So, if you’ve been keeping an eye on the Bayou’s most intense rivalry, you already know the vibe was heavy heading into the final week of the season. The 2025 River Bell Classic didn’t disappoint in terms of drama, but the final Nicholls State football score—a tough 38-26 loss to Southeastern Louisiana—left a lot of Colonels fans feeling like they’d been through a ringer.
Hammond was rocking on that Thursday night, November 20. It wasn't just a game; it was about the Bell. Honestly, the first half felt like a video game where nobody knew how to play defense. The two teams combined for 52 points before the bands even hit the field for halftime.
The Breakneck Pace of the 2025 River Bell
You’ve got to hand it to Shane Lee. He was basically the heartbeat of the Nicholls offense all night. After Southeastern jumped out to an early 7-0 lead thanks to a Jaylon Domingeaux touchdown, Lee answered with an 8-yard touchdown run. Then he did it again in the second quarter with a 17-yard burst to tie things up at 14.
The momentum was swinging like a pendulum. Just when you thought SLU was pulling away, Corey Warren Jr. broke off a massive 47-yard touchdown run. 21-21. It was pure chaos.
But then, things sort of stalled.
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Southeastern managed to snag 10 quick points right before the break, including a 22-yard run by Kyle Lowe and a field goal as time expired. That 31-21 halftime deficit felt much larger than 10 points because of how the energy shifted.
Defensive Grinds and Missed Chances
The second half was a completely different story. It was weird, actually. After that scoring explosion, the third quarter was a desert. Nicholls managed a safety to make it 31-23, which gave the traveling fans some hope.
Gabriel Showalter, who has been incredibly reliable for the Colonels, nailed a 38-yard field goal with about five minutes left in the game. That brought the score to 31-26. One stop. That’s all they needed. One stop to get the ball back and drive for the win.
Instead, Southeastern’s Jaedon Henry slammed the door shut. He ripped off a 14-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes to go. 38-26. Game over. Bell stays in Hammond.
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Season at a Glance
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for Coach Tommy Rybacki's squad. They finished the year 4-8 overall and 4-4 in Southland Conference play. While the record looks a little grim on paper, you have to look at the context of the schedule.
- Home Dominance: They were 4-1 at John L. Guidry Stadium. They beat No. 5 UIW 20-6 to open the year!
- Road Woes: 0-7. Ouch.
- Conference Play: They managed to shut out Northwestern State (26-21) and handled McNeese and HCU with identical 31-7 scores.
The inconsistency is what really killed the momentum. One week they look like world-beaters against a ranked UIW team, and the next they’re struggling to find the end zone in Beaumont or Nacogdoches.
Looking at the Roster Realities
Ean Rodrigue and Deuce Hogan both saw time under center this year. Hogan ended with over 1,000 passing yards, while Rodrigue tossed 6 touchdowns. But the real star was Shane Lee. The guy had 8 rushing touchdowns and over 600 yards on the ground. He was the guy everyone looked to when a play needed to be made.
On the defensive side, Laurence Sullivan Jr. was a ball hawk. Four interceptions? That’s elite at any level of college football. He was one of the five Colonels to earn All-Southland honors this year, and it was well-deserved.
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The defense actually kept them in a lot of games where the offense went cold. They allowed 299 points over the season—exactly the same amount as Lamar—but their scoring margin was a tough -80. Basically, when they lost, they lost big, but when they won, they controlled the game.
What's Next for the Colonels?
If you're looking for an actionable takeaway from this season's Nicholls State football score trends, it's that the program is in a "bridge" phase. They have the talent to knock off Top 25 teams, but the depth isn't quite there to handle a full road slate.
- Watch the Early Signing Class: Coach Rybacki just made 16 commitments official during the early signing period. Look for help in the trenches.
- The 2026 Schedule: The next River Bell Classic is set for November 19, 2026. Mark your calendars now because the Colonels will be out for blood.
- Player Development: Keep an eye on guys like Miequle Brock Jr. and Everett Hunter. They’re the playmakers that will need to step up if Nicholls wants to get back to the top of the Southland.
The 2025 season might be in the books, but the foundation is there. Losing the Bell hurts, sure. But beating a top-5 team and showing fight in a shootout against your rival proves this team isn't as far off as a 4-8 record might suggest.
Check back for spring practice updates as the team looks to solve that road-game curse for 2026.