Football
Former Razorback Clay dies
Charles Clay, the tight end on the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1970s All-Decade Team, died earlier this week in Little Rock. He was 60.
"Charles' loss is tragic, devastating news," said former Razorbacks' quarterback Ron Calcagni, who was Clay's teammate from 1975-78. "He was such a warrior and competitor and a great teammate. All of his teammates offer our condolences and peace to the family."
A celebration of Clay's life will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Andrew Church in Little Rock.
Clay died Monday of an apparent heart attack, said Harold Horton, a University of Arkansas, Fayetteville assistant coach from 1968-1980.
"Charles was one of the better athletes that's come through the University of Arkansas," Horton said. "He had tremendous ability, and he meant a lot to our team. He could run, he could catch and he could block. He was a complete player."
Clay played in an era in which tight ends weren't a big part of the passing game, but when he caught the ball it was for big gains. He had career totals of 24 receptions for 440 yards -- an 18.3-yard average -- and 3 touchdowns.
Clay played on Arkansas teams that combined for a 25-10-2 record and beat Georgia in the Cotton Bowl 31-10 on Jan. 1, 1976, and Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl 31-6 on Jan. 2, 1978.
"He had such great leaping ability and strength," Calcagni said. "I remember a tremendous catch he made in the Orange Bowl in the middle of the field. I threw it into a somewhat crowded area and he just snatched it out of the air for a pretty key first down in the game."
Clay signed with Arkansas after graduating from Little Rock Parkview High School. His son, Charles -- who played at Little Rock Central -- is a tight end for the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
Clay worked as a software analyst for Fidelity Information Services for more than 25 years.
-- Bob Holt
Volleyball
Arkansas Tech remains undefeated
No. 18 Arkansas Tech moved to 19-0 on Friday after defeating East Central 25-23, 25-15, 25-12 in Ada, Okla., to continue its best start to a season in program history.
Allie Anderson led all players with 13 kills, while Lexie Johnston followed with 12 kills and a match-high .385 hitting percentage. Tabitha Spray added 10 kills.
UALR falls to Texas State
Mya Robinson had nine kills and nine digs as host University of Arkansas at Little Rock lost 25-23, 25-18, 26-24 to Texas State on Friday. Taylor Lindberg racked up 32 assists with four kills.
Arkansas State defeats UT-Arlington
Drew Jones had 13 kills and 10 digs, and Tatum Ticknor had 12 kills as Arkansas State University topped the University of Texas-Arlington 25-19, 25-18, 25-18 on Friday in Jonesboro.
Harding downs Southeastern Oklahoma
Zoe Hardin and Emma Reeves each had 10 kills to lead Harding to a 25-22, 22-25, 25-18, 25-15 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant, Okla.
Taylor Lake led the defense with 23 digs, and Selena Foster added 12 digs for the Bisons (16-2, 5-1), who won their fourth consecutive match.
Henderson tops Southern Nazarene
Adrianna Hartmann had 12 kills, and Karlie Greene added 12 digs to help Henderson State University to a 25-19, 18-25, 27-25, 25-21 victory over Southern Nazarene on Friday in Bethany, Okla.
UAM falls to Northwest Oklahoma State
Maggie Pyles had 12 kills and Macy Mitchell added 13 digs, but the University of Arkansas at Monticello fell 29-27, 25-21, 25-9 to Northwest Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla.
GOLF
UCA's George tied for first
University of Central Arkansas junior Lewis George is tied for first place after the first round of the LSU David Toms Intercollegiate on Friday at The University Club in Baton Rouge.
George shot a 4-under 68 and is tied with North Texas' Andrew Hudson. UCA sits in a tie for sixth place overall with Lynn at 303. LSU is in first at 288.
ASU women sixth at Xavier
The Arkansas State women's golf team shot an opening-round 319 on Friday at the Xavier Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla., to tie for sixth among eight teams.
ASU ended the opening round 31-over, but just six strokes back from fifth-place South Alabama (+25). The team is also seven strokes back of fourth-place Xavier (+24). Daytona State and Stetson are tied for first place after both shot a 295.
The Red Wolves were paced by junior Beth Ann Compton, who carded a 74 to tie for seventh.
-- Democrat-Gazette Press Services
Sports on 10/07/2017