Football
Bears’ Walker, Powell bring home UAC top player honors in first week
After big performances in narrow loss to Red Wolves, UCA’s stars bring home conference honors after first week.
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas senior defensive end David Walker was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Week in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) on Monday.
Walker, a 6-foot-2, 260-pounder from Stuttgart, Ark., had 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and four total tackles in UCA’s 34-31 loss to FBS Arkansas State on Saturday night in Jonesboro, Ark.
UCA defensive lineman David Walker knocks a pass loose against Arkansas State | Ted McClenning-AllBears+ Images
Bears coach Nathan Brown saw it live in that loss.
“Big-time guys have to make big-time plays,” Brown said of Walker. “That’s what David does. He’s a high NFL draft pick and he played like it tonight. And he nad a big-time play at a big-time moment. And it was even bigger because we went and executed a touchdown after it. Three plays and touchdown.”
Walker improved his career sack total to 23 and his career tackle for loss total to 41.5. His strip sack on ASU quarterback Jaylen Raynor late in the fourth quarter set up UCA’s go-ahead touchdown with 55 seconds remaining before the Red Wolves pulled out the victory with a disputed touchdown reception with just three seconds on the clock.
UCA running back ShunDerrick Powell against Arkansas State | Ted McClenning-AllBears+ Images
Senior running back ShunDerrick Powell was an honorable mention for the Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 176 yards on just 15 carries (11.7 yards per carry) with two touchdowns, and catching four passes for 50 yards. Junior placekicker Jake Gaster kicked a 42-yard field goal, the third longest of his career, and was 4 of 4 on point-after attempts to earn honorable mention for Special Teams Player of the Week.
UCA is on the road again this week, taking on the Lindenwood Lions in St. Charles, Mo., KIckoff is set for 6 p.m. on The Point 94.1, The Bear 91.3 and ESPN+.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | @ Arkansas State | L, 34-31 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Lindenwood | W, 34-13 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | Austin Peay | W, 45-17 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff | W, 56-17 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Lamar | W, 34-14 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ Abilene Christian | L, 41-34 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs West Georgia | W, 34-33 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs North Alabama | W, 24-19 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Utah Tech | L, 34-21 |
| Sat, Nov 9 |  | @ Eastern Kentucky | L, 31-24 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Southern Utah | L, 38-31 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @Tarleton State | 2:00 PM |
