Nicholls wins FCS playoff opener, 24-6, over North Dakota
THIBODAUX, La. -- Chase Fourcade accounted for two TDs, Julien Gums ran for 172 yards and Nicholls beat North Dakota 24-6 Saturday in a first-round FCS playoff game.
Gums, who went over 1,000 yards this season, led a rushing attack that gained 316. Dontrell Taylor added 95 yards rushing and a score. Dai'Jean Dixon had 122 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Nicholls (9-4), which tied for first with Central Arkansas in the Southland Conference, won its sixth straight game and will play at No. 1 seed and defending champion North Dakota State next Saturday.
Fourcade gave the Colonels a 10-0 lead late in the second quarter on 1-yard score, one play after Nate Ketteringham was strip-sacked by Sully Laich and Brandon Forntenot made the recovery.
A second field goal by Brady Leach closed the gap but Fourcade threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Dixon with 4:22 left in the third quarter and Taylor added a 2-yard TD late in the fourth.
Ketteringham threw for 269 yards with an interception with Travis Toivonen making 10 catches for 121 yards. The Fighting Hawks (7-5) rushed for just 44 yards.
Game Information
2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State | 8-0 | 15-0 |
| South Dakota | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Northern Iowa | 5-3 | 6-5 |
| North Dakota | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| North Dakota State | 5-3 | 11-4 |
| Youngstown State | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Southern Illinois | 4-4 | 8-5 |
| Illinois State | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Missouri State | 3-5 | 4-7 |
| Murray State | 1-7 | 2-9 |
| Indiana State | 1-7 | 1-10 |
| Western Illinois | 0-8 | 0-11 |
2023 Southland Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholls | 7-0 | 6-5 |
| Incarnate Word | 6-1 | 8-2 |
| Lamar | 5-2 | 6-5 |
| Houston Christian | 4-3 | 5-5 |
| SE Louisiana | 3-4 | 3-8 |
| Texas A&M-Commerce | 2-5 | 1-9 |
| McNeese | 1-6 | 0-10 |
| Northwestern State | 0-7 | 0-6 |
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