JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) _ Brad Smith had 428 total offensive yards and five touchdowns Saturday to lead Nicholls State to a 45-42 Southland Football League win over Jacksonville State.

Smith hit wide receiver Sullivan Beard with a 97-yard touchdown pass to give the Colonels (1-2, 1-0) an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, on the way to a 28-21 halftime lead. Smith hit Beard once again, with an 80-yarder, to make it 35-21 in the third quarter.

Backup quarterback Reggie Stancil had four touchdowns for Jacksonville State (1-2, 0-1), but a fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell short for the Gamecocks.

After forcing an NSU fumble, Stancil hit wide receiver Joey Hamilton with a 15-yarder to cut NSU's lead to 45-35 with 4:39 remaining. After JSU recovered an on-side kick, Stancil's six-yard scoring strike capped a 47-yard drive before NSU ran out the clock.