Colonels still have much to play for in regular-season finale even with SLC title already clinched

A potential emotional letdown might seem inevitable coming off a conference championship-clinching win.

In the case of Nicholls, playing on a short week and playing on the road against your rival could well be the recipe to keep such a scenario from occurring when the Colonels face Southeastern Louisiana at 6 p.m. Thursday in Hammond.

“Every year is different but when we play that last game on Saturday, we know that it’s a short week and we know it’s our rivalry game against Southeastern. Our guys don’t have time to be emotional about anything. We know we have to get back to work because it’s going to be here,” Nicholls coach Tim Rebowe said.

Something that is different is that last week’s win over Lamar was one of the few times in three title-clinching years during Rebowe’s nine-year tenure at Nicholls that the Colonels were able to have the crown secured before entering the final week of the season.

“I think it’s the first time we’ve clinched it and clinched it early,” said Rebowe. “It’s always been the last night or whatever going into the game to make the playoffs. It’s actually been good. The guys refocused early on, and they know they have a lot to play for. They want to go undefeated in conference. They want that River Bell trophy back in Thibodaux, and they want to head into the playoffs on a high note.”

Even though the Colonels (6-0 in the Southland, 5-4 overall) have clinched the conference title and the automatic playoff berth that comes with it, there is still a lot at stake for Nicholls in the regular-season finale, according to Rebowe.

“State game, rivalry game, trophy game, bragging rights game. There’s a lot of things to play for that these guys want that makes it an extra special game,” the Nicholls coach said. “We want to have all the trophies we can gather, and we can get, but there is always a lot to play for.

“Go back the last couple of years since we’ve been back here and since Coach Frank (Scelfo) has taken over (at SLU), just how intense these games have been over the last couple of years.”

Scelfo’s Lions (3-3 in the SLC, 3-7 overall) were predicted to be among the conference favorites going into the season. SLU lost its first seven games but has won three straight heading into the Nicholls game.

“You can’t look at records. They are a good football team. They have scored a lot of points. I think they are finding their stride right now. You can’t explain sometimes in some years how you lose certain games. They were finding ways to lose games early on. They were in them, they were close, they just couldn’t get over the hump. They are on a little roll. They are on a little streak. They are playing at home. They will want to win this thing and get a little momentum and beat the Colonels on their home field,” said Rebowe.

A win by Southeastern is a chance to salvage its season by ending the year with four wins and knocking off the conference champions.

“I know all the things they are thinking, but I did tell the team that we can’t worry about what they think. We have to take care of ourselves. We have to control what we do. When that whistle blows and that ball is kicked off, it’s not about, ‘they just won the conference,’ or ‘they lost three,’ it’s not about the trophy, it’s about doing your job on the field and getting to that next play,” said Rebowe.

The Lions have played sophomore Eli Sawyer and junior Zachary Clement at quarterback.

“They’ve done that all year. That’s kind of been (Scelfo’s method of operation). He plays (multiple) quarterbacks. He’s not afraid to put the next guy in and do some different things with him. This has been a two-quarterback system most of the year,” Rebowe explained.

Sawyer is 108 of 177 passing for 1,398 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions.

“Sawyer’s been good from last year. He was here for the Manning (Passing Academy) camp, and we know what he can do. He can throw it,” Rebowe said.

Clement, a transfer from Northwestern State, is 92 of 147 passing for 1,079 yards with nine touchdowns through the air and five interceptions.

“Zach Clement, we’ve played against him several times. He was the quarterback at Northwestern. We recruited Zach. I think he’s a competitor. He’s a winner. He knows what to do with the football. He’s a leader,” said Rebowe.

He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 452 yards on 83 carries with four touchdowns.

“They like to use that power running game and do some things, but they do it with everybody. They do it with their running backs, they will do it with the tight end. They will put him (Bauer Sharp) in at quarterback some. The last couple of weeks, Zach has been taking over that running game from the quarterback spot,” Rebowe said.

Leading the receiving corps is 5-foot-8, 150-pound red-shirt junior Darius Lewis. Lewis has 46 catches for 561 yards and four touchdowns.

“He’s smaller in stature. He’s a good, quick guy. He knows how to get open. Like a lot of receivers in this league, they know what to do when they get the ball,” Rebowe said.

“He and Xavier Hill are some good ones we’ve got to watch.”

Hill, with 393 yards, is one of five receivers with at least 200 receptions yards for the Lions.

“I think that goes with Coach Scelfo’s offensive philosophy. They’ve always spread the ball around a whole bunch and goes with the hot hand,” said Rebowe.

Defensively, Ian Goodly, a box safety, leads the team with 101 tackles, including six for loss.

“Ian Goodly is a really good football player. We recruited him out of high school. He was a track guy. He’s physical. I think he’s really special. He’s having a really, really good year,” Rebowe said.

Second on the team in tackles is senior middle linebacker Herman Christophe with 78,

“He’s been there a long time. He’s a good football player. He’s tough, physical. He’s tough to run against,” said Rebowe.

Defensive end Arlen Williams leads the team with eight tackles for loss and six sacks.

“We’ve faced some good ends in the past. We will have to be aware and maybe do some play-action stuff and maybe run away from him a little bit. Maybe chip him a little bit. We have to be aware of where Arlen is,” Rebowe said.

Free safety Victor Tademy leads the Lions with three interceptions.

“They will get into some different fronts, just like everyone,” Rebowe said of the SLU defense. “They will bring a little bit of pressure. They will play some quarters in the back end.

“I think they are going to challenge us. I think with what we’ve done with the run game the past couple of weeks, I think they will look to stop the run and try to challenge us to make us throw the football.”

Both teams have fared well with turnover margin during the stretch drive of the season, and that could serve as a key factor in Thursday’s outcome, according to Rebowe.

“We got three (turnovers) last week in a we didn’t give the ball up,” the Nicholls coach said. “Last week, Southeastern didn’t give the ball up and got five from Commerce. I think that will be huge.

“We have to play our game. We will have to be composed and be challenged and look for a four-quarter game.”