By:WJBC Staff
CONWAY, Ark. – Despite Illinois State (6-6, 4-4 MVFC) tallying 17 first-half points and limiting Central Arkansas (10-2, 8-1 SLC) to just seven points, the Bears scored 24 fourth-quarter points to come back and defeat the Redbirds 31-24 at Estes Stadium Saturday afternoon in the first round of the 2016 FCS Playoffs.
Anthony Warrum’s two touchdowns helped him become the only ISU receiver in school history to post 10 or more touchdowns in back-to-back seasons and the first player to record multiple seasons with 1,000 yards receiving. Anthony Fowler also had a good day, tallying a career-long 47-yard reception from Jake Kolbe in the second quarter.
The ISU defense dominated the first-half, limiting the Bears to just six rushing yards and not allowing a single first down in the first quarter. Davontae Harris tallied his second interception of the season in the first quarter, which helped set up a score for the ‘Birds. Brent Spack led the ‘Birds in tackles with nine, while Jason Harris was a big factor recording one sack and two tackles-for-losses.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Bears began their comeback as they blocked a momentum-changing punt at the start of the fourth quarter that was picked up by Jakari Dillard on ISU’s four-yard line, and he ran it in for the touchdown to bring the Bears within a field goal of the Redbirds, 17-14. The Bears followed that up with another score around the 10-minute mark to take the lead for the first time, 21-17. Following the score, the Bears shook things up opting for the onside kick that was recovered by UCA at ISU’s 36-yard line. Despite a big stop by the Redbird defense inside the red zone, UCA was still able to kick a 28-yard field goal to widen its lead to a touchdown, 24-17.
In a mere one minute 38 seconds, the ‘Birds fought back on a four-play, 81-yard scoring drive that was highlighted-by a 55-yard touchdown reception from Jake Kolbe to Warrum to tie the game at 24-24. With a minute and a half remaining, the Bears answered back, returning Reece Attard’s punt 39 yards to ISU’s four-yard line, before Antwon Wells ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown to break the tie and climb ahead 31-24.
The Redbirds controlled the first half and wasted little time at the start of the game, scoring on its first two possessions with the first coming just four minutes into the first quarter. Kolbe first gave the ball to Jamal Towns on back-to-back plays, before he connected with Christian Gibbs for nine yards for another first down. The six-play, 56-yard drive was capped off by a 31-yard sprint to the end zone by DeMarco Corbin to put ISU ahead of the UCA, 7-0. The Bear’ did not have the ball long, before Harris hurled himself in front of Hayden Hildebrand’s pass for the interception. From there, the ‘Birds marched down the stripes thanks to another double-digit carry by Corbin that helped put the ‘Birds in field goal range. Sean Slattery proceeded to boot the pigskin 43 yards through the uprights to extend the Redbird’s lead to 10-0.
ISU held the Bears scoreless until the 10-minute mark of the second quarter, when Desmond Smith caught a one-yard pass in the end zone to narrow ISU’s lead to three at 10-7. The Redbirds responded with a seven-point score of their own, when James Robinson earned the Redbirds prime field position thanks to a career-long 52-yard punt return to help set up the seven-play, 48-yard scoring drive for ISU. After picking up two first downs including a 24-yard rush by Towns, Warrum was Kolbe’s receiver of choice from four-yards out to help put seven on the board for ISU and extend their lead to 17-7 over the Bears heading into the locker room at the half.
