Stephen F. Austin
Central Arkansas
Key Plays Prove Costly in 49-39 Loss to UCA
10/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas - A handful of key plays proved to be the difference as the Lumberjacks dropped a 49-39 decision to Central Arkansas in its Southland Conference opener at Homer Bryce Stadium. The `Jacks fall to 3-2 on the year and 0-1 in SLC play while the Bears improved to 3-3 and 2-0 in conference action.
SFA racked up 602 yards of offense on the night as Zach Conque had his best performance in a Lumberjack uniform. The sophomore threw for 322 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 90 yards and three scores on the night, but also threw a pair of interceptions while being sacked six times.
On the ground, the `Jacks rushed for 278 yards, led by 159 yards on 22 carries from Gus Johnson. The senior moved into fourth place all-time in career rushing yards at SFA, upping his career total to 2,875 yards. He also added a 20-yard touchdown, tying Cordell Roberson as SFA's all-time touchdown leader before leaving the game in the fourth quarter.
Marquis Mosley led the SFA receiving corps with 85 yards on four catches while Tyler Boyd notched three receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. Joshawa West added three catches for 30 yards as well as 10 different Lumberjack receivers registered catches on the night.
Defensively, SFA gave up just 445 yards of offense to Central Arkansas, including 211 on the ground and 234 through the air. But three SFA turnovers proved to be a major component as the Bears recorded touchdowns on the first two while the third ended the game in the endzone.
SFA had six tackles for loss with three sacks, registered by Justin Owens, Ishmiah Miles and Donald Bryant. Collin Garrett once again led the Lumberjack defensive attack with 12 tackles while Keavon Madison added eight stops, a forced fumble and a pair of pass breakups. Lance Skyler notched seven tackles for SFA.
SFA struck first for the fourth-straight game as a 45-yard run for Johnson got the `Jacks down to the two, followed by a touchdown scamper by Conque on the next play to give SFA the early 7-0 lead.
Central Arkansas would add a pair of touchdown passes from Taylor Reed to Dezmin Lewis to take a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, which was quickly answered by a pair of SFA scores. Conque connected with Boyd for a 39-yard touchdown strike, followed by a 25-yard field goal by Jordan Wiggs to give the `Jacks the 17-14 lead.
But Reed and Lewis would connect for the third time of the half with 2:15 remaining as UCA took a 21-17 lead into the locker room.
SFA reclaimed momentum early in the third quarter as a scamper from Conque, followed by the 20-yard touchdown rush by Johnson gave SFA its largest lead of the night at 31-21 with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter.
But the Bears showed their quick-strike ability as Reed connected with Desmond Smith for a 71-yard strike a minute later, trimming the Lumberjack lead to 31-28 after three quarters.
UCA then put together a 14-play, 80-yard drive covering nearly six minutes, capping it with a one-yard plunge on fourth and goal to reclaim the lead 35-31 with 9:30 remaining.
SFA began its march down the field and had pushed into UCA territory, sitting at the Bear 25-yard line. Johnson took a rush up the middle and took a hard hit, falling to the turf as the ball came loose, which was recovered by the Bears and returned 75 yards for a score, putting UCA on top 42-31 with 4:10 to play.
The Lumberjacks went into their two-minute offense and was able to cover 79 yards in eight plays, capped by a four-yard rush by Conque, followed by a successful two-point conversion to trim the Bear lead to 42-39 with 1:27 to play.
SFA tried an onside kick but UCA recovered, giving the Bears the ball in Lumberjack territory. After stopping UCA on first and second down, the `Jacks had the Bears in a third and four at the 40 when Reed broke free on the far side and rushed 40 yards to put the nail in the coffin, giving the Bears the final 49-39 margin.
Reed accounted for six touchdowns on the night for UCA, throwing for four and rushing for two more. Defensively, Jonathan Woodard had a monster night for the Bears, recording 3.5 sacks and seven tackles as UCA finished with 12 tackles for loss and six sacks on the night.
After four-straight home games and a bye week, SFA returns to the road next Saturday when the Lumberjacks head to Thibodaux, La., for a showdown with Nicholls. Opening kick at Guidry Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
-SFA-
