2018 Central Arkansas Bears football team

American college football season

2018 Central Arkansas Bears football

Conference| Southland Conference
Record| 6–5 (5–4 Southland)
Head coach|

* Nathan Brown (1st season)

Offensive coordinator| Ken Collums (1st season)
Defensive coordinator| Max Thurmond (1st season)
Home stadium| Estes Stadium

Seasons

<- 2017

2019 ->

2018 Southland Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 14 Nicholls +^  |  | 7  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
Incarnate Word +^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Lamar ^  |  | 6  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Abilene Christian |  | 5  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Central Arkansas |  | 5  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
McNeese State |  | 5  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Sam Houston State |  | 5  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Northwestern State |  | 4  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |
Southeastern Louisiana |  | 4  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Stephen F. Austin |  | 2  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 8  |
Houston Baptist |  | 0  | - | 9  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 10  |

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

Rankings from STATS poll

The 2018 Central Arkansas Bears football team represented the University of Central Arkansas in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were led by first-year head coach Nathan Brown and played their home games at Estes Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 6–5, 5–4 in Southland play to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place.

## Preseason

[edit]

### Preseason All-Conference Teams

[edit]

On July 12, 2018, the Southland announced their Preseason All-Conference Teams, with the Bears having 11 players selected.[1]

Offense First Team

* Carlos Blackman – Jr. RB

Defense First Team

* Chris Terrell – Jr. DL
* Eric Jackson – Sr. DL
* Juan Jackson – Jr. DB

Offense Second Team

* Josh Nix – So. TE
* Adrian Harris – So. OL
* Hunter Watts – Jr. OL

Defense Second Team

* Cardell Best – Sr. DL
* Nathan Grant – So. DL
* Raphael Garner – Sr. LB
* Cedric Battle – Sr. KR

### Preseason poll

[edit]

On July 19, 2018, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Bears predicted to finish in third place.[2]

Predicted finish  | Team  | Votes (1st place)

|
|

1 | Sam Houston State | 187 (10)
2 | Nicholls State | 173 (6)
3 | Central Arkansas | 170 (5)
4 | McNeese State | 159 (1)
5 | Southeastern Louisiana | 119
6 | Stephen F. Austin | 90
7 | Abilene Christian | 89
8 | Northwestern State | 86
9 | Incarnate Word | 53
10 | Lamar | 52
11 | Houston Baptist | 32

### Award watch lists

[edit]

Award  | Player  | Position  | Year

|
|
|

Buck Buchanan Award[3] | Chris Terrell  | DE  | JR

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

September 1| 6:00 p.m.| at Tulsa*| No. 16|

* H. A. Chapman Stadium
* Tulsa, OK

| ESPN3| L 27–38| 18,356
September 8| 6:00 pm| Murray State*| No. 17|

* Estes Stadium
* Conway, AR

| SLC Digital| W 26–13| 6,121
September 15| 7:00 p.m.| at Southeastern Louisiana| No. 18|

* Strawberry Stadium
* Hammond, LA

| ESPN+| W 33–25| 6,485
September 29| 3:00 pm| at No. 21 Sam Houston State| No. 13|

* Bowers Stadium
* Huntsville, TX

| ESPN3| L 31–34 OT| 7,598
October 6| 6:00 pm| Houston Baptist| No. 20|

* Estes Stadium
* Conway, AR

| Bear Nation Network| W 66–35| 10,210
October 13| 3:00 p.m.| at Stephen F. Austin| No. 18|

* Homer Bryce Stadium
* Nacogdoches, TX

| ESPN3| W 27–17| 5,976
October 20| 6:00 pm| Northwestern State| No. 15|

* Estes Stadium
* Conway, AR

| Bear Nation Network| W 38–17| 6,754
October 27| 6:00 p.m.| at No. 14 McNeese State| No. 13|

* Cowboy Stadium
* Lake Charles, LA (Red Beans and Rice Bowl)

| ESPN3| L 21–23| 11,208
November 3| 6:00 pm| Lamar| No. 19|

* Estes Stadium
* Conway, AR

| ELVN, CST, SLC Digital| L 24–38| 10,874
November 10| 3:00 pm| Incarnate Word| |

* Estes Stadium
* Conway, AR

| SLC Digital| L 27–40| 4,457
November 17| 2:00 p.m.| at Abilene Christian| |

* Wildcat Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| ESPN+| W 16–7| 8,006

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Central time

[4][5][6][7][8]

## Game summaries

[edit]

### At Tulsa

[edit]

See also: 2018 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

Central Arkansas at Tulsa  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

No. 16 Bears | 13 | 0| 7| 7 | 27
• Golden Hurricane | 7 | 14| 3| 14 | 38

* Date: September 1
* Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium
Tulsa, Oklahoma
* Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game attendance: 18,356
* Referee: Bob Johnson
* Television network: ESPN3

| Scoring summary

1| 12:49| TULSA| Hobbs 49-yard pass from Skipper (Walker kick)| TULSA 0–7
1| 10:43| UCA| Cummins 19-yard FG| TULSA 3–7
1| 6:23| UCA| Cummins 40-yard FG| TULSA 6–7
1| 3:54| UCA| Kierr 1-yard rush (Cummins kick)| UCA 13–7
2| 14:57| TULSA| Skipper 1-yard rush (Walker kick)| TULSA 13–14
2| 5:10| TULSA| Brooks 1-yard rush (Walker kick)| TULSA 13–21
3| 5:52| UCA| Smith 2-yard rush (Walker kick)| TULSA 20–21
3| 1:25| TULSA| Walker 40-yard FG| TULSA 20–24
4| 11:08| UCA| Morris fumble recovery in end zone (Cummins kick)| UCA 27–24
4| 8:11| TULSA| Neph 14-yard pass from Skipper (Walker kick)| TULSA 27–31
4| 7:36| TULSA| Brooks 1-yard rush (Walker kick)| TULSA 27–38

