The Central Arkansas Bears did enough on offense in the first half Saturday night, then turned it over to its defense in the final 30 minutes to preserve a hard-fought 17-13 victory over the Missouri State Bears at Plaster Field in Springfield, Mo.
UCA (2-2) led by the final margin at halftime, then forced Missouri State (0-4) to punt six consecutive times in the second half. A final goal line stand by the Bears’ defense with 2:42 to play sealed it. UCA defensive end Derek Floyd sacked Missouri State quarterback Kierra Harris (Texarkana) back to the 12 and two incomplete passes, the final one in the end zone, ended the threat.
“This game belongs to our defense, no question about it,” said UCA Coach Clint Conque, who saw his defense hold Missouri State to 70 yards of offense in the second half. “I can’t say enough about how well they played, the whole game, but particularly down the stretch in the second half. They just kept giving our offense the ball around midfield and they just kept making plays.
“I thought they played very courageously, showed a lot of mental toughness and physical toughness out there.”
UCA senior quarterback Wynrick Smothers completed his first 14 passes of the game - and 21 of 23 before halftime - as the Bears took a 17-13 lead to the locker room. But the Bears, as they had the past two games, fell behind to start the game as Missouri State drove 66 yards in 10 plays, capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Dorian Bradford. Austin Wilmer missed the extra-point attempt with 6:48 left in the first quarter.
Smothers then connected with junior receiver Dezmin Lewis for UCA’s longest play from scrimmage of the season, a 75-yard touchdown pass just 43 seconds later. Jace Denker’s extra point gave UCA a 7-6 lead. Denker connected on a 27-yard field goal at the 12:53 mark of the second quarter to push UCA’s lead to 10-6.
Missouri State answered with a 3-yard run by Vernon Scott with 9:18 to play in the first half to take a 13-10 advantage. UCA answered with an 8-play, 48-yard drive, with Smothers throwing down the middle for a leaping Chase Dixon from 8 yards out for the score.
Missouri State then drove to the UCA 25 but missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
Smothers’ 14 consecutive completions tied the school record held by UCA quarterbacks coach Nathan Brown (2007) and Brian Stallworth (2001). He finished the game 35 of 46 passing for 280 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had an interception in the second half on a tipped pass that deflected off a UCA receiver.
Lewis caught 8 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. UCA finished with 338 yards of total offense, averaging 6.1 yards per play.
UCA is off this week before facing McNeese State in its Southland Conference opener Oct. 5 at Estes Stadium in Conway.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Ala.-Birmingham 52, NW (La.) State 28 SE Louisiana 34, Samford 31 Sam Houston St. 52, Incarnate Word 21 Stephen F. Austin 52, Montana State 38 Nicholls State 42, Langston 22 Central Arkansas 17, Missouri State 13 McNeese State 43, Weber State 6 Lamar 53, Bacone 0
Sports, Pages 31 on 09/22/2013