CONWAY -- It was easy to pick the turning point of the University of Central Arkansas' 44-17 victory over McNeese State at Estes Stadium on Saturday night.
Moments after UCA (7-1, 6-0 Southland Conference) took a 16-10 lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand to junior receiver Jakari Dillard with 7:29 left in the second quarter, the Bears' defense stopped McNeese State (6-2, 4-2) on third and 9 from its 26.
Senior punter Alex Kjellsten took the snap, rolled to his left for a rugby-style kick under heavy pressure, but his low attempt failed to miss the outstretched hand of sophomore Luke Ross, whose block flew into the hands of freshman Jackie Harvell in full stride at the 28. Harvell ran untouched into the end zone to give UCA a 23-10 lead.
"The way that set up, it just worked out perfect in my favor," Ross said. "And when I saw [Harvell] running with the ball, that was big-time."
"When I saw it come off Luke's hand, I just decided to take charge," Harvell said. "I just made a play, and it seems like every time we're on special teams, and we make a big play, the game changes."
The Bears' next possession started at their 9 with 3:56 left in the first half. After five plays, including a 26-yard run by freshman Kierre Crossley that more than doubled UCA's first-half rushing total, Hildebrand threw a 55-yard touchdown to senior receiver Brandon Cox to give UCA a 30-10 lead.
Cox also scored on a 54-yard reception that gave UCA a 9-7 lead midway through the first quarter. For the game, Cox caught 5 passes for 136 yards.
Hildebrand completed 12 of 16 passes for 250 yards and 4 touchdowns. Senior linebacker George Odum had a career-high 16 tackles, 10 of which were solo. Hildebrand and Odum shared the L.B. Jackman Award for the outstanding player in the homecoming game.
"A special-teams touchdown is one of the most devastating plays in all of football," UCA Coach Steve Campbell said. "It changed this game instantly and dramatically."
McNeese State Coach Lance Guidry agreed.
"The big play in the game was the blocked punt," McNeese State said. "Anytime you can score on special teams, it's always huge. That really changed the momentum. My hats off to Coach Campbell and his entire staff and his players."
Momentum stayed with UCA at the onset of the third quarter.
McNeese State took the second-half kickoff and faced. third and 8 from its 41 when senior defensive end Chris Chambers jarred the ball from junior quarterback James Tabary's hand. The ball squirted out from a group of players, and Chambers picked it up for a 25-yard touchdown return that gave UCA a 37-10 lead.
UCA's lead was 44-10 after Hildebrand's 48-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Lester Wells midway through the third quarter.
A 24-yard touchdown pass from Tabary to sophomore Parker Orgeron late in the third quarter was offset in part by a 28-yard field goal by junior Matt Cummins that followed junior linebacker Reggio Dean's fumble recovery at the McNeese State 8.
"Any time the defense or special teams scores, it just takes so much pressure off of the offense," UCA senior center Micah Parten said. "You could feel the momentum change without a doubt."
Sports on 10/29/2017