### Murray State

[edit]

See also: 2018 Murray State Racers football team

Murray State at Central Arkansas  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Racers | 3 | 10| 0| 0 | 13
• No. 17 Bears | 7 | 13| 0| 6 | 26

* Date: September 8
* Location: Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
* Game start: 6:00 pm CDT
* Television network: SLC Digital

Sources:

### At Southeastern Louisiana

[edit]

See also: 2018 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team

Central Arkansas at Southeastern Louisiana  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

• No. 18 Bears | 0 | 13| 14| 6 | 33
Lions | 7 | 3| 7| 8 | 25

* Date: September 15
* Location: Strawberry Stadium
Hammond, LA
* Game start: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Television network: ESPN+

Sources:

### At Sam Houston State

[edit]

See also: 2018 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

Central Arkansas at Sam Houston State  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| OT| Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

No. 13 Bears | 3 | 7| 7| 14| 0 | 31
• No. 21 Bearkats | 0 | 14| 14| 3| 3 | 34

* Date: September 29
* Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX
* Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Television network: ESPN3

Sources:

### Houston Baptist

[edit]

See also: 2018 Houston Baptist Huskies football team

Houston Baptist at Central Arkansas  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Huskies | 14 | 7| 14| 0 | 35
• No. 20 Bears | 21 | 14| 17| 14 | 66

* Date: October 6
* Location: Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
* Game start: 6:00 pm CDT
* Television network: Bear Nation Network

Sources:

### At Stephen F. Austin

[edit]

See also: 2018 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team

Central Arkansas at Stephen F. Austin  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

• No. 18 Bears | 7 | 3| 14| 3 | 27
Lumberjacks | 7 | 0| 3| 7 | 17

* Date: October 13
* Location: Homer Bryce Stadium
Nacogdoches, TX
* Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Television network: ESPN3

Sources:

### Northwestern State

[edit]

See also: 2018 Northwestern State Demons football team

Northwestern State at Central Arkansas  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Demons | 0 | 10| 7| 0 | 17
• No. 15 Bears | 14 | 14| 7| 3 | 38

* Date: October 20
* Location: Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
* Game start: 6:00 pm CDT
* Elapsed time: 3:05
* Game attendance: 6,754
* Referee: Cooper Castleberry
* Television network: Bear Nation Network

Sources:[9][10]

### At McNeese State

[edit]

See also: 2018 McNeese State Cowboys football team

Red Beans and Rice Bowl |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

No. 13 Bears | 7 | 7| 7| 0 | 21
• No. 14 Cowboys | 17 | 3| 0| 3 | 23

* Date: October 27
* Location: Cowboy Stadium
Lake Charles, LA
* Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Elapsed time: 3:15
* Game attendance: 11,208
* Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C) • SW 10 • Clear
* Referee: Michael VanderVelde
* Television network: ESPN3

Sources:[11]

### Lamar

[edit]

See also: 2018 Lamar Cardinals football team

Lamar at Central Arkansas
(homecoming)  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

• Cardinals | 21 | 14| 3| 0 | 38
No. 19 Bears | 10 | 6| 0| 8 | 24

* Date: November 3
* Location: Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
* Game start: 6:00 pm CDT
* Television network: ELVN/CST/SLC Digital

Sources:

### Incarnate Word

[edit]

See also: 2018 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team

Incarnate Word at Central Arkansas  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

• Cardinals | 3 | 14| 13| 10 | 40
Bears | 7 | 7| 7| 6 | 27

* Date: November 10
* Location: Estes Stadium
Conway, AR
* Game start: 3:00 pm CST
* Television network: SLC Digital

Sources:

### At Abilene Christian

[edit]

See also: 2018 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

Central Arkansas at Abilene Christian  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

• Bears | 0 | 6| 3| 7 | 16
Wildcats | 0 | 7| 0| 0 | 7

* Date: November 17
* Location: Wildcat Stadium
Abilene, TX

Sources:

## Ranking movements

[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below| Week

|

Poll| Pre| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| Final
STATS FCS| 16| 17| 18| 14| 13–T| 20| 18| 15| 13| 19| RV| RV| RV|
Coaches| 15| 17| 17| 13| 12| 18| 16| 15| 14| 19| RV| —| —|

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Southland Announces 2018 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams".
2. ^ "Sam Houston State Voted to Top Spot in 2018 Football Preseason Poll".
3. ^ "FCS football: 2018 Buck Buchanan Award watch list announced". August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
4. ^ "Central Arkansas Bears Schedule - 2018". ESPN. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
5. ^ "Southland Announces Week 9 TV Selections". Southland Conference. October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
6. ^ "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 10 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
7. ^ "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 8 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
8. ^ "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 6 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
9. ^ "NORTHWESTERN STATE (2-5 , 1-4) -VS- CENTRAL ARKANSAS (5-2 , 4-1)". UCA Athletics. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
10. ^ "Hales throws 5 TDs, Central Arkansas thumps NW State 38-17". ESPN. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
11. ^ "CENTRAL ARKANSAS (5-3 , 4-2) -VS- MCNEESE (6-2 , 5-1)". UCA Athletics. Retrieved October 27, 2018.

* v
* t
* e

Central Arkansas Bears football

Venues|

* Estes Stadium (1939–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* 1937 Charity Bowl
* 1947 Kickapoo Bowl
* McNeese State: Red Beans and Rice Bowl

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

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National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
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*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number