THIBODAUX, La. (AP) Pat McQuaide threw for the go-ahead touchdown and he gave Nicholls a cushion with a fourth-quarter score to help the Colonels defeat McNeese 24-19 on Saturday.

McQuaide went over from a yard out with eight minutes remaining to complete a 13-play drive for a 24-13 lead.

That touchdown proved vital when Nicholls (4-4, 2-1 Southland Conference) punted into one of its blockers, who was knocked back toward the punter. McNeese recovered at the Colonels' 28 and went on to score on Bryce Strong's 2-yard run to cut the lead to five with under three minutes left.

Nicholls was forced to punt, giving McNeese the ball at its 21-yard line with 20 seconds left. Kamden Sixkiller's pass was intercepted and the Colonels ran out the clock.

Nicholls trailed by eight before Miequle Brock went 66 yards for a touchdown and McQuaide threw a 39-yard catch-and-run TD pass to Collin Guggenheim with a little over a minute to go before the break to lead 14-10.

Brock ran for 101 yards on nine carries and McQuaide was 18 of 34 for 178 yards passing with a TD and an interception. Terry Matthews had eight catches for 94 yards.

Joshon Barbie ran 69 yards for a score and finished with 121 yards on 13 carries for the Cowboys (4-5, 1-3). Sixkiller was 22-of-40 passing for 233 yards with an interception.

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