College Football: Same Story for UCA - Too Many Mistakes, Close Loss

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The mistake-prone University of Central Arkansas Bears made it close as usual Saturday but still dropped a 17-14 decision to Sam Houston State at Bowers Stadium.

The Bears (5-5, 2-4) lost for the fifth time this season and the fourth time in their past five games. And for the fifth time, they lost by less than a touchdown. UCA's five losses have been by an average of 3.6 points per game. Sam Houston State improved to 5-5 and 3-3.

The Bears had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown, a touchdown pass called back by penalty and a field goal attempt that never got off the ground because of a bad snap. Sam Houston's blitzing defense held UCA to a season-low 243 yards of offense and just 3.4 yards per play.

"I thought our defense played a whale of a game," UCA coach Clint Conque said. "They gave us every chance to win the game. But obviously the team's play let us down. We had a field goal attempt right before the half and we botched that. We had a punt blocked for a touchdown. Then we threw a touchdown pass and had it called back.

"We're just not good enough to make those mistakes and overcome right now. We have to go back to work and try to finish this thing out the right way."

The UCA defense, led by seniors Taylor Scott and Larry Hart and junior Markell Carter up front, held SHSU to 256 total yards and forced four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles).  Carter and senior Pieri Feazell forced fumbles and seniors Derrick Boyd and Anthony Gambles hauled in interceptions. But SHSU's quick, blitzing defense forced UCA into long-yardage situations all day and recorded 29 yards of losses, including a pair of sacks.

After a first quarter that saw the teams trade three punts apiece, UCA finally broke through with a 6-play, 57-yard scoring drive. The big play was a 22-yard pass from Robbie Park to Josh Ragland, his first career catch, that set the Bears up at the SHSU 9. Senior running back Leonard Ceaser went in from the 6, diving just inside the left pylon for the touchdown and junior placekicker Eddie Carmona made it a 7-0 lead.

The Bearkats came back and drove deep into Bear territory but the UCA defense held and SHSU had to settle for a 38-yard field goal by Miguel Antonio with 7:48 left in the half. UCA forced a fumble late in the quarter and Carter recovered for UCA. The Bears were forced to punt again but the SHSU returner fumbled and Feazell recovered at the SHSU 20.

The Bears thought they had added to their lead when Ragland made a juggling catch in the end zone from 15 yards out but it was called back because of a holding penalty.  UCA eventually attempted a 39-yard field goal but the snap was low and holder Derek Owens was forced to run around right end. He came up short of the first down and the Bears took a 7-3 lead into the locker room.

The Bears got an interception from senior Gambles on the Bearkats' first possession of the second half but after penalties and a sack, UCA had to punt. SHSU's Vincent Dotson broke through untouched and blocked Beard's punt, scooped up the loose ball at the 36 and went the distance to give SHSU a 10-7 lead with 8:12 left in the third quarter.

The Bears drove down to the SHSU 24 but penalties stopped them again and Park was intercepted by Darrell Taylor on a pass to the end zone. After Taylor's return, the Bearkats took over near midfield. UCA's Lamar Moore had an interception go through his hands early in the series and the Bears eventually forced another punt.

The Bears got back in it with a ground-oriented 10-play, 64-yard drive that closed the gap to 17-14 with 9:12 remaining. Facing a fourth-and-1, Park rolled out right and hit Anthony Blackmon with a pass down to the 9. On the next play, Grimes went nine yards over the right side for the touchdown.

With the Bearkats driving for a score that would have sealed it, Gambles tipped a pass intended for Jason Madkins and Boyd pulled down the interception in the end zone, returning it out to the 23 with five minutes left. The Bears had fourth and 5 at their own 28 and Park threw down the right sideline for freshman Dominique Croom.  Jarvis Pippins was called for interference as Croom tried to comeback for the pass, setting the Bears up at the 44.

Again facing fourth down on their 46, the Bears could not convert as a long pass down the middle bounced out of the hands of Echols with 1:52 left to play.

UCA got one last shot after SHSU failed to run the clock out in the final minute. Park hit Isaiah Jackson for 21 yards, threw incomplete to Croom and then was intercepted at midfield on a desperation pass intended for a well-covered Jackson.

Park completed 11 of 30 passes for 106 yards and Grimes had 68 rushing yards on 18 attempts. He extended his school-record scoring marks to 56 touchdowns and 336 points. Lamar Moore topped the tackle chart for UCA with eight solos. Jacob Bane added 7.

UCA travels to McNeese State next week. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium.