Bears lose another close one, fall to Bearkats for third straight loss

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The University of Central Arkansas Bears limped out of the piney woods of east Texas on Saturday, again the victim of self-inflicted wounds and riddled by a blitzing, clawing defense by the Sam Houston Bearkats.

The Bears (5-5, 2-4) had a punt blocked for a touchdown, a field goal blocked and a touchdown called back because of a holding penalty in a 17-14 defeat to the Bearkats (5-5, 3-3), UCA’s third straight defeat in conference play. 

All four of the Bears’ league losses have been by a total of 13 points. 

Saturday’s was “same ole, same ole” — except for one factor. The UCA defense forced four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions), but the Bears could not produce a score off any of them.

With the Bearkats producing a assortment of blitzes, particularly on third down, the Bears weren’t able to find a rhythm on offense. They managed only 243 total yards (137 rushing and 106 passing) and were 3-of-15 on third down.

“They had a great scheme against us,” said UCA coach Clint Conque, who personally congratulated SHSU defensive coordinator Scott Stoker after the game. “It’s no secret that we don’t have a lot of guys with speed. They were able to lock us down in man coverage all night. They kept us in the box and they were able to play one-on-one with their safeties.

“Our defense gave us chances to win; I thought the defense played a whale of a game. We are not good enough to make the mistakes we made.”

The Bears limited the Bearkats to 256 total yards. 

The devastating mistake came when after an interception by Anthony Gambles stopped a SHSU drive. The Bears moved to the SHSU 49, then the Bearkats’ Anthony Dotson broke through unblocked and blocked a punt by Jon Beard. It produced an easy scoop-and-score by Dotson that gave SHSU a 10-7 lead with 8:12 left in the third quarter.

UCA quarterback Robbie Park was intercepted on the SHSU 2. 

The Bearkats then put the Bears against the wall when Jason Madkins outplayed Anthony Gambles on a deep pass and the reception put the Bearkats at the UCA 12. Chris Poullard scored from the 1 two plays later to put SHSU up 17-7 with 13:52 left.

The Bears produced their best drive of the game — 64 yards in 10 plays — that featured a 17-yard, play-action pass from Park to Anthony Blackmon on fourth and 1. Brent Grimes scored off tackle from the 9 to draw the Bears within 17-14 with 9:12 left.

An interception by Derrick Boyd off a tip by Anthony Gambles in the end zone gave the Bears a final chance. 

They converted fourth and 3 at their 28, then saw the drive and their hopes fizzle when Sam Houston put a heavy blitz on Park on fourth and eight. The UCA quarterback got the ball away with something on it and seemed to lead Echols nicely in one-on-one coverage. But the ball hit the UCA receiver, who was in front of the SHSU defender, in the stomach and fell awry at the SHSU 19.

The Bears took a 7-0 early in the second quarter after a nice 22-yard pass from Park to Ragland on third down. Ceaser scored the touchdown from the 6.

After a first-quarter punting battle, the Bears held the Bearkats to a 38-yard field goal by Miguel Antonio at 7:56 of the second.

The last three minutes of the first half were again the UCA season in microcosm — a  series of missed opportunities. 

Pierre Feazell’s recovery of a fumbled punt set UCA up at the Sam Houston 20 with 2:29 left in the first half. On the second play, Park rolled out under pressure and Ragland made a great leaping catch in the end zone for an apparent touchdown. It was called back because of a holding penalty against Lane Freiwald.

The drive stalled at the 22 and Eddie Carmona was called on for a 39-yard field goal attempt. A bad snap forced holder Derek Holder to scramble for nothing.

Thus, UCA got nothing out of one of their biggest opportunities of the game and went to halftime with the 7-3 lead. 

“I was very disappointed with special teams play,” Conque said. “We get the turnover, have a touchdown called back, then botch the snap on a field goal and get nothing.”

Grimes was UCA’s leading rusher with 68 yards on 18 carries. Park, under heavy duress all afternoon, was 11-of-30 for 106 yards and two interceptions. His counterpart, Blake Joseph of Sam Houston, was 15-of-24 for 166 yards and two interceptions.

UCA lost 29 yards rushing; SHSU 20. 

UCA continues its road swing with its final conference game Saturday night at McNeese State. 

“We’re just gonna have to go back to work and try to finish this thing out right,” Conque said.