THIBODAUX, La. – San Diego's second-half comeback came up just short in its 49-30 loss at Nicholls State on Saturday evening.
 
The Toreros (9-3) scored 20 unanswered points late in the third quarter after falling behind early to the Colonels (9-3) in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs. However, the high-powered Nicholls offense proved too much for USD to overcome and ended the Toreros' hopes of another playoff run.
 
Michael Bandy paced the Toreros through the air with nine catches for 144 yards and freshman tight end Dalton Kincaid had a breakout game, finishing with six catches for 87 yards, and all four Torero touchdowns.

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Michael Armstead was electric for the Toreros in the return game. Armstead finished the day with five kickoff returns for 167 total yards and a long of 64 yards. He also added a punt return of 37 yards and three receptions for 43 yards to collect 247 all-purpose yards on the day.
 
It was all Nicholls State in the first half. On their opening drive of the game, the Colonels went 80 yards on two plays to take a 7-0 lead. The Toreros answered on a 10-yard strike from Anthony Lawrence to Kincaid, the first of four red-zone connections for the pair.
 
The Colonels scored touchdowns on each of their next four drives and held a 42-10 lead early in the third quarter. San Diego then began to find its rhythm offensively and Lawrence connected with Kincaid on a 38-yard touchdown pass, the first of 20 unanswered points for the Toreros.
 
On the next drive, Terrence Smith aired out a 27-yard pass to Christian Brooks—his first of the season—to put the Toreros on the 8-yard-line. Lawrence then found Kincaid for his third touchdown of the day and USD closed the lead to 42-23.
 
The Toreros' momentum carried over to the defense and Cassius Johnson intercepted Nicholls quarterback Chase Fourcade on the following drive. Lawrence connected with Bandy for 28 yards, before finding Kincaid again for 17 yards to make it a two-score game. 
 
After scoring 20 unanswered, it appeared the Toreros were mounting a dramatic comeback. But Fourcade found the end zone again on a 13 rush to make it 49-30 and effectively end the Toreros run and their season.

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Kim Mahoney, Michael Hawkins and Kyle Bilchik led the defense with nine tackles apiece, including a career-high nine solo efforts from Hawkins. Jacob Bergstrom and Nick Friedel each recorded a sack and Johnson collected the interception for the Toreros.

Anthony Lawrence finished the day 30-for-56 for 322 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions to cap off a historic career for the Toreros. Lawrence now holds the school records for passing yards (12,628), passing attempts (1,465), passing completions (941), touchdown passes (120), and total offense (12,681). 
 
He also finishes his career ranked in the top-10 all-time in the FCS for career passing yards, touchdown passes and career passing efficiency.
 
Bandy, a junior, also capped a remarkable season, finishing with 1,698 receiving yards to set the school and PFL records. It also puts him fifth all-time in the FCS for receiving yards in a season.
 
The future remains bright for the Toreros with a talented core of returning players on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.