SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 34, NICHOLLS STATE 31
THIBODAUX, La. -- Senior running back Blake Veasley ran for 139 yards on 30 carries and scored twice as Central Arkansas survived a multi-lateral play in the final seconds to down Nicholls State 34-31 on Saturday at Guidry Stadium.
The victory was the seventh in the last eight for the Bears (7-3, 7-1 Southland) who sit one game behind McNeese State for first place in the league race. McNeese State, which was off Saturday, defeated UCA 28-13 in Conway on Oct. 17.
UCA hosts third-place Sam Houston State (6-2) next Saturday at Estes Stadium.
Nicholls State's Landry Klann threw for a career-high 368 yards and four touchdowns against the Bears, and completed a pass that led to the Colonels lateraling seven times as time ran out. The Bears were called for offsides on the play, giving the Colonels (2-8, 2-6) a final untimed snap from the Nicholls 46 in which Klann completed a Hail Mary to Jarrell Rogers, but UCA's George Odum brought down the Nicholls receiver at the Bears 6 to end the game.
The Bears led 34-17 after Veasley's 1-yard touchdown with 13:34 left in the fourth quarter. The Colonels scored twice in 7 minutes, 21 seconds. Klann found Lucas Terry on a 51-yard touchdown pass, one play after Ahmani Martin recovered a Bears fumble, to cut the deficit to 31-24 with 10:22 left.
UCA then went three-and-out and punted on its next possession. The Colonels drove 65 yards in six plays where Klann found Stephen LeBouef for a 17-yard touchdown with 6:13 left to set the final margin.
Veasley's 139 yards led all rushers. It was his third 100-plus rushing game in the last four.
UCA quarterback Hayden Hildebrand completed 12 of 18 for 109 yards and a 28-yard touchdown pass to Justin Dickey in the second quarter that gave the Bears a 17-10 halftime lead
Senior defensive end Jonathan Woodard tied UCA Hall of Famer Mike Coffman's school career record with his 30th sack late in the first half. His sack yardage of 151 yards broke the school record held by Bart Reynolds (1992-95).
Sports on 11/15/2015