Bears look to keep rolling tonight in Pine Bluff against UAPB

ONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas meets their second in-state opponent in four games on Saturday night when they take on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions in non-conference action.

The No. 8 Bears (2-1) will face the Golden Lions (1-2) at 6 p.m. at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff. There will be no television coverage of the game on ESPN+. It is the only game this season that won’t be available.

The last time the teams played in Pine Bluff was 1994, with UCA winning 7-6 in a game played entirely in the rain. The teams have met three times since then, twice at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium (2003, 2008) and once in Conway in 2021. UCA leads the overall series 11-2 and has won 11 consecutive matchups since UAPB won the first two in 1970 and 1971.

The Bears are coming off an impressive 45-17 home victory over Austin Peay last Saturday on “The Stripes” of First Security Field at Estes Stadium. The Governors are the defending United Athletic Conference (UAC) champions but the Bears controlled the game over the final three quarters, outscoring APSU 42-14 to break a 3-3 first-quarter tie.

UCA rolled up 309 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, led by senior ShunDerrick Powell with 173 yards and a pair of scores, and senior Darius Hale with 145 yards on just 14 carries (10.4 per rush) and two more touchdowns. Junior Trejan Bridges added UCA’s first punt return for a touchdown since 2022 with a 59-yarder in the second quarter.

UCA’s defense held Austin Peay to 287 total yards of offense, and just 92 on the ground. The Bears have held their past two opponents to 84 and 92 rushing yards. UCA had nine tackles for loss and five sacks, turned in by five different players, including David Walker, Bradley Clark, Jabreal Woodall, Sam Horton and Javeon Jones.

The Golden Lions have played both ends of the sprectrum so far this season, losing 70-0 to FBS Arkansas in their season opener, and beating NAIA Arkansas Baptist 73-0 the next week. UAPB is coming off a 41-28 loss to FCS Tennessee State last weekend in the 35th annual Southern Heritage Classic played in Memphis.

UAPB, under head coach Alonzo Hampton is averaging 33.6 points and 376 yards of total offense per game. The Golden Lions will open play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) next week, taking on Alcorn State in Alcorn, Miss.

In the last meeting in 2021, UCA won 45-23, totaling 456 yards of total offense, led by quarterback Breylin Smith’s 329 passing yards. UCA, which controlled the ball for 37:38, jumped out to a 21-0 lead early in the first quarter with three touchdown passes from Smith to Christian Richmond, Sam Camargo and Tobias Enlow.

Only three Bears who saw action in that game remain on the UCA roster. Hale, linebacker Demetrias Charles and safety TaMuarion Wilson all played a part in that victory.

UCA returns home next weekend, hosting Lamar in non-conference action at 6 p.m. at Estes Stadium on The Stripes.

Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.