The UCA Bears football team defeated Stephen F. Austin 34-7 in an ASUN matchup on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Nacogdoches, Texas.

UCA (5-5, 3-1 ASUN), showed a strong offense in the game and earned a part in the 2022 ASUN Conference championship. Stephen F. Austin won the coin toss at the beginning of the game but deferred the choice to the second half of the game. 

Stephen F. Austin’s sophomore kicker Dylan Brown began the game with a 64-yard kickoff which was returned 37-yards by UCA’s sophomore running back Kylin James.

UCA junior quarterback Will McElvain made a complete pass to sophomore running back Darius Hale 12-yards across midfield, earning UCA a 1st down. 

At 2nd and 5 on the Stephen F. Austin 31-yard line, McElvain made an incomplete pass to junior wide receiver Jarrod Barnes and Stephen F. Austin’s junior defensive back Jeremiah Walker received a penalty for holding. 

At 2nd and goal later on in the first quarter, McElvain made a complete pass to junior tight end Austin Eldridge, who rushed 3-yards to a touchdown for UCA. This was the first touchdown of the game. 

Senior kicker Hayden Ray had a successful kick attempt which helped to secure UCA’s lead over Stephen F. Austin 7-0 by the end of the first quarter. 

UCA started off the second quarter with a successful field goal attempt made by Ray, making the score 10-0 in favor of the Bears. 

The third touchdown was made by James who rushed 20-yards. Immediately after the touchdown, UCA also received a penalty for a false start and the kick attempt made by Ray was once again successful. 

Just before the end of the first half, Ray made a successful field goal attempt at the 30-yard line with 7 seconds remaining on the clock. UCA finished the first half in the lead 20-0. 

Stephen F. Austin’s defense still could not keep up with UCA’s offense in the second half of the game with UCA scoring two more touchdowns in the third quarter. 

Coach Nathan Brown complimented his team in a statement on UCAsports.com

“That was one of the best [defensive] game plans we’ve put together all year,” Brown said. “They’ve been playing winning football every week. And that’s an explosive offense. You’ve got Trae Self and Xavier Gipson, about as good a combo as there is at the FCS level, and we held them at bay.”

“I thought Cameron Godfrey might have had his best night. I don’t know about statistically, but he mirrored Xavier Gipson all night, and that was huge. And our front seven won the line of scrimmage and I think that was the key throughout the game.” 

Stephen F. Austin did not make a touchdown until the end of the fourth quarter with 1:38 left on the clock. 

The Bears will have their last game of the season Saturday, Nov. 19, against Jacksonville State at home. The game will kick off at 4 p.m.