The UCA Football team mauled the University of Pine Bluff Lions 56-17 on Sept. 21 at Pine Bluff.
The Lions (1-3) would get the ball first, and after a zero-yard rush and an incomplete pass, it was third down for Pine Bluff at their own 25-yard line. In the next play, redshirt junior quarterback Mekhi Hagen’s pass was completed to redshirt sophomore wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson for a gain of 11, resulting in a first down. The Lions would end up getting all the way down to the UCA 8-yard line, setting them up in a position to score the first points of the game. The first drive would end with Hagens getting sacked by senior defensive back Tamaurian Wilson, forcing Pine Bluff to kick the field goal, making the score 3-0 with 8:21 to go in the first quarter.
Bears (3-1, ASUN 1-0) head coach Nathan Brown thought there was some adversity early on with the Bears’ defense.
“I thought our defense got their footing after the first couple of drives,” Brown said.
“I thought their [Pine Bluff] quarterback did a nice job converting some third and longs on those first few drives but once we settled into the game, we played a very good defensive game.”
On the first play of the Bears’ opening drive, senior running back ShunDerrick Powell got the handoff from senior quarterback Will McElvain, and took it 59 yards to the house for the Bears’ first score of the game, making it 7-3 UCA after the point after by senior kicker Jake Gaster was good. “It was a bobbled snap and we had an inside run called, ” Powell said. “Will did a nice job gathering the snap and getting it to me,” Powell said. “I had one guy to beat and I stuck him with a move and used my speed to get into the endzone.”
The next drive for Pine Bluff resulted in a 26-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Aramoni Rhone. The Lions took the lead 10-3 with 6:25 left in the first quarter. UCA would score again on their next drive after Powell’s 13-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-10 Bears.
The Lions would be forced to punt on their next drive.
The start of the Bears offensive rampage didn’t come until the second quarter where redshirt freshman wide receiver Malachi Henry completed a 62-yard touchdown reception, putting UCA on top 21-10 with 12:53 to go in the second quarter.
The Bears would go on to score two more touchdowns in the second quarter, both scored by senior running back Darius Hale. The score at halftime was 35-10 Bears.
UCA would get the ball to start the second half, but they were forced to punt on 4th and 9. After the Bears punted the ball, it was mishandled by redshirt sophomore wide receiver Cam Taylor and recovered by senior deep snapper Kyle Gasaway.
Central Arkansas would go on to score two more touchdowns in the third quarter, both scored by Hale, making the score 49-10 UCA at the end of the third quarter.
The Bears would score one more time in the game on a 2-yard rushing touchdown by redshirt freshman Landon Chambers. The Lions would strike back on a 12-yard receiving touchdown by Rhone. With 3:12 left in the game, the Bears would run the clock, eventually going into victory formation, capping off a win against Pine Bluff, 56-17.
Coach Brown was pleased with the efforts put in by his two running backs Powell and Hale. “Darius and ShunDerrick are special football players, they complement each other very well and both have great playmaking ability, ” Brown said.
The Bears will be at home Saturday, Sept. 28 to take on the Lamar Cardinals (3-1) at 6 p.m.