The University of Central Arkansas (No. 16 FCS Coaches Poll) scored 14 third-quarter points Saturday to break a 10-10 tie on its way to a 27-17 victory over Stephen F. Austin at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Despite the Bears surrendering a fourth-quarter touchdown, failing to recover the ensuing onside-kick attempt and fumbling on their penultimate possession, it was UCA's defense that came up big down the stretch.
With the Bears leading 27-10, the Lumberjacks scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass with three minutes left in the game to trim the deficit to 27-17 and promptly recovered the kickoff at the UCA 34.
Two sacks by sophomore defensive end Nathan Grant and two incompletions returned possession to the Bears (4-2, 3-1 Southland Conference) at the UCA 39. A fumble on third and 5 after a 41-yard run by sophomore running back Kierre Crossley was recovered by the Lumberjacks at their 15 with 1:12 left.
Junior defensive back Trai Mosley then intercepted Jake Blumrick's third-and-1 pass to seal the victory as the Bears ran out the remaining 51 seconds.
"How about that defensive line?" UCA Coach Nathan Brown said. "They got to pin their ears back. We made them one-dimensional. We forced three turnovers, and we protected the football until right there at the end. And that's how you win on the road. It was tough sledding, but that's a testament to how good this team can be."
UCA redshirt freshman quarterback Luke Hales, last week's Southland Conference Player of the Week after the Bears routed Houston Baptist 66-35 at Estes Stadium in Conway, was 19-of-41 passing for 226 yards and 1 touchdown Saturday. A week ago, Hales threw for 304 yards and 5 scores in his first collegiate start.
"I thought Luke Hales played gutsy," Brown said. "I knew they were going to come at him, being a young guy. And he's going to continue to get that from week to week here on out."
The Bears had 379 yards of total offense -- including 272 in the second half -- and held the Lumberjacks (1-5, 1-4) to 338 but allowed just minus-20 on the ground.
UCA led 10-7 at halftime on Carlos Blackman's 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Matt Cummins' 19-yard field goal in the second.
Before Cummins' field goal, the Lumberjacks had tied the score 7-7 in the first quarter on Jake Blumrick's 85-yard touchdown pass to Terian Goree.
A 48-yard field goal by Stephen F. Austin's Storm Ruiz made it 10-10 with 11:17 left in the third quarter.
Blackman, who had 55 yards rushing on 12 attempts, scored his second touchdown from 31 yards with 8:19 left in the third quarter to give the Bears a 17-10 lead. Hales followed with a 13-yard scoring pass to Lester Wells on UCA's ensuing possession as the Bears led 24-10 entering the fourth quarter.
Cummins' 34-yard field goal with 6:15 left in the fourth gave the Bears their final points to make it 27-10.
The UCA defense had 13 tackles for loss and six sacks, led by Terrell with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, and Grant with 3 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Junior safety Juan Jackson led all tacklers with 12 stops, while senior defensive back Michael Ware added nine.
Sports on 10/14/2018