UCA storms back, falls in overtime

Tre Honshtein’s 34-yard field goal in overtime gave Sam Houston State a 34-31 victory over the University of Central Arkansas on Saturday in Huntsville, Texas.

Honshtein’s winner came after UCA’s Matt Cummins had his 34-yard field goal blocked on the Bears’ lone overtime possession.

“We left so many plays out there,” UCA Coach Nathan Brown said. “We showed so much grit in an adverse situation. We were fortunate to give ourselves a chance. We obviously didn’t finish the job in overtime.”

The Bears (2-2, 1-1 Southland Conference) fought back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime on a 3-yard touchdown pass from backup junior quarterback Kirk Baugh to sophomore Jack Short with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Baugh came into the game late on the 13-play drive when sophomore starter Breylin Smith went out with an ankle injury after completing a fourth-down pass for 10 yards to senior Jakari Dillard to give the Bears the ball at the 2. After a pair of running attempts and an incompletion, Baugh tossed his touchdown pass to Short on fourth down.

The completion was Baugh’s first since 2016, while it was Short’s first collegiate reception.

Cummins’ extra point tied the score at 31-31.

After losing their previous two games, the Bearkats started freshman quarterback Ty Brock who led them to a 31-17 advantage on the strength of two first-half rushing touchdowns and a 7-yard scoring pass in the third quarter.

Brock finished with 305 yards passing on 27 of 43 attempts.

UCA sophomore Kierre Crossley scored on a 38-yard touchdown run with 8:56 left in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to 31-24.

Senior linebacker Raphael Garner forced Brock to fumble, and sophomore Jackie Harvell recovered to give the Bears the ball at the UCA 36 with 7:51 remaining.

On their ensuing possession, the Bears converted three fourth-down conversions — a 14-yard run by Smith, the 10-yard pass from Smith to Dillard and the Baugh-to-Short touchdown to force overtime.

Brown didn’t know the extent of his starting quarterback’s injury immediately after the game, but he said Baugh will be ready for Saturday’s home conference opener against Houston Baptist if Smith can’t play.

“It’s too early to tell [about Smith’s injury],” Brown said. “He’s a tough kid. He was fighting to get back in the game there at the end.”

Smith finished 14-of-25 passing for 234 yards with 4 passes going to Dillard for 133 yards, including an 80-yard scoring connection that gave the Bears a 10-7 lead with 6:26 left in the second quarter.

Junior running back Carlos Blackman ran for 135 yards and a short third-quarter touchdown on 24 attempts for the Bears.

Photo courtesy of UCA UCA linebacker Raphael Garner (30) and defensive lineman Austin Norris (86) help bring down a Sam Houston State ball carrier Saturday during the Bears’ overtime loss to the Bearkats in Huntsville, Texas.

Photo courtesy of UCA Central Arkansas running back Carlos Blackman (23) looks for running room Saturday during the Bears’ 34-31 overtime loss to Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. Blackman rushed for a game-high 135 yards and 1 touchdown on 24 carries.