Nicholls St. defeats Northwestern St. 33-21

THIBODAUX, La. -- Marcus Washington rushed for a career-best three touchdowns and Tuskani Figaro threw two touchdown passes as Nicholls St. defeated Northwestern St. 33-21 in a Southland Conference opener for both teams Saturday. Washington's three touchdowns were each from four yards or less. He rushed for 77 yards on 23 carries, and is 173 yards shy of becoming the seventh Colonel to surpass 2,000 career yards rushing. Figaro, who accounted for five touchdowns last week in his first career start, was 14 of 21 for 245 yards. Nicholls St. (4-2, 1-0) jumped out to a 27-0 lead before Daniel Taylor opened the second half with a 54-yard run. Garrett Atzenweiler rushed for a 3-yard score on the next play to put Northwestern St. (3-3, 0-1) on the board. Taylor rushed for 102 yards on eight carries, including a 10-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to lead the Demons.