Nicholls State too much for Hounds; Beers gets 100th career catch

October 28, 2006

NICHOLLS STATE 44, ASSUMPTION 0

THIBODAUX, Louisiana --- Nicholls State University, the defending Division 1AA Southland Conference champion, rolled up 521 yards of total offense en route to a 44-0 win over Assumption College (now 3-6) SATURDAY at John Guidry Stadium before a Family Day crowd of 3,814.

The Colonels, now 3-5, who have struggled to score this season and were blanked by Northwestern State (9-0) last week, romped to a 24-0 halftime advantage. Nine different players rushed 60 times for 385 yards with sophomore running back DWAYNE JONES (New Iberia, LA) scoring two touchdowns on runs of two and five yards. Sophomore placekicker ALEX ROMERO (Des Allemands, LA) added three field goals and freshman quarterback ZACK CHAUVIN (Thibodaux, LA) tossed for a pair of scores and rushed for a team-high 90 yards in his first varsity start.

For the Greyhounds junior wide receiver JAKE BEERS (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury), the leading receiver in the Northeast-10 Conference in both receptions (44) and yardage (576 yards), became the third player in Assumption College history with 100 career receptions. With his five receptions against Nicholls, he now has 101 catches in his career for 1,182 yards. He has also moved into third place on the season list with his 44 catches---only Eric Mauer (1997-00), who caught 50 in both 1998 and 2000 and Billy DeMalia (2000-01), who caught 45 in 2001 have had more. His 576 yards receiving this season is the ninth best in Hounds history.

The Colonels moved in quickly for the first score. A wind-hindered 26-yard punt and subsequent 49-yard run by Chauvin on first down set Nicholls up at the Greyhounds eight. The saving tackle by Hounds freshman middle linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins) only delayed the score as Jones rushed three times, the last for two yards, and the touchdown. Romero kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

The Greyhounds had their best chance midway through the first period as a jarring hit by junior cornerback MATT KLASKIN (Norfolk, MA/Xaverian) (PICTURED RIGHT) caused a fumble by the Colonel junior returner KAREEM MOORE (Okolona, MS) on a punt. Klaskin's recovery gave the Hounds a first down at the Nicholls State 45.

Freshman quarterback MARSHALL THARPE (Irvine, CA/Santa Magarita), who struggled at 9-for-22 for 53 yards, found junior tight end JAKE LONGENECKER (Fernandina, FL/Manchester, NH West) for 22 yards down-the middle to the Colonels 10. A field goal by senior MIKE TOBIN (Woburn, MA/Woburn) was blocked by junior defensive back JERMAIN BOGGAN (Jacksonville, FL).

Nicholls moved to a 10-0 advantage with 10:25 left in the second period as Romero converted a 24-yard field goal capping a 14-play, 54-yard drive following the blocked punt. The Colonels fumbled twice on the drive, recovering both times while junior fullback CAL JONES (Port Arthur, TX) was the workhorse with seven carries for 30 yards. They would increase the lead to 17-0 as Jones capped a nine-play, 80-yard march with a five-yard slant off-left tackle. A 36-yard scamper on a counter by sophomore running back ZACH MORGAN (Marianna, FL) highlighted the drive.

An interception by senior cornerback TONEY EDISON (Taylorsville, MS) set up a 45-yard touchdown strike from Chauvin to junior wide receiver MICHAEL OKORONKWO (New Orleans, LA) to make it 24-0 (with Romero's conversion).

The Colonels would drive the second-half kickoff for a Romero 35-yard field goal---a 21-yard run by junior running back MICHAEL MC LENDON (Quitman, MS) was the highlight. Chauvin and Okoronkwo hooked up again, this time on a 42-yard scoring play, to make it 34-0, following a partially blocked punt---junior ANDRE KELLY (New Orleans, LA) getting a hand on the ball.

A fumble recovery by freshman defensive end QUENTON MIMS (Boni Fay, FL) set up a 40-yard field goal by Romero and a 20-yard strike from junior backup quarterback CHRIS BUNCH (Crystal River, FL) to sophomore wide receiver PATRICK GORDON (Houma, LA) completed the scoring. Nicholls would take three knees in the waning minutes inside the 10.

GREYHOUND NOTES: freshman middle linebacker DUSTIN ZITZMANN (Pinellas Park, FL/Dixie Hollins), the conference's leading tackler, once again led the Greyhounds defense with 4-9--13 tackles. He now has 37-58--95 tackles with one game remaining . . . sophomore defensive back CHRIS MARTINO (Lindcroft, NJ/Middletown South) finished with 4-6--10 tackles and sophomore defensive back CHAUNCEY FAGAN ( Reseda, CA/Notre Dame) ended with 5-4--9 tackles . . . senior linebacker PETER MILLIGAN (Melrose, MA/Melrose) ended with 2-5--7 tackles giving him 133-130--263 for his career one behind Chip Smith (1985-88) for 11th place on the career list.

NEXT WEEK: the Greyhounds finished their season next Saturday (November 4) hosting Northeast-10 Conference rival Pace University, who was beaten (0-18) by Merrimack College . . . the team's senior players will be honored before the game.

CLICK HERE for complete scoring summary