Nicholls holds off Incarnate Word for 35-28 win

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

THIBODAUX, La. (AP) Chase Fourcade threw for two touchdowns and C.J. Okpalobi rushed for two more scores as Nicholls held off Incarnate Word 35-28 to open Southland Conference action on Saturday.

Fourcade was 23-of-38 passing for 289 yards. Okpalobi rushed for 115 yards on 26 carries and C.J. Bates grabbed six passes for 107 yards.

Incarnate Word, which had trailed 28-6 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, was driving for the tying score late when Jeff Hall intercepted Trent Brittain's pass to seal the win.

Nicholls (1-1, 1-0), which battled Georgia before losing 26-24 last week, scored on the first play of the final quarter to take a 28-6 lead. On the next play from scrimmage Desmond Hite broke for an 85-yard score to close to 28-14. The Cardinals (1-2, 1-1) outscored Nicholls 22-14 in the fourth but could not take the win.