UCA scores 66 points with third-team quarterback
CONWAY — Central Arkansas ran away with an easy 66-35 victory Saturday against Houston Baptist with a third-team quarterback behind center.
The Bears (3-2, 2-1 Southland Conference) downed the Huskies (1-4, 0-3) in front of more than 10,000 fans Saturday night at First Security Field at Estes Stadium. The 66 points was the most the Bears have scored since a
70-0 win, also against the Huskies, in
2014.
Third-team quarterback Luke Hales, of Greenwood, saw his first career action for Central Arkansas and threw a touchdown pass on his first-ever attempt. He finished the night 16-for-27 passing for 304 yards and four more touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman starter Breylin Smith left the Bears’ 34-31 overtime loss a week earlier at Sam Houston State (3-2, 2-1) late in the fourth quarter with a broken ankle. He completed
68.75 percent of his passes for 1,009 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception through the first four games. Junior backup Kirk Baugh was unable to play Saturday with a shoulder injury.
Hales also recorded his first career rushing touchdown as the Bears piled up 254 yards on the ground. They were led by sophomore Kierre Crossley with 147 yards on 12 carries, an average of 12.2 yards per carry. Junior Carlos Blackman scored the team’s other rushing touchdown on a one0yard push in the second quarter.
Central Arkansas scored quickly on the team’s first two offensive possessions. Hales connected with senior receiver Jakari Dillard for a 65-yard touchdown on their second play from scrimmage. Hales ran in for another score from two yards out on the team’s sixth offensive play.
The team’s third touchdown was another pass from Hales to Dillard for 31 yards at the 6:42 mark of the first quarter. The score gave Central Arkansas a 21-7 lead and was set up by an interception by sophomore Jackie Harvell.
Houston Baptist stayed within striking distance for the first quarter after adding another touchdown to trail, 21-14, to start the second. Central Arkansas added two more touchdowns in the second period on Blackman’s run and a 71-yard pass play from Hales to sophomore Brandon Myers down the right sideline for a 35-21 lead.
Central Arkansas averaged 9.7 yards per play for 350 yards of total offense in the first half on just 36 plays. The score was 49-21 less than four minutes into the second half as Hales found Myers again for a 42-yard touchdown on a one-play drive.
Juan Jackson forced a fumble on the Huskies’ next possession at their own 12-yard line. Linebacker Reggio Dean completed the scoop and score for a touchdown with 11:17 left in the third period.
Central Arkansas forced four turnovers in the game and scored twice more down the stretch. Senior Matt Cummins kicked a 19-yard field goal late in the third quarter and Hales hit sophomore tight end Josh Nix for a
14-yard touchdown pass on the Bears’ first possession of the fourth quarter. It was the first career reception for Nix.
The Bears compiled a season-high
558 yards of offense, averaging 7.5 yards per play. They held the Huskies to just
75 rushing yards. Sophomore quarterback Bailey Zappe threw for 346 yards and four touchdowns on 54 passes with two interceptions and three sacks. Dreshawn Minnieweather entered the game second in the Southland with 98.7 rushing yards per game, but he was held to 37 yards on nine carries.
Sophomore Jaylin Small added the Bears’ other interception late in the fourth quarter. Freshman defensive end Jeremiah Gray also forced a fumble and redshirt freshman Caden Brown recovered it in Houston Baptist territory.
Jackson, a junior safety, led the Bears with 13 tackle, while Dean had
seven tackles. Thirty different players recorded tackles for the defense as the Bears maintained a perfect 5-0 record against the Huskies since they joined the conference.
Central Arkansas played three of its first four games away from home and returns to the road Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Stephen F. Austin (1-4, 1-3) in Nacogdoches, Texas.