Arkansas State-Central Arkansas report

UCA CB hurt; ASU pair thrive

Jonathan Adams
Jonathan Adams

JONESBORO -- University of Central Arkansas certainly could have used senior cornerback Robert Rochell on Saturday in the Bears' 50-27 loss against Arkansas State University.

ASU took advantage of Rochell not playing due to injury, utilizing the height of senior wide receivers Jonathan Adams Jr. (6-3) and Dahu Green (6-5).

Adams and Green both caught two touchdowns against UCA and totaled 195 receiving yards. Adams caught six passes for 101 yards. Green also caught six passes, which went for 94 yards. ASU Coach Blake Anderson said even if Rochell played, the Red Wolves felt confident in their receivers to win that battle.

"We were going to go at him, too," Anderson said. "We felt like we've got two of the best wideouts in the country at this level, and we were going to make them defend us.

"I think what they had to do coverage wise may have created some issues, too, because they felt the need to cloud coverage to help out corners, and there were times where you saw our tight ends get really involved and it did open up some other things.

"I think if we didn't have the wind and the rain, it could have been ugly."

Rochell, who's projected to be a second-day draft pick and is rated as the No. 1 FCS corner by DraftScout.com, had gotten banged up last week in UCA's loss at North Dakota State and hadn't practiced much since.

UCA Coach Nathan Brown said not having Rochell was a game-changer Saturday.

"In a game like this, with the ability of those two outside receivers, it really hurt," Brown said. "I've [got] confidence in our young guys, I've got confidence in Deandre Lamont. They got behind him a time or two. But again, you can't replace an All-American. You can't replace a kid who's probably going to be a second-day draft-pick. It was unfortunate that Robert wasn't able to go today. That did hurt us.

"One, we've got to protect our guys a little better with some over-the-top coverage. Also, we have the same expectations. We've got to make plays with those young guys. They went against two great players and they got their feet held to the fire."

Rotation success

Arkansas State continued its quarterback rotation Saturday, swapping between junior Logan Bonner and sophomore Layne Hatcher every other possession.

After a sub-optimal performance against Coastal Carolina last week, the rotation looked similar to its victory at Kansas State. Bonner got the start and went 11 of 19 for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Hatcher went 10 of 19 for 153 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was the first time in school history that ASU had two separate quarterbacks throw three touchdowns in a game.

Bonner and Hatcher's success led to a season-high 573 yards for the Red Wolves.

"I get it. I don't like playing two, either," Anderson said. "But I don't know how not to with the situation we're in with covid, with potential injuries and with how they're both playing."

Hudson with dozen

Central Arkansas sophomore wide receiver Tyler Hudson, the Southland Conference freshman of the year last season, set a career-high with 12 catches

Hudson, 6-2, 185 pounds, from Spring, Texas, caught six passes in each half from junior quarterback Breylin Smith, totaling 154 yards.

He ended up 7 yards short of his career-high he set last season against Incarnate Word.

Hudson was the only UCA receiver Smith could find in a dreadful first half, when the quarterback completed 7 of 26 passes for 90 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown.

Hudson came into the game as UCA's second-leading receiver for the season, behind Lujuan Winningham, with 15 catches for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Saturday's performance gives Hudson career numbers of 82 catches, 1,354 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Hanson pins Bears

Arkansas State redshirt freshman punter Ryan Hanson came into Saturday's game averaging 41.9 yards on 8 attempts, including 3 punts downed inside the 20.

Not bad, but nothing compared to what he did against UCA in the rain and wind.

Hanson punted five times for a 52.0-yard average, and had two punts downed inside the 5.

Hanson's first punt, downed at the UCA 2 with 6:26 to play in the first quarter, led to the Bears taking a safety when quarterback Breylin Smith fell on the ball in the end zone after mishandling a snap with UCA leading 3-0.

"We were backed up for three straight possessions," UCA Coach Nathan Brown said. "That really hurt us. It was just a great job by their special teams, their punter."

Hanson punted three times in the game's first 16:18, but not again until the fourth quarter, when he got off a 69-yard kick that was downed at the UCA 9.

Upcoming Events