game with two 100-yard rushers for the Colonels since their last trip to Lamar on Nov. 7, 2015. Tuskani Figaro also added 67 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

The defense allowed just one score on the night, excluding a late one after a muffed punt return, and two interceptions led to a pair of touchdowns. Allen Pittman had a 54-yard return on a pick in the second quarter that gave Nicholls a 20-0 lead and Darryl Adams intercepted a pass at midfield, returning it 52 yards to the 2 in the third quarter. Two plays later, Irvin scored for the final touchdown of the night for the Red and Gray.

The Colonels (3-2, 2-1 SLC) outgained the Cardinals, 506-237, in total offense and the defense limited Lamar (1-4, 0-3) to 4 of 17 on third-down conversions. Chase Fourcade had an efficient night for the Colonels, completing 12 of 17 passes for 152 yards and a score.

Nicholls’ defense was led by Corey Abraham with nine tackles. As a team, the Colonels racked up 8.0 tackles for loss, including a sack by Hezekiah White.

For the game, Nicholls used two big plays by Rounds to get the opening drive started. Rounds had a 13-yard rush and a 14-yard catch to move the ball across midfield. Two plays later, Fourcade hit Christian Booker for a 28-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked for a 6-0 advantage.

Early in the second, Dai’Jean Dixon had a spectacular 43-yard grab down the sideline to place the ball at the 1. On the next play, Irvin found paydirt for a 13-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Terrell Encalade pressured Lamar’s Darrel Colbert Jr. and forced an errant pass that was picked off by Pittman at midfield. Pittman raced untouched for a touchdown and Lorran Fonseca‘s extra point made it 20-0.

Lamar cracked the scoring column on a 36-yard pass to Kirkland Banks, but Nicholls answered right away with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Irvin rushed five times for 40 yards before Rounds bounced to the outside for a 16-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, the defense continued to dominate by forcing two punts and the Colonels then extended the lead to 34-7 on a 10-yard touchdown run by Figaro. On Lamar’s first pass of the next drive, Adams stepped in front of the intended receiver for a pick and was wrestled down before reaching the end zone. Irvin needed just two rushes for his second TD and a commanding 41-7 advantage.

LU’s final touchdown came in the fourth after a muffed punt return inside the 5. Andrew Allen scored on a 4-yard rush to make the final.

UP NEXT
The Colonels return to John L. Guidry Stadium next weekend to host rival Northwestern State for Homecoming. Kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 7 is slated for 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised on Cox Sports TV and broadcast on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.