BEARS

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. _ Never has the phrase "next man up" been more relevant than it was for the University of Central Arkansas Bears on Saturday night at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.

Missing several key starters _ and losing another early in the first half _  but with numerous reserves filling in nicely, the No. 11 Bears found a way to beat Missouri State 33-24 and complete the rare home-and-home season sweep of their fellow Bears. UCA (3-3) scored the final 16 points of the game, all in the third quarter, to rally from behind for the second time in three weeks against MSU. UCA won the first meeting 27-20 in Conway back on September 26.

"It's just a testament to our guys. We preach as a program that culture wins,' said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "It doesn't matter what number is going to go out there, We expect the same thing out of them. We didn't know what number was going to step up, that's kind of the way we're in right now, just as far as the injury bug,' said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "So many guys made big plays and it's just a testament to our group of guys.

"So you're seeing a bunch of names and numbers there you're not used to seeing. But there are just so many guys stepping up. We have a long season ahead of us, four guaranteed games left and we're going to have to to have more of that going forward.'

UCA's defense forced six turnovers _ four interceptions and two fumbles _ giving the Purple Bears 10 takeaways in the two meetings. UCA also added seven more sacks to the 10 it recorded in Game 1. UCA also got another defensive touchdown, this time a 35-yard pick six interception return by junior cornerback DeAndre Lamont. Missouri State was held scoreless in the second half on Saturday. Most importantly, UCA had zero turnovers.

"I thought the second half it was a great performance on both sides of the ball,' said Brown. "Our defense made big plays. I thought we pressured their quarterbacks, neither one of their quarterbacks could get comfortable. And six turnovers to zero? That's the difference in the ballgame. We've had our fair share of turnovers this season and it kept us from winning some games. But when you come on the road to play a good team, I just told our players I'm so proud of them. Because it's not easy to beat a team twice, much less a team that has been preparing for you every since the last time you played them.'

MSU played just a three-game schedule this fall, taking a two-week break between UCA games. The Purple Bears played at defending FCS national champion North Dakota State and at FBS Arkansas State since the first meeting.

Junior placekicker Hayden Ray tied the school record with four field goals, with three coming from outside 40 yards. Ray connected from 47 yards to open the scoring , then added kicks from 46, 43 and 23 yards in the decisive third quarter, giving the Bears a 26-24 lead with the final field goal at the 4:13 mark of the period. Ray tied Eddie Carmona's mark of four field goals against Southeastern Louisiana in 2009.

"Those (field goals) were huge,' said Brown. "And he would have had a fifth one if we had got a decent snap and hold. We took advantage of the wind when we had it and he probably got a little longer than is range is normally, or what we're used to it being. But Hayden Ray is as consistent a kicker as their is. He's a really good player and we trust him and he came up big tonight.'

The Bears sealed the win with a 42-yard touchdown pass from junior Breylin Smith to sophomore Tyler Hudson in the final minute of the third period, and then turned the fourth quarter over to the defense. The final four possessions for MSU ended in a pair of punts and consecutive failed fourth down attempts. UCA allowed 330 total yards of offense but MSU's two quarterbacks combined to complete just 12 of 29 passes for 154 yards, with four interceptions and no touchdowns. 

Sophomore safety Cameron Godfrey had two of the interceptions, while Lamont and senior safety Davis Harrison had the others. Senior linebacker Trenton Dunn and Harrison also added fumble recoveries, while defensive end Logan Jessup forced one. Jessup, a sophomore from Wynne, Ark., tied the school record with 3.5 sacks and was a half tackle for loss short of tying that mark of five.

The Bears trailed for much of the game after Ray's opening field goal. MSU scored twice in a 1:46 span of the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead. Lamont's 35-yard interception return got UCA back within 14-10 and a 10-yard pass from Smith to junior wide receiver Mitchell Perkinson made it a 17-14 UCA lead with 9:23 left in the first half. But MSU added the final 10 points of the half to take a 24-17 advantage to the locker room.

They would not score again as UCA's stingy defense allowed just 52 yards in the second half, forcing four punts and intercepting two passes. MSU's longest possession in the second half was seven plays for a net of 20 yards. 

UCA finished with just 268 yards of offense but made the most of them. Smith completed 18 of 36 passes for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tobias Enlow and Perkinson caught five passes each, while Hudson finished with four for 69 yards. Senior Kierre Crossley ran 18 times for 71 tough yards. MSU's Jeremiah Wilson had an even 100 yards on the ground as the Maroon Bears finished with 176 rushing yards.

"Tobias stepped up big in Lujuan's absense,' said Brown. "He has bought his time and he's a good, good football player with two or three really good guys ahead of him. But he stepped up when he had to tonight. He made some huge catches. Breylin trusts him. And how about Mitch Perkinson. That kid is so solid, runs great routes, 

"Just so proud of our guys and they way they played.'

UCA plays its fourth consecutive road game next week at Eastern Kentucky. Kickoff in Richmond, Ky., is 2 p.m. (CT).