Vicksburg native Laurence Sullivan Jr caught two interceptions on Saturday

THIBODAUX, La. (VDN) — Vicksburg native Laurence Sullivan Jr. caught two interceptions for Nicholls State University on Saturday. His first interception was a jump ball in the end zone. He now has three interceptions on the year and six pass deflections. 

Sullivan’s standout performance was against Houston Christian where NSU won 31-7.

Sullivan is in his second year with the team after spending time playing for Coastal Carolina and East Mississippi Community College. He also played at Vicksburg High School under Tim Hughes and Todd McDaniel.

Saturday’s game recap:

Another all-around performance by the Nicholls State University football team led to a second-straight 31-7 victory at home as the Colonels cruised past HCU on Homecoming on Saturday afternoon at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.

Nicholls (3-6, 3-2 SLC) climbed over .500 in league play with its 10th victory in 12 matchups with HCU (2-7, 1-4 SLC). The Huskies ended a nine-game drought last season but could not pick up their first win ever in Thibodaux.

The Colonel defense put together another dominating outing with four first-half interceptions, making way for a 17-0 halftime lead. Linebacker Hayden Shaheen had the first pick and returned it to the HCU 24-yard line. On the next offensive play, quarterback Ean Rodrigue threw the ball to running back Shane Lee in the flat, and Lee found a wide open Paxton Lafont for an easy touchdown catch.

HCU had a long kick return across the 50, but facing a fourth down from the Nicholls 18, Laurence Sullivan Jr. caught a jump ball in the end zone for his first of two interceptions in the half.

Rodrigue then orchestrated a 13-play drive into the second quarter and capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown run. Helped by a 37-yard rush on the drive, Rodrigue finished the day with 89 yards on 15 carries.

Sullivan’s second interception came on the second play of the ensuing possession, diving to snag a short pass at midfield. Nicholls turned that into a 29-yard field goal by Garbriel Showalter for a 17-0 advantage. It was Sullivan’s second two-pick game as a Colonel, recording two last season in the win at Southern.

Anthony Rogers had the final interception of the half right before the break.

Following the intermission, HCU used a 44-yard catch on the first play to fuel its lone touchdown drive. Xai’Shaun Edwards punched it in from a yard out to make it 17-7.

However, Nicholls immediately answered with an 11-play, 66-yard scoring drive, ending on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Rodrigue to tight end Everett Hunter. 

Before the end of the third, the Huskies tried a long 52-yard field goal. The kick was well short and Rogers returned it 30 yards from the end zone. On the following play, Kylin Wheeler tussled with an HCU defender on a jump ball and came away with a 53-yard catch. Rodrigue followed with his second TD pass, hitting senior Dany’e Brooks for an 11-yard score for his first career touchdown catch. 

For the rest of the game, Nicholls stopped HCU on the next two drives before running out the final three minutes for the third league win of the season. 

Nicholls totaled 410 yards of offense with 212 rushing and 198 passing. Rodrigue completed 17 of 22 passes for 174 yards with Jackson Dufrene leading with four catches for 49 yards. Along with his first career touchdown pass, Lee added 43 yards rushing. 

Jake Dalmado led the defense with seven tackles and a sack, and Ty Marsh and Alex Villavaso also chipped in with a sack. 

For the specialists, Showalter had a perfect day by adding four extra points to go along with his field goal, and Pharrell Harewoodpunted three times with a 46.0 yard average.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will make its first trip to South Texas to face UTRGV. Kickoff on Saturday, November 8 is scheduled for 5 p.m.