Colonels end up being own worst enemy in 41-6 loss to heavily-favored TCU

When Texas Christian University kicked a field goal following an interception in the middle of the fourth quarter and added a touchdown pass with 48 seconds left in the game, it made the final score of 41-6 over Nicholls and left the appearance of a score rather apt for a huge favorite.

As often happens, appearances can be deceiving.

While the Horned Frogs (1-1), ranked No. 17 among Football Bowl Subdivision teams, were never seriously threatened in Fort Worth on Saturday night, they also never seemed like the team that went into the game as a 41.5-point favorite.

As the huge underdog, the Colonels, on occasion, did what the smaller team playing a money game must do to try and stay in the game.

That was evident from the start for Nicholls (0-2).

On the game’s opening possession, Nicholls forced a punt when a jarring hit by Conner Orgeron forced Horned Frogs receiver Major Everhart to drop a pass for what would have been a first down as the Colonels looked to send a message.

The message was further added to when on the first offensive play for Nicholls, quarterback Patrick McQuaide connected with receiver Quincy Brown, the TCU transfer, for 15 yards.

Facing fourth-and-1 from their own 47-yard line moments later and trailing 7-0, the Colonels attempted to gamble. Running back Collin Guggenheim, a former high school quarterback, lined up in a wildcat formation and took a direct snap, but came up a bit short and Nicholls turned the ball over on downs.

Trailing 21-0, TCU quarterback Chandler Morris scrambled to give the Horned Frogs a first-and-goal inside the Nicholls 5-yard line.

Just when the Horned Frogs seemed to be about to put the game away by halftime, the Colonels forced a fumble by backup quarterback Josh Hoover. Hoover entered the game after Morris lost his helmet when he picked up the first down and had to leave for a play.

Taking over at their own 10-yard line, the Colonels came up with a 67-yard march to set up a 40-yard Gavin Lasseigne field goal with 31 seconds left in the first half.

To open the second half, the Nicholls defense forced a three-and-out. The Colonel offense then went on a time-consuming drive to keep the ball away from the Horned Frogs and added another Lasseigne field goal, this one from 47 yards out to rally to within 24-6 with 2:51 left in the third quarter.

Ultimately, the Colonels proved to be their own worst enemy.

When playing the underdog role, a coach generally talks about winning the kicking game, avoid allowing explosive plays, and controlling the clock to keep the opposing offense off the field – and generally needing to play a near-perfect game to pull off the upset.

The Colonels were unable to do that against the Horned Frogs.

Although McQuaide hooked up with Brown to start their opening possession, the Colonels were ultimately forced to punt from their own 30-yard line. The punt was blocked by TCU’s Trent Battle, with Blake Nowell coming up with a scoop-and-score of 24 yards to give the Horned Frogs a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

The Colonel defense allowed three explosive plays in the first half, all on the same drive.

A 28-yard pass to Warren Thompson immediately followed a 21-yard run by Emani Bailey had TCU on the move. The Nicholls defense countered with back-to-back stops to set up third-and-12 from the Colonel 32, but Morris scrambled for a touchdown to put TCU on top 14-0 with one minute left in the first quarter.

A 30-yard punt return by the Horned Frogs to the TCU 45-yard line eventually set up a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Robinson and the Colonels trailed 21-0 with 10:43 remaining in the first half.

After the Colonel offense marched to set up Lasseigne’s first field that seemed to give Nicholls some momentum heading into halftime, the defense allowed TCU to advance in the final 31 seconds of the half to set up a career-high 57-yard field goal by Griffin Kell on the final play of the first half to make the score 24-3.

The Colonels were unable to establish a running game in the first half and contain the TCU passing game. Hurting the Nicholls cause was four false start penalties by the offense in the opening half.

Nicholls was limited to 29 yards rushing on 16 attempts in the first half. Of the 29 yards, 12 came in the Colonels’ final drive of the second quarter.

McQuaide was 11 of 22 passing for 116 yards, but was the victim of five drops, several of which would have been for first downs to keep drives alive. Of McQuaide’s 116 yards, 65 came on the final drive of the second quarter.

Meanwhile, TCU rushed for 80 yards while Morris was 17 of 21 passing for 176 yards, along with rushing for 61 more. At one point in the first half, he completed 11 passes in a row.

After controlling the ball and outscoring TCU 3-0 in the third quarter, the Colonels surrendered 17 points in the fourth quarter.

A 4-yard touchdown pass to JoJo Earle made it 31-6 with 10:15 left in the game.

The Nicholls defense held TCU after McQuaide’s interception at the Colonel 26, leading to a 42-yard field goal with 6:31 left in the game.

Bailey turned a short pass from Hoover into a tossed 34-yard touchdown pass with 48 seconds left in the game to account for the final margin.

Nicholls was held to 263 yards of total offense, including 177 passing and 86 rushing.

McQuaide finished 17 of 36 passing for 177 yards and an interception. Guggenheim was the Colonels’ leading rusher with 38 yards on 14 carries.

TCU amassed 442 total yards, including 313 passing and 129 rushing.

Morris was 26 of 30 passing for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Bailey led TCU in rushing with 67 yards on 19 attempts.