Bears set game pace, hand Lions 56-17 loss

One of the best offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision needed one play to set the tone for Saturday night’s game at Simmons Bank Field.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff couldn’t stop Central Arkansas in a 56-17 loss in its final nonconference game of the season.

No. 8 UCA (3-1) scored touchdowns on eight of its first nine possessions. UAPB forced a punt on UCA’s first drive of the second half, but the Golden Lions fumbled it after a big hit on the returner. Kyle Gasaway, the longsnapper, recovered it for the Bears. UCA scored on the resulting drive.

UAPB Coach Alonzo Hampton said the Golden Lions’ defense helped UCA score.

“We got the guy bottled up, and we miss a tackle,” Hampton said. “Go 56 yards. You talk about breaking your back. So, that’s the kind of stuff as a defense … that kind of bogs you down, because the offense was playing really well. They played a really great first half.”

The Bears brought the fourth-best rushing offense in FCS into this game and ran for 309 yards. Their leader, senior ShunDerrick Powell, needed just over two quarters to rack up 148 yards on 11 carries for two touchdowns. Fellow senior Darius Hale picked up 54 yards and three touchdowns in nine carries. He also caught a touchdown pass.

Backup running back Landen Chambers came into the game in the second half and rushed for 102 yards and a score on 15 carries.

UAPB defensive lineman Elijah Jenkins said the Golden Lions needed to play harder.

“It’s nothing that they went out there and showed us that we didn’t see on film or the coaches didn’t tell us a million times,” Jenkins said. “We just gotta be more disciplined and play for each other, running to the football more. Effort could be better.”

UCA quarterback Will McElvain did not throw an incomplete pass in the first half, leading the Bears to a 35-10 lead. He threw three straight incompletions on the Bears’ opening drive of the second half, leading to the punt which UAPB fumbled. He then led UCA on one more touchdown drive before giving way to backup Austin Myers.

McElvain finished 18 of 21 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Malachi Henry led the UCA receivers with four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.

UAPB (1-3) took a 3-0 lead after Trey Glymph connected on a 33-yard field goal on the Golden Lions’ opening drive, but Powell gave UCA a 7-3 lead on the Bears’ first offensive play, a 59-yard run.

The Golden Lions took the lead back on their next drive with a pass from quarterback Mekhi Hagens to receiver Aramoni Rhone, but Powell scored his second touchdown on UCA’s next drive to give the Bears back the lead for good.

After scoring 10 points on the first two drives, UAPB’s offense sputtered to a halt. The Golden Lions didn’t score again until there was 3:12 remaining and the game was well out of hand.

Hagens completed 15 of 35 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Rhone caught both touchdowns, finishing with four catches for 56 yards. Kristian Gammage caught two passes for 74 yards, and Daemon Dawkins had six for 62 yards.

UCA held JaVonnie Gibson to two catches for 42 yards. Gibson came into the game as UAPB’s leading receiver, but Hagens said the Golden Lions have several weapons.

“We got other guys who can do what they do,” Hagens said. “Like Gammage, he took a hitch for about 70, and then Aramoni does what he does on the outside. So, we got plenty weapons. We gonna get back to the drawing board and get it right.”

UAPB was without its top two rushers, OJ Ross and Johness Davis, due to injury. The Golden Lions rushed for 63 yards in their absence. Hagens and BJ Curry had 25 yards each, and Za’Marion Webber rushed for 13 yards.

Hampton said the Golden Lions were down around 10 players in this game.