HOUSTON — A Thrilling Finish for Houston Christian Over Nicholls

Houston Christian pulled off a narrow victory against Nicholls with a final score of 24-21, thanks to Cutter Stewart’s impressive second-half performance and a critical 50-yard field goal by Dillon Fedor with just 58 seconds remaining in the game.

Stewart was pivotal for Houston Christian (4-6, 2-3 Southland Conference), executing an 11-play, 73-yard drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown run, leveling the score at 21 with 3:46 left in regulation. Nicholls’ offense failed to gain any momentum on their subsequent series, going three-and-out in a mere 24 seconds. After a 9-yard punt return by Jesse Valenzuela, the Huskies regained possession at the Colonels’ 49-yard line, leading to Fedor’s game-winning field goal just moments later.

Taking over for starter CJ Rogers in the second quarter, Stewart completed 13 of 30 passes for 237 yards, alongside two touchdowns and two interceptions. AJ Wilson was a standout receiver, amassing two catches for a remarkable 137 yards.

One of Wilson’s notable plays occurred when he caught a short pass from Stewart at the 10-yard line, evading defenders as he sprinted down the sideline for an electrifying 97-yard touchdown, bringing Houston Christian within one score at 14-7 with 7:12 left in the third quarter. Following a series of exchanged punts, Stewart connected with Champ Dozier for a crucial 35-yard touchdown pass, again tying the game at 14 with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter.

Nicholls (4-6, 2-3) initially regained the lead with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by Collin Guggenheim’s 1-yard rushing touchdown, extending their advantage to seven points with 13:32 to play in the final quarter.

Pat McQuaide led the Nicholls offense, completing 26 of 47 passes for a total of 246 yards. Jason Barnes Jr. emerged as a key target, catching 10 passes for 91 yards, while Scrappy Osby contributed six receptions totaling 79 yards, but their efforts ultimately fell short in the tight contest.