THIBODAUX, La. - For the first time as a Division I program, the UWG football team knocked off a ranked opponent, and the Wolves did it in impressive fashion over the 22nd-ranked Nicholls Colonels, knocking off the Southland Conference opponent by a 34-10 final.
It was the Wolves' third contest against a ranked opponent since beginning FCS football in 2024. The Colonels entered the game ranked 22nd in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll and 25th in AFCA Coaches Poll.
"That was a good win. One of the things we talked about before the season was we wanted to earn our respect and this is a great opportunity on a national stage to beat a ranked opponent," said head coach Joel Taylor following the game. "I think the guys did a great job and I think this is the tip of the iceberg, because I think we can be better."
The UWG offense had a big night on the ground, rushing for 342 yards and averaging 5.4 yards per carry. In terms of total offense, UWG went over 400 for the second straight game finishing with 405, while overcoming a first half that saw the Wolves commit three turnovers.
"We knew early on we'd be able to run the ball, and we had some setbacks, and went into the half up 14-3 which I thought was impossible when we had that many turnovers," Taylor added, "But I told the guys we had to clean it up, and we did and Coach (Austin) Davis wanted to show we could run the ball and I thought we did a really good job and I'm proud of the offense."
Both Latrelle Murrell and Davin Wydner went over 100 yards, with Murrell finishing with 171 yards and Wydner finishing with 103. TJ Lester had 47 yards on the ground and found the endzone twice.
And while Davin Wydner threw for only 63 yards he threw for two touchdowns, connecting with Owen Dupree and DeAndre Buchannon on touchdowns in the first half.
Defensively, UWG was equally impressive limiting the Nicholl's offense to just 180 yards of total offense while surrendering just nine first downs. The unit was extremely efficient on third down defense, holding the Colonels to 2-of-13 on first downs.
"That's the key, is getting off the field on third down, and we had a fourth down stop that came early in the game," Taylor added, "I think that gives those guys a lot of energy and they play with tremendous passion. Coach Woody Blevins and his staff do a fantastic job, and if we can continue to play like that then that is a recipe for success."
UWG's defense forced a punt on the game's opening drive and then a tough luck interception gave the ball back to Nicholls in UWG territory but the Wolves' defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs to negate the takeaway.
Wydner and the offense made the most of the defensive stand, marching 69 yards on 10 plays, capping off the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Owen Dupree.
Nicholls got on the board at the 13:45 mark of the second quarter, using a short field and a 42-yard field goal by Gabriel Showalter.
An electric 33-yard punt return by DeAndre Buchannon late in the second half set up a big score with six seconds left. After Buchannon returned the punt 33 yards, the Wolves marched 52 yards in seven plays, with Buchannon hauling in the touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Wydner, sending the game to the break with the Wolves up 14-3.
UWG scored on their first drive of the second half in the form of a 39-yard field goal by Simon Zeidan to stretch the lead to 17-3 at the 10:52 mark of the third quarter.
The defense got a big takeway later in the period as Jaleel Chambliss picked off Deuce Hogan and gave the ball to the UWG offense at the Nicholls' 25-yard line. The Wolves then took five minutes to march those 25 yards on nine plays, putting the points on the board in the form of a one-yard TJ Lester touchdown.
Lester did it again on the Wolves' next drive as UWG had to just go 42 yards, capping this one off with a three-yard score to make it a 31-3 advantage still early in the final quarter.
Zeidan added a second field goal at the 10:35 mark of the fourth quarter, banging this one through from 46 yards to make it 34-3.
"I told the guys before the game I thought we were elite in special teams, and those guys went out and showed that," Taylor said of his complete team performance. "Simon Zeidan has a big leg and to come out and kick it through the endzone, people don't understand how big that is to be able to do that to save guys on kickoff, and to come in as a freshman and hit two field goals was so big."
Nicholls added their only touchdown of the game at the 8:41 mark of the game, connecting on a long touchdown pass to account for the final score of 34-10.
UWG was led defensively by Jay Carter who finished with four tackles while Jalen Burton and TreShawn Moore had four total tackles.
The Wolves now return home for the first time in the 2025 season next week, hosting East Tennessee State on September 13 at University Stadium in a 6 p.m. kickoff.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- The game's opening score, an 18-yard touchdown reception to Owen Dupree was the Dallas, Georgia native's first career touchdown in a UWG uniform.
- UWG outgained Nicholls 227 to 76 in the opening half, finishing 6-of-8 on third downs in the first two quarters while the Colonels were 1-of-8 on third down.
- Murrell's 171 yards on the ground were a career-high for the Douglasville native, besting his previous mark of 139 which he went for against Lincoln in 2024.
- UWG's 63 carries were the fifth-most all-time by a UWG offense in a single-game while the 342 yards were the most since the 2015 team ran for 383 yards against North Alabama.
