UCA learns from victory over Nicholls

CONWAY -- Central Arkansas could not have asked for a better practice session.

Sam Houston State will host UCA today with the outright Southland Conference championship on the line. Kickoff at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

The stakes are high, but UCA (9-1, 8-0 Southland) faced a similar game last Saturday. To keep its chance for lone possession of the Southland championship alive, UCA needed a victory over Nicholls State and its pass-happy offensive attack that is comparable to Sam Houston (10-0, 8-0).

"I think it was good to play against Nicholls right before going up against Sam Houston," UCA senior cornerback Tyler Williams said. "But I think every game we've played has been a stepping stone for us to get to this game."

"Any time you can get in a game where you have to compete for four quarters and you have to work and sweat a little bit to win, it's a very good thing if you do win," UCA offensive coordinator Nathan Brown said. "To get tested in that manner, against a team that's really physical and fundamentally sound, is definitely something that will bode well for us as we move forward."

Freshman quarterback Chase Fourcade and senior receiver C.J. Bates took Nicholls to a fourth-quarter lead as big plays continually stung UCA's defensive backfield.

Williams and junior safety Jaylon Lofton were on the field for Bates' 45-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter and his 80-yard touchdown catch that gave Nicholls a 21-17 lead with 11:42 left in the game. They would remain on the field, helping steer their team's turnaround to a 32-24 victory. In the final 10 minutes, Lofton returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown and Williams intercepted two passes.

"Our guys know to play through whatever happens and get ready for the next one," UCA Coach Steve Campbell said. "Tyler's play was the epitome of that, and Jaylon Lofton was the same way. He had a couple of penalties that hurt us. I mean, we could sit there and berate him, but he knows what he did, and he came back to make a play that bailed his team out and helped us win the game."

Williams said he and his teammates have embraced Campbell's mantra.

"Our coaches just kept telling us to play the next play," Williams said. "Coach Campbell has always told us that if we don't get it done on one play, we'll get the opportunity to make them line up again and stop them the next time."

"Tyler's going to get beat sometimes because he's been thrown at a lot," UCA defensive coordinator Greg Stewart said. "But he does a good job of playing the next play, which is something we try to preach."

Despite the late heroics from Lofton and Williams, Fourcade passed for 340 yards and Bates had 9 catches for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. UCA knows it will face an even sterner test against Sam Houston.

The Bearkats lead the Southland in points scored, passing yards and total yards from scrimmage. Its junior quarterback, Jeremiah Briscoe, has completed 67.3 percent of his passes, has thrown for 3,002 yards and 37 touchdowns, and is also the conference leader in pass efficiency. Freshman receiver Nathan Stewart leads the Southland in receiving at 101.6 yards a game and junior Yedidiah Louis is second at 86.0.

"What we just saw, they're somewhat like Sam Houston," Stewart said. "Nicholls was a good prep game for us."

"Sam Houston likes to put it in the air a lot, and they're very confident in what they do," Williams said. "This should be a good game. We knew it was going to come. It's very exciting, and we can't wait to play it."

Sports on 11/19/2016