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
(Capacity: 10,000)

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.

## Previous season[edit]

The Bears finished the 2017 season 10–2, 9–0 in Southland play to be crowned Southland Conference champions. They received the Southland's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they lost to New Hampshire in the second round.

On December 7, head coach Steve Campbell resigned to become the head coach at South Alabama.[1] He finished at Central Arkansas with a four-year record of 33–15.

## 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.[2]

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.[3]

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[4] | Chris Terrell  | DE  | JR

## Schedule[edit]

Source: [5][6][7][8][9][10]

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

*-Indicates Game Broadcast via Tape Delay

## 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:[11][12]

### 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:[13]

### 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. ^ "South Alabama Names Steve Campbell Head Football Coach".
2. ^ "Southland Announces 2018 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams".
3. ^ "Sam Houston State Voted to Top Spot in 2018 Football Preseason Poll".
4. ^ "FCS football: 2018 Buck Buchanan Award watch list announced". August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
5. ^ "2018 Football Schedule". UCA Athletics. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
6. ^ "Central Arkansas Bears Schedule - 2018". ESPN. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
7. ^ "Southland Announces Week 9 TV Selections". Southland Conference. October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
8. ^ "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 10 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
9. ^ "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 8 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
10. ^ "SOUTHLAND ANNOUNCES WEEK 6 TV SELECTIONS". Southland Conference. September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
11. ^ "NORTHWESTERN STATE (2-5 , 1-4) -VS- CENTRAL ARKANSAS (5-2 , 4-1)". UCA Athletics. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
12. ^ "Hales throws 5 TDs, Central Arkansas thumps NW State 38-17". ESPN. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
13. ^ "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

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* Estes Stadium (1939–present)

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

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*[v]: View this template
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*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
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*[No.]: Number