SLC champion Bears earn first-round bye in playoffs

CONWAY -- Southland Conference champion Central Arkansas has received a first-round bye in the upcoming Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and a second-round home game Dec. 2.

The Bears finished the regular season 10-1 overall and 9-0 in SLC with Saturday's 34-0 triumph over Abilene Christian at Estes Stadium. UCA makes its second-straight trip to the playoffs, winning 10 straight games since a season-opening loss at Big 12 Kansas State.

"I'm glad to be able to win the conference championship, but that's not our ultimate goal," said fourth-year coach Steve Campbell. "That was one of our goals, and this was a huge goal, to win the conference championship and go undefeated, but our ultimate goal is to win the national championship. And the only way to do that is to win the next game you play. And that becomes the most important game. And that's where we'll turn our attention very quickly."

The Bears outgained Abilene Christian 24-6 in first downs and 495-172 in total yardage. UCA converted 10 of 18 third downs and kept the ball for 40 minutes, 51 seconds. Abilene Christian (2-9, 2-7) was 0 for 11 on third downs.

Hayden Hildebrand passed 78 yards to Brandon Cox for a touchdown and Matt Cummins kicked it to 7-0 in the game's opening minute. Jarvis Cooper ran 38 yards for a touchdown and Cummins kicked field goals of 26 and 25 yards, setting the halftime score at 20-0.

Cedric Battle ran two yards in the third quarter and Carlo Blackman eight yards in the fourth for the Bears' other touchdowns. Blackman finished with 123 yards on 20 carries.

Hildebrand completed 10 of 18 psses for 176 yards with no interceptions or sacks.

Harding on road again

Coming from behind to beat Indianapolis on Saturday, Harding stays on the road for the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The Bisons, 9-3 overall and winners of nine straight, go to Ashland, Ohio, for a matchup Saturday against the 11-1 Eagles. Ashland comes off a 21-18 victory over two-time defending national champion Northwest Missouri State. The Eagles have won 11 straight this season and are 21-1 in at home since the start of the 2014 season.

Harding, receiving an at-large playoff bid after finishing second in the Great American Conference, won 27-24 over previously unbeaten Indianapolis. Terrence Dingle scored the winning touchdown on a 25-yard quarterback keeper with 9:15 left in the game, and the Bisons turned back Indianapolis after the home team reached the Harding one-yard line.

Sports on 11/20/2017

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