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Another Big Game Today for Bears at Eastern Kentucky

After shocking loss last week, UCA looking to bounce back in another key UAC game on road

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RICHMOND, Ky. — Central Arkansas has the first of several key United Athletic Conference matchups on Saturday when they take on the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at 1 p.m. at Roy Kidd Stadium.

The No. 16/19 Bears (6-3) are tied with the Colonels (5-4) for third place in the UAC standings with 3-2 records, with three games remaining. UCA closes the regular season at home against Southern Utah (3-2) on Nov. 16 and at Tarleton State (4-1)on Nov. 23.

The Bears are coming off a 34-21 loss at Utah Tech last Saturday. EKU handed Tarleton State its first conference loss 17-13 last weekend in Stephenville, Texas. The Colonels started the season 3-4 but have won two consecutive games since.

UCA, which played without running back ShunDerrick Powell last week, is 2-2 in its last four games, beating West Georgia and North Alabama and losing to first-place Abilene Christian and Utah Tech.

The Colonels lead the overall series 3-2 but UCA won last year’s meeting in dramatic fashion at Estes Stadium. The Bears scored on the first play of the game on a T.D. Williams 52-yard interception return, then closed the game with another touchdown on the final play of the game, a 46-yard Hail Mary pass from Will McElvain to Jarrod Barnes as time expired in a 27-24 victory.

UCA has the No. 2 scoring offense in the UAC, averaging 34.8 points per game, and the No. 3 scoring defense, allowing 24.7 points. The Bears are also No. 2 in total offense (438.4 yards per game) and No. 3 in total defense (369.8).

The Bears have allowed just 12 sacks in nine games while leading the UAC in sacks recorded with 28, led by senior defensive end David Walker with nine. He also leads the UAC and the nation in tackles for loss with 18.5 after breaking the UCA career record two weeks ago. Walker now has 57.5 tackles for loss in less than three full seasons.

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2024 UCA Football

Sat, Aug 31@ Arkansas StateL, 34-31
Sat, Sep 7@ LindenwoodW, 34-13
Sat, Sep 14Austin PeayW, 45-17
Sat, Sep 21@ Arkansas-Pine BluffW, 56-17
Sat, Sep 28vs LamarW, 34-14
Sat, Oct 5@ Abilene ChristianL, 41-34
Sat, Oct 12vs West GeