The Deer Woods

This is the opening day of deer season in Arkansas. An estimated 400,000 hunters were said to be armed and aiming.

Interesting note: Arkansans say the hunters are "in the deer woods." That's the commonly used phrase.

I guess that speaks to how many deer are in the woods. That may explain why so many Diamond State residents are hunters!

One bright spot

Punter Bradley Russo is having another good day. He's averaging better than 42 yards per punt with a long of 50.

Strangely enough

Despite today's stinging defeat, NSU controls its playoff hopes. Finish with wins over McNeese at home next week and at Stephen F. Austin, and the Demons are 8-4 and in the FCS playoffs.
Obviously it will take a vastly better performance than today's, but we've seen this team play at a pretty high level.

Backup QB John Hundley is in the game, getting his first action since getting hurt in the conference opener vs. Nicholls.

A big question for NSU next week will be the status of redshirt freshman left offensive tackle Jace Prescott, who had to be helped from the field midway through the third quarter. Prescott and right offensive tackle Zach Case are legitimate SLC Freshman of the Year candidates.

Another open receiver down the hash for UCA

The Bears get a long completion and a touchdown run a play later. This year in college football you never say never but right now there's little to generate hope for the Demons today.

A first down, and a punt

UCA's controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, quite a surprise. After one first down, the Demons had to punt and UCA has the ball again five minutes after halftime.

Bleak beginning

UCA takes the second half kickoff, gains 24 yards on a reverse and then hits the Demons on another long TD pass, the fourth of the game, this one a swing to a running back. It's 35-6 as the Demons get the ball for the first time after halftime.

UCA pass rush is troubling

The Bears are able to get more heat on Drew Branch than any team we've seen to date. It resulted in a drive-killing 16-yard sack after NSU had a first down at the UCA 45, and the Demons punt it away dead inside the Bears' 15 with 1:12 left in the half.

Late getting over, Demons get burned

UCA gets a receiver right down the left hash and a Demon safety is late getting over. That's a costly mistake against a QB the caliber of UCA's Nathan Brown. It's a 71-yard TD pass 4:18 before halftime, and the Bears go up 28-6 when a forced punt could really have tightened matters before the half.

A small break, as UCA got its FIRST penalty of the day on an excessive celebration flag. TWhat means the Demons have a chance to get very good field position. They'll start ath their 38 with 4:13 on the clock.

The second clearly dropped pass of the day for NSU denies a nice gain out past midfield. That's three drops if you concede the officials' rulling on the fourth-down Kedrin Seastrunk pass inside the UCA 10. Bitter - darned right I am!

Weeks converts again after a flag

Robert Weeks shouldn't get too comfortable when he lines up for a field goal in this game. He was moved back 5 yards by an illegal shift flag, but had no problem whatsoever drilling a 45-yarder to get the Demons back within two scores, 21-6. After the "no catch" ruling on Kedrin Seastrunk's fourth-down play inside the Bears 10, UCA marched 90 yards in 13 plays for a 21-3 lead. But the Demons moved 70 plus yards after the kickoff and showed they will not go quietly into the night.

Catch ruled a no-catch

NSU converted a fourth-down pass inside the UCA 5 but the officials didn't see it that way. The ruling was that tight end Kedrin Seastrunk bobbled the catch and run. However, sideline observers right in front of the play said it was a clean catch and the ball was knocked loose when Seastrunk went out of bounds. Tough break for the Demons who are trailing 14-3.

Weeks gets the record

Robert Weeks got the school career field goal record -- twice. He nailed a 27-yarder but had it wiped out by a face mask penalty. He cracked a 41-yarder on the replay, giving him 38, one more than Keith Hodnett had from 1985-88.

Demons lead 3-0, but a 55-yard kickoff return has UCA in position and they take the lead on a TD pass.