College Football: Recapping Texas State's 49-17 loss to UCA

Well, the Bobcats fell to 1-5 this season in Southland Conference play. Texas State looked out of sorts in the first, second and fourth quarters against Central Arkansas and never stood a chance in a 49-17 loss.

The Bobcats went into halftime down 42-3 and the Bears had several opportunities to add points in the second half but didn't capitalize. In other words, it could have been a lot worse.

Here are some quotes from the post-game press conference with Texas State head coach Brad Wright, senior linebacker Marcus Clark and senior running back Karrington Bush.

Wright

His opening statement: "As a coach, after a game like we just played last week, you can hardly wait to get out and practice to keep it going. I don’t have and I don’t think these guys have an answer as to why today’s first half happened. We had a good week of practice and a good plan. We just didn’t execute or make plays."

On how UCA was able to move the ball so well: "A lot of it had to be us. I remember seeing and I’m not going to name names, but one of our linebackers fall off an 150-pound wide receiver like he was Earl Campbell. It’s tough to play defense if you can’t tackle."

Clark

On what the difference was between the first and second half for the defense: "Just because you take up a block doesn’t mean anything. We were fighting off blocks better in the second half. We just played better in the second half."

Bush

On what it feels like to lose his final home game: "We’re pretty upset. Losing that bad especially in our last home game. There’s no feeling that can get it all better."

College Football: Scouting the Bears

About the School

Official Name: University of Central Arkansas
Nickname: Bears/Sugar Bears
Location: Conway, Ark.
Enrollment: 11,758

About the Team

Head Coach: Clint Conque
Record: 5-3
Last Game: W, 30-23 vs. SE Louisiana
Leading Passer: Nathan Dick (176-270-5, 1171, 5 TDs)
Leading Rusher: Terence Bobo (60-272, 5 TDs)
Leading Receiver: Kenneth Robey (54-653, 5 TDs)
Leading Tackler: Frank Newsome (69 tackles)
Upcoming Schedule: @Texas State, Sam Houston State

Let's Go to the Video

College Football: Talking with Marcus Clark

Marcus Clark UCA by smdrtyler

College Football: There's still a way

Whether you can believe it or not, there is still a chance for Texas State to win at least a share of the Southland Conference championship. Sure it's a little bit smaller than a grain of salt, but it's possible.

Here's how:

These are the current standings

Stephen F. Austin — 3-1
McNeese State — 3-1
Northwestern State — 3-1
Sam Houston State — 2-2
Central Arkansas — 2-2
SE Louisiana — 1-3
Nicholls State — 1-3
Texas State — 1-3

Here are this week's games:

Central Arkansas at Texas State
McNeese State at Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin at Nicholls State
Northwestern State at SE Louisiana

In order to get the ball rolling, the Bobcats need every underdog to win. If that happens, here would be the standings:

Stephen F. Austin — 3-2
McNeese State — 3-2
Northwestern State — 3-2
Sam Houston State — 3-2
SE Louisiana — 2-3
Nicholls State — 2-3
Texas State — 2-3
Central Arkansas — 2-3

Then here are the following week's games:

Nicholls State at Northwestern State
SE Louisiana at Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston State at Central Arkansas
Texas State at McNeese State

Suppose again all of the underdogs — and Texas State — win.

Stephen F. Austin — 3-3
McNeese State — 3-3
Northwestern State — 3-3
Sam Houston State — 3-3
SE Louisiana — 3-3
Nicholls State — 3-3
Texas State — 3-3
Central Arkansas — 3-3

Then here are the final games of the regular season:

Texas State at Sam Houston State
SE Louisiana at Nicholls State
Northwestern State at Stephen F. Austin
McNeese State at Central Arkansas

Suppose everything keeps falling Texas State's way but Stephen F. Austin beats Northwestern State.

Nicholls State — 4-3
Stephen F. Austin — 4-3
Texas State — 4-3
Central Arkansas — 4-3
Sam Houston State — 3-4
McNeese State — 3-4
Northwestern State — 3-4
SE Louisiana — 3-4

Texas State would earn a share of the title but couldn't advance to the playoffs. It would be a coin flip between Central Arkansas and Nicholls State but I'd venture to say Central Arkansas would advance because they are the furthest removed from making the playoffs.

College Football: A weekly look at the SLC standings

Here are the current standings in the Southland Conference through three conference games...

Stephen F. Austin — 3-1
McNeese State — 3-1
Northwestern State — 3-1
Sam Houston State — 2-2
Central Arkansas — 2-2
SE Louisiana — 1-3
Nicholls State — 1-3
Texas State — 1-3

Here are this week's games:

Central Arkansas at Texas State (SLC TV)
McNeese State at Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin at Nicholls State
Northwestern State at SE Louisiana

College Football: Rounding up the weekly press conferences

Central Arkansas head coach Clint Conque

• Said his team just got done with a physical game with Southeastern Louisiana and will need to heal up heading into Saturday against Texas State
• Had nothing but positive things to say about Bobcats quarterback Tim Hawkins
• Said Hawkins, "...is a good-looking young man that you're not going to be able to knock down without gang tackling him."

Texas State head coach Brad Wright

• Said he was pleased with how his team weathered the storm against Stephen F. Austin and fought back when it mattered
• Said the defense kept them in the game while the offense finally learned how to get into the end zone
• Mentioned that the Tim Hawkins people saw at Stephen F. Austin was the Tim Hawkins the coaches saw during spring practice
• Said the kicking game is a sore spot and joked that they'll be holding open tryouts Tuesday afternoon at practice
  

College Football: How Mayforth voted in the most recent TSN Top 25 (Week 8)

Sorry I didn't post this earlier, but have at it.

1. Jacksonville State
2. Appalachian State
3. William & Mary
4. Villanova
5. Delaware
6. Eastern Washington
7. Wofford
8. New Hampshire
9. Liberty
10. SE Missouri State
11. Montana State
12. Bethune-Cookman
13. South Carolina State
14. Penn
15. Stephen F. Austin
16. Northern Iowa
17. Massachusetts
18. Jacksonville
19. Robert Morris
20. Montana
21. Grambling State
22. Dayton
23. Cal Poly
24. Lehigh
25. Western Illinois