Nicholls pulls away from Northwestern State 31-14

NATCHITOCHES, La. -- Chase Fourcade threw three touchdown passes to C.J. Bates and added a rushing score, helping Nicholls handle Northwestern State 31-14 on Saturday. Nicholls (4-4, 4-2 Southland) pulled away in the third quarter on touchdowns from Fourcade to Bates of 2 and 74 yards to put the Colonels in front 28-14. After De'Mard Llorens ' 34-yard run gave Northwestern State a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter, Fourcade found Bates for a 24-yard TD early in the second to even the game at 7. Fourcade later capped a 20-play drive with a 1-yard scoring run to put Colonels in front 14-7, but Northwestern State tied it at 14 on Brooks Haack 's 56-yard pass to Bobby Chan-Chan . Bates' three touchdowns and 179 receiving yards were career bests. He had 10 catches. Llorens had 115 yards on 16 carries for Northwestern State (1-7, 0-6).