Photo Credit-Austin Arford
The Central Arkansas Bears are on the road this Saturday, traveling to Florence, Alabama, for a United Athletic Conference showdown with the North Alabama Lions. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and The Bear 94.1.
UCA comes in at 2-4 overall and 1-1 in league play after a 23-17 win over Utah Tech last week. Kicker Caleb Jones earned UAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after scoring 11 points, going 3-for-3 on field goals and perfect on extra points. Running back Landen Chambers continues to be a workhorse for the Bears, rushing for over 100 yards in three straight games and racking up 450 total yards in that stretch.
Austin Myers got his first start at quarterback for UCA and threw for 223 yards and a touchdown. Malachi Henry leads a deep group of receivers with 357 yards and three touchdowns on the year. Tyrell Pollard, Arlie Lee, and Ty Durham have also been consistent targets.
On the defensive side, Ashtyn and Dillon Williams are tied for the team lead with 37 tackles apiece, and Gary Lewis leads the team in sacks with three.
North Alabama, sitting at 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play, is coming off a 52-23 loss to Abilene Christian. The Lions have rotated three quarterbacks this season, but Ari Patu is expected to get the start Saturday. He’s thrown for 406 yards and four touchdowns so far. Running back Jayvian Allen has four scores on the ground and 304 rushing yards. Justin Pegues leads the receiving corps with 253 yards and three touchdowns.
On defense, linebacker Demarcious Robinson is the standout, leading the team in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and interceptions.
The Bears have had the upper hand in recent matchups, winning all three meetings since the programs moved to Division I. That includes a 27-14 win in Florence last season. Historically, the Lions dominated the series when both schools were members of the Gulf South Conference, holding a 15-5 advantage from 1951 to 2005.
Saturday’s matchup marks the fourth Division I-era meeting between the two programs, as both teams look to gain ground in the UAC standings.
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