CONWAY -- University of Central Arkansas Bears redshirt sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith will have surgery on his right ankle Friday and will miss the remainder of the season, UCA Coach Nathan Brown said Monday.
Smith, who started UCA's first four games, had his ankle broken late in a 34--31 overtime loss at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas, on Saturday.
"The difficult deal is for the kid," Brown said. "There's not a better kid in the world than Breylin Smith. To have an ambassador and representative for this program and this university, and really for the city of Conway, he's who you would draw up."
Brown said he plans to start redshirt junior Kirk Baugh when UCA hosts Houston Baptist at Estes Stadium in Conway this Saturday. Other quarterback reserves include redshirt freshman Luke Hales and freshman BeSean McCray.
"We're going to do whatever it takes to win," Brown said. "You could see three quarterbacks. You could see some packages with some Wildcat, with some running backs catching some snaps, but like I've told people, this is why you have multiple quarterbacks on scholarship. Our expectations are not going to change."
Through his first four starts this season and of his career, Smith completed 77 of 112 passes for 1,009 yards and 6 touchdowns with 1 interception. He leads the Southland Conference in completion percentage at .688 and pass efficiency at 160.3. His pass efficiency rating is 14th best among NCAA FCS qualifiers.
Smith was injured on a play that proved key to UCA's effort to force overtime against Sam Houston. UCA trailed 31-24 and faced 4th-and-7 from the Sam Houston State 12 with less than four minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and Smith passed for 10 yards to senior Jakari Dillard.
After the play, in which Smith's ankle was rolled amid a jumble of players, he told teammates and Brown that he could not feel his ankle, Brown and junior running back Carlos Blackman said.
"When I went to put weight on it, it was like there was nothing there," Smith said. "I looked up and said, 'I think my ankle's broken.' ''
Baugh took over and, on 4th-and-goal from the 3, passed for the tying touchdown to sophomore tight end Jack Short with 2:20 left in regulation. UCA failed to score on the first possession of overtime and lost on a field goal by Sam Houston State.
"Kirk has played some snaps, but the game plan has never been solely based around him," Brown said. "Hopefully, we'll get the best from him."
"Everybody in our building knows that Kirk's going to take the reigns and do what he has to do to help us win," Smith said. "I'm excited for him. He has some good things headed his way."
Sports on 10/02/2018