NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) _ Sophomore Tony Taylor ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns and Northwestern State's defense forced six turnovers Saturday night as the Demons churned to a 42-17 Southland Football League victory over Nicholls State.

Troy Sumrall also ran for two touchdowns and 81 yards as Northwestern (2-3, 1-0) seized a 28-3 halftime lead in defense of its Southland championship. The victory also was the 100th for coach Sam Goodwin, tying Harry Turpin as Northwestern's winningest coach.

Nicholls' eighth loss in its last nine games against Northwestern dropped the Colonels to 1-3, 1-1. In this loss, Nicholls lost two of five fumbles and had four passes intercepted.

Northwestern marched 65 yards with the opening kickoff and scored on a 61-yard by Taylor just 51 seconds into the game. Later in the first period, Sumrall ran 4 yards for another touchdown with 5:56 remaining to cap a 69-yard drive.

Northwestern sandwiched touchdown runs of 22 yards by Taylor and 7 yards by Sumrall around a 33-yard field goal by Nicholls State's Kyle Leisher to give the Demons their 28-3 halftime lead.

Northwestern scored twice more in the third period _ on a 34-yard interception return by Terrence McGee and a 1-yard touchdown run by Jeremy McCullough _ to complete the rout.

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