Blake Veasley ran for 139 yards and scored two touchdowns as Central Arkansas survived a scare to beat Nicholls 34-31 on Saturday night.
Hayden Hildebrand threw for 109 yards and one score for Central Arkansas (7-3, 7-1 Southland Conference).
The Bears will host Sam Houston State next week with a possible playoff berth on the line. Sam Houston State (7-3, 6-2) overwhelmed Northwestern State 59-21 Saturday night.
The Bears, who have won seven of their last eight games, limited Nicholls to just 10 yards on the ground.
Nicholls (2-8, 2-6) tied it at 17 when Landry Klann, who threw for a career-high 368 yards and four scores, hit C.J. Bates on a 9-yard scoring strike early in the second half.
The Bears answered with 17 points and a 34-17 lead. Klann led the Colonels back with two touchdowns passes in the final quarter but could not take the lead.
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