HOUSTON – HCU football took a 9-0 lead into halftime and took advantage of a second half pick-six by
Javon Bejarano en route to a 16-2 Southland Conference victory over the Nicholls Colonels in a Southland Conference matchup at Husky Field on Saturday night.
HCU (3-3, 2-1 SLC) received the opening kickoff, converting a pair of third down tries and moved down to the Nicholls (2-4, 1-2 SLC) 25-yard line where they stalled but
Lukasz Smolen booted a 43-yard field through the uprights for an early 3-0 lead. The Huskies forced a Nicholls punt after five plays, taking over at the Colonels' 10. The Huskies then marched downfield, chewing up 7:46 off the clock with an 18-play, 75-yard drive into the red zone before Smolen connected from 28 yards out for his second field goal of the game.
The Huskies' defense again held, forcing a punt from near midfield for a touchback. HCU again moved the ball down field to the Nicholls' five-yard line where Smolen was setup for a 23-yard attempt that he put through the uprights and gave the Huskies a 9-0 advantage. The Huskies tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and appeared to recover but an HCU player touched the ball before it traveled 10 yards to give the visitors the ball at the HCU 42 with a short field. Once again, HCU got it done defensively with a fourth-down stop to regain possession at the Huskies' own 37. Following a punt, the Colonels moved the ball but missed a 57-yard field goal try with just 12 seconds left in the half to send both teams into the locker room with HCU ahead, 9-0.
After making a defensive stop to start the third, the Huskies took their first possession of the half 59 yards into Nicholls territory but Smolen's field goal try from 43 yards out missed wide right for his first miss of the season after starting the year a perfect 10-for-10. On the next Colonels drive, a third-and-seven pass from Ean Rodrigue sailed high and into the arms of
Javon Bejarano who returned it for 48 yards for a pick-six and a 16-0 HCU lead.
Nicholls put together its best drive of the night on its next possession, moving the ball 74 yards on 12 plays down the HCU one-yard line where the Huskies' defense stood strong with
Jayven Anderson and
Jadon Ducos stopping Shane Lee at the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs. HCU's first play of the next drive saw a holding penalty against the Huskies in the end zone that resulted in a safety to give the Colonels their only points of the night.
In the fourth quarter, HCU forced two more turnovers on downs inside the red zone to keep the Nicholls offense from producing any points. On Nicholls' final drive of the night,
Mike Sylvalie came up with a strip sack that was recovered by
Tyran Magee to close out the game.
The Huskies' defense ended the game with seven tackles for loss, including three sacks, while forcing three fumbles with one recovery and the one interception. Bejarano's interception and return were the first of his career for the Huskies. Sylvalie finished with a pair of sacks and three TFLs among his eight tackles, giving him a team-best five sacks on the season. Anderson led all players with 12 tackles, including one TFL, while
Trent Zappe had a pair of TFLs among his 10 tackles.
Hope Tita recorded HCU's other sack in the win.
Smolen ended the night 3-for-4 on field goal attempts for nine points, improving to 10-of-11 on field goal attempts this season. Quarterback
Cutter Stewart was 19-of-31 throwing the ball for 173 yards. Running back
Champ Dozier rolled up 144 all-purpose yards for the Huskies, rushing for 85 yards on 15 carries and catching six passes for 59 yards.
Jamaal Hall II hauled in five passes for 59 yards.
HCU has a bye week next Saturday, Oct. 10, and returns to the field on Oct. 17 to host East Texas A&M at Husky Stadium at 6:00 p.m.
