Cash rushes for 221 yards as CAC rallies past Mena, 35–21
Cash rushes for 221 yards as CAC rallies past Mena, 35–21
Central Arkansas Christian rushed for 450 yards and erased a 14-point deficit to defeat Mena 35–21 Friday at Bearcat Stadium.
Eli Cash carried 15 times for 221 yards and a touchdown. Jackson Plumlee added 115 rushing yards and a score while completing seven of 13 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Brody Vantilborg contributed 114 rushing yards and another touchdown.
Mena scored on Hank Rose’s 85-yard opening kickoff return, then extended its lead to 14–0 on Rose’s touchdown pass with 8:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Luke Rowland intercepted a pass and returned it to the CAC 30, giving Mena an opportunity to add to its lead. Instead, the Bearcats lost a fumble, and CAC scored on a long touchdown pass two plays later.
A one-yard touchdown run pulled CAC within 14–13 late in the opening quarter after a missed extra point. The Mustangs moved ahead 20–14 on a 71-yard scoring run in the second quarter.
Andrew Threlkeld forced a fumble near Mena’s goal line shortly before halftime. The Bearcats also stopped CAC on fourth-and-goal from the four during the scoreless third quarter, taking possession at their one.
CAC extended the lead to 28–14 with a 50-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point pass in the fourth quarter. Rose answered with a touchdown scramble, cutting the deficit to 28–21 with 6:12 remaining.
Facing fourth-and-three, Plumlee threw a touchdown pass with 2:43 left to restore CAC’s two-touchdown lead. The Mustangs intercepted Rose’s final pass with 1:03 remaining and ran out the clock.
Hoover Brogdon caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Lowe added two catches for 31 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Ross Mounts finished with 12 tackles and recovered one of the Bearcats’ three offensive turnovers. CAC improved to 2–0; Mena fell to 1–2.
Scoring summary
| Quarter | Scoring play | Score afterward |
|---|---|---|
| First — 11:45 | Mena: Hank Rose, 85-yard kickoff return; extra point good. | Mena 7–0 |
| First — 8:46 | Mena: Touchdown pass from Rose; extra point good. | Mena 14–0 |
| First — 4:57 | CAC: Touchdown pass from Jackson Plumlee; extra point good. | Mena 14–7 |
| First | CAC: One-yard touchdown run; extra point missed. | Mena 14–13 |
| Second | CAC: 71-yard touchdown run; extra point good. | CAC 20–14 |
| Third | No scoring. | CAC 20–14 |
| Fourth | CAC: 50-yard touchdown run; Plumlee’s two-point pass to Andrew Lowe was good. | CAC 28–14 |
| Fourth — 6:12 | Mena: Rose touchdown run; extra point good. | CAC 28–21 |
| Fourth — 2:43 | CAC: Plumlee touchdown pass on fourth-and-three; extra point good. | CAC 35–21 |
Players who stood out
- Eli Cash, CAC: 15 carries for 221 yards and one touchdown.
- Jackson Plumlee, CAC: 7-of-13 passing for 121 yards and two touchdowns, plus 115 rushing yards and one touchdown.
- Brody Vantilborg, CAC: 114 rushing yards and one touchdown.
- Andrew Lowe, CAC: Two catches for 31 yards and a touchdown, a two-point conversion catch and 12 tackles.
- Hank Rose, Mena: Accounted for three touchdowns: an 85-yard kickoff return, a touchdown pass and the fourth-quarter touchdown scramble that pulled Mena within seven.
- Luke Rowland, Mena: Intercepted a first-quarter pass and returned it to CAC’s 30-yard line.
- Andrew Threlkeld, Mena: Forced a fumble near Mena’s goal line late in the second quarter, ending a CAC scoring threat before halftime.