September 2010 - CENTRAL ARKANSAS OUTLASTS ECSU VIKINGS 47-20

CENTRAL ARKANSAS OUTLASTS ECSU VIKINGS 47-20
Early Momentum Not Enough as ECSU Falls to I-AA Bears

September 2, 2010

CONWAY, AR - Central Arkansas quarterback Nathan Dick passed for 351 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Bears captured their home opener over Elizabeth City State University 47-20 Thursday evening at Estes Stadium.

The junior quarterback threw for 312 yards in the first half alone and by games’ end had connected with nine different receivers. He was 26-35 on the evening and rushed for 32 yards on the ground.

As impressive as the Bears were with the ball, offensively the Vikings were not to be outdone initially. ECSU got on the board first after a 75 yard scamper by Daronte McNeill set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Creven Powell at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter. The Bears got their first score of the 2010 season and knotted the game at 7 when Dick found Kenneth Robey for the first of his two first half touchdown receptions at the 4:22 mark.

Less than a minute later Dexter Manley hauled in an 82 yard touchdown pass from Powell and the Vikings took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Dick would next find Willie Landers on a 9-yard touchdown strike with 14:13 to go in the half. The Vikings’ next drive ended on downs and the Bears would capitalize; capturing their first lead of the evening on a 10-yard TD run by Terrence Bobo.

The Dick-Robey combo struck again with 2:43 left in the half and after a failed extra point the Bears took a 27-14 lead into the intermission.

The Vikings were 2-3 in the red zone and unfortunately would not make it across the goal line for the rest of the contest. Devon Pike and Danny Heimrich each added field goals of 22 and 39 yards in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.

UCA rolled up 585 yards of total offense to 380 yards from scrimmage for ECSU. Manley and McNeill both finished with over 100 yards; Manley with 120 yards on 5 catches while McNeill carried the ball 19 times for 117 yards.

Powell finished the day with 260 yards on 18-31 passing and a touchdown.

ECSU (1-1) will have 16 days off as next Saturday is their BYE week. The Vikings will return to the gridiron on September 18th at the Down East Viking Football Classic when they host Fayetteville State University in Rocky Mount, NC. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com.