With quarterback Nathan Brown providing the usual meat and potatoes Thursday night, the University of Central Arkansas Bears added a little spice and assorted special ingredients in a 38-14 victory over spunky Henderson State in a cramp-fest at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.
Brown, the senior quarterback, became the most prolific passer in school history with a 6-yard completion on the second play, directed the Bears on an 83-yard, 14-play drive on their first possession, one in which UCA linemen Brad Gordon scored the touchdown on a fumble recovery.
After the Reddies methodically drove 83 yards to tie the score, UCA scored on three of its next four possessions to take control. After pretty much draining the life out of the Reddies with a 28-7 halftime lead, the Bears tried to stay hydrated the second half in using a lot of personnel in the season-opening victories.
The game became an extension of tailgating for an overflow crowd of 12,158, which was converted into a standing-room audience five-deep in the north end zone early in the first quarter.
"I look on this as only our second live work of the season because we had only one live scrimmage in preseason," UCA coach Clint Conque said. "We were a little rusty, and it showed early with some penalties."
The Bears converted their first five third-down situations in the first half. The first big breakthrough came when Brown passed to Willie Landers, who was 10 yards behind the HSU defense on a sideline pattern, for 36 yards and a touchdown on third and 17.
Early in the second quarter, Brown connected with Marquez Branson for 27 yards on third and 15 and to Darrius McNeal for 18 yards on the way to a 2-yard touchdown run by Leonard Ceaser.
Then, came the move of the night, which resulted in a touchdown and probably would have rated a high score on "Dancing With the Stars." Brown tossed to junior receiver James Lovett, who broke two tackles, then turned a HSU defender completely around with a pirouette sharp cut outside then cut outside again on a 44-yard touchdown to put UCA up 28-7 with 1:19 left in the half.
"That's Florida high school and California junior college at its best," Brown said.
Brown completed 24 of 34 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns with 12 different receivers getting into the act.
"It wasn't that I went out expecting to throw to 12 different receivers; I was just following my reads," Brown said.
"He took a couple of good shots, one on a touchdown pass but we cleaned that up," Conque said. "I was disappointed in the sacks but Henderson has a nice team. Because of various injuries and suspensions, we're playing without 11 scholarship players. I'm proud of our guys for gutting it out."
Freshman kicker Eddie Carmona, perfect on extra points and balls into a bouncy castle in the south end zone, booted a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter. After HSU's Roch Charpentier connected with Garrett Manning to toast the UCA defense on a 70-yard touchdown play, Brown passed to Matt Clinkscales for 11 yards for the final touchdown with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter.
Clinkscales, a former standout running back at Springdale, was pushed into duty at wide because of the injury situation and caught four passes for 45 yards.
"We punted well and we kicked off well, although one squirted out on the return," Conque said. "We won the turnover battle and the field position battle. I'm disappointed with some busted assignments that allowed them to hit our quarterback and two sacks and the penalties (7 for 69 yards)."
The Bears accumulated 553 yards in total offense.
They'll host UC Davis on Saturday night.
