OH SO CLOSE! Bears can’t quite close out win over ASU

JONESBORO, Ark. — It’s probably too easy to say Central Arkansas came within inches of a win over Arkansas State on Saturday night, but that’s exactly what happened. The Red Wolves put together a 75-yard drive in the final minute for a wild 34-31 win.

The reality is that wasn’t the play that doomed UCA. After the Bears had scored to take the lead, Jaylen Raynor found Corey Rucker on a fourth-and-4 for 42 yards that got ASU to the UCA 22-yard line with 22 seconds left.

It still wasn’t over there. After the Red Wolves got the ball to the 7 and a pass from Raynor into the left corner of the end zone to Ja’Quez Cross was initially ruled incomplete. Live, it appeared he may have caught the ball out of bounds. Then replay got involved.

Officials eventually made the correct call. Cross made the catch inches away from the sideline and maintained it to the ground. The Bears simply didn’t make the play they needed before all that to close out a furious second-half comeback.

Running back ShunDerrick Powell did all he could, though. The senior running back ran for 176 yards on 15 carries with an 81-yard blast up the middle. He found a gaping hole, then out-ran the Red Wolves’ secondary halfway through it for a score with 13:38 that was huge.

It came after ASU had taken a 27-10 lead with 14:15 left. UCA appeared dead at that point and Powell’s run re-energized the Bears. With 10:33 left in the game and UCA’s defense getting a momentum boost, Will McElvain found Tyion Berry for a 23-yard gain and cut the lead to 27-24.

The Bears managed to get the ball back with 1:45 to play after Raynor was sacked by David Walker and Javeon Jones recovered at the ASU 35. It didn’t take long to find the end zone.

Darius Hale | Ted McClenning-AllBears+ Images

On second down, Powell took a sweep to his right, pulled up and found a wide open Malachi Henry. The pass led him straight out of bounds at the 4-yard line. Running back Darius Hale took the ball across on the first play up the middle and UCA had a 31-27.

But the Red Wolves had one more shot. It looked like the Bears had them stopped until that fourth-down play.

It was a big way to start the season with an FBS team and the Bears will travel to St. Charles, Mo., next Saturday to meet Lindenwood. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be available on ESPN+.