THIBODAUX, La. -- The University of the Incarnate Word football team dropped a 48-21 decision to No. 19 Nicholls on Saturday afternoon at John L. Guidry Stadium.
 
The loss dropped UIW's season record to 4-4 overall and 4-2 in Southland Conference action. Nicholls is now 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference.
 
The Cardinals' Jon Copeland set a UIW individual single-season passing yard record, eclipsing Trent Brittain's mark of 2,274 yards set during the 2016 season. Copeland's 392 passing yards established the new single-season record of 2,472 yards.
 
Three early scores gave Nicholls a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, while two lost fumbles by UIW hindered the Cardinals' offensive efforts.
 
UIW then put together an 87-yard drive in nine plays, culminating with Jon Copeland's two-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Baptiste. This made the score 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.
 
A 42-yard touchdown pass from Chase Fourcade to Gabe Fuselier made the score 28-7 early in the second quarter.
 
Several minutes later, Cardinal defensive back Louis Otis picked off a Colonel pass in the end zone, ending another Nicholls threat.
 
However, a 29-yard field goal by Lorran Fonseca and a 10-yard touchdown rush by Fourcade in the second quarter's last waning minutes gave Nicholls a 38-7 halftime lead.
 
With 8:33 remaining in the third quarter, Fourcade threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Damion Jeanpiere, making the score 45-7.
 
UIW recorded a 75-yard, 10-play drive culminating with a touchdown on Jaelin Campbell's fumble recovery in the end zone. That made the score 45-14 with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter, but Nicholls countered with a field goal.
 
Copeland's nine-yard touchdown pass to Campbell with 3:02 left in the game made the final score 48-21.