Central Arkansas beats Northwestern State 45-20

NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) Nathan Dick threw three touchdown passes and Central Arkansas rallied in the second half to beat Northwestern State 45-20 on Saturday.

The Bears (7-3, 6-1 Southland Conference) trailed 20-14 at halftime, but scored 31 unanswered points in the second half. Dick, who passed for 217 yards, threw two touchdown passes in the second half - 25 yards to Dominique Croom and 1 yard to Thomas Hart.

Central Arkansas' defense converted two turnovers into second-half touchdowns. Al Lasker recovered a fumble and returned it 20 yards as the Bears took the lead for good at 21-20 with 13:46 remaining in the third quarter. A 55-yard interception return for a touchdown by Marcus Peters as time expired provided the final margin for the Bears, who have won six in a row.

Brad Henderson passed for 248 yards and a touchdown for Northwestern State (5-4, 3-2), which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Updated November 5, 2011