Fourcade helps Nicholls hold off Prairie View 42-35

Sep 15, 2019, 03:29 am

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Chase Fourcade threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores to guide Nicholls to a 42-35 victory over Prairie View A&M on Saturday.

Fourcade completed 17 of 22 passes for 224 yards for the Colonels (1-1), ranked 11th in the FCS coaches' poll, and added 35 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Nicholls took the lead midway through the first quarter on Dion Ray's 15-yard TD run, but Gavin Lasseigne missed the extra point and the lead stood at 6-0 at quarter's end. The second quarter was dominated by the Panthers (1-2), who used Jalen Morton's 23-yard scoring run and two Morton TD throws -- 16 yards to Tony Mullins and a 39-yarder to Kalen Riles for a 21-6 halftime lead.

But the Colonels took control of the game with a 29-point third quarter. Fourcade opened the scoring with a 5-yard TD run. Fourcade then connected with Dal'Jean Dixon for a 14-yard score before added a 3-yard TD run to put Nicholls on top 28-21. On the ensuing possession for the Panthers, Morton fumbled on first down and Allen Pittman recovered the ball for Nicholls at the Prairie View 36-yard line. On the next play Fourcade connected with Dixon for a 36-yard score and a 35-21 lead after three quarters.

Morton capped a 13-play, 73-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run to pull Prairie View within 35-28. Nicholls answered with a 10-play, 66-yard drive with Julien Gums scoring on a 2-yard run with 6:41 left to play. Morton found Mullins for a 36-yard score with 5:50 remaining but the Panthers could get no closer.

Morton completed 22 of 36 passes for 327 yards with three TDs and two interceptions. He added 80 yards rushing and two scores on 14 carries.

Dixon had seven catches for 126 yards and two scores for the Colonels.