UCA Comeback Bid Falls Short in Loss to ACU

ABILENE, Texas – Saturday featured plenty of college football upsets, most notably Vanderbilt beating No. 1 Alabama and No. 25 Texas A&M dominating No. 9 Missouri.

However, the upsets extended past the FBS level and Central Arkansas was a victim of an upset-filled day.

The fifth-ranked Bears saw their four-game win streak come to an end Saturday when a fourth-quarter comeback fell short in a 41-34 loss to No. 16 Abilene Christian.

We did in fact 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 😤🔥#CDT | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/TBWuSvT6aZ

— ACU Football (@ACUFootball) October 6, 2024

The Wildcats (4-2, 3-0) jumped out to a 31-17 halftime lead before the Bears (4-2, 1-1) put together their usual late rally. UCA got an 11-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Will McElvain to running back ShunDerrick Powell in the final minute of the third quarter to get the Bears within 34-24.

ACU answered with a six-play, 75-yard drive, ending in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Maverick McIvor to Nehemiah Martinez, McIvor’s fifth scoring pass of the day. UCA drove down to the ACU 4 but was forced to settle for 21-yard field goal by Jake Gaster with 7:49 left to play. That brought it back to a two-score deficit.

UCA’s defense held and forced a punt, which pinned the Bears at their own 10 with 4:29 to play. UCA ran off 12 plays in just 2:51 and capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from McElvain to wide receiver Trejan Bridges with just 1:38 left on the clock.

Trailing 41-34, the Bears’ defense came up big again with a quick three-and-out, with ACU choosing to pass on third third and five while trying to run time off the clock. After a punt, UCA took over on its own 32 with 1:11 remaining. But on second and seven, McElvain threw over the middle and was intercepted by ACU’s Will Shaffer, just McElvain’s third pick of the season.

UCA finished with 528 yards of total offense to ACU’s 506, which was a season-high by a UCA opponent. McElvain completed a career-high 33 of 46 passes (a season high) for 326 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Powell ran 20 times for 170 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns for the sixth time in six games. He also added a team-high nine receptions for 61 yards and another touchdown.

Powell had 127 rushing yards at halftime, averaging 12.7 yard per carry. Bridges caught a career-high eight passes for 81 yards, while Malachi Henry had five catches for 83 yards. UCA’s defense, which played the second half without All-American safety TaMuarion Wilson due to a targeting penalty, got 11 tackles each from linebacker Demetrias Charles and safety Dillon Williams and had six tackles for loss on the day.

“They did a good job, they had us off balance a little bit, especially early,” said Brown. “Maverick McIvor has great command of that offense and he protected the ball today. We weren’t able to turn him over. We had a couple of shots, with the balls in our hands, that we didn’t take advantage of.”

The Bears had a field goal blocked, lost a fumble and finished with the one interception. The win was just ACU’s third over the Bears in 15 meetings. UCA won last year’s game in Conway 52-17.

FINAL | Abilene Christian 41, Central Arkansas 34

Will McElvain's third interception of the year seals it.

UCA falls to 4-2, 1-1 in conference play. pic.twitter.com/ILVD25naK6

— Sam Lane (@SamLaneOK) October 5, 2024

“This game isn’t going to define our season,” Brown said after his team was added to the list of college football upsets on Saturday. “It’s still a good football team in that locker room. We won the second half, point-wise. Unfortunately, whatever the timely possessions were, we weren’t able to execute on. And that’s both phases, offense and defense. You’re going to play games like this, games where a team has your number, where they’ve got a good scheme on you.

“We have to be able to adjust and win some shootouts. That’s what this was. And I know this, we can play a lot better, and it starts with me as the head coach. We’ve just got to rebound and get ready to play a good West Georgia team next week.”

UCA, which faced consecutive Top 20 teams in ACU and Lamar without being added to a list of college football upsets, hosts West Georgia at 4 p.m. Saturday on Hall of Fame Weekend at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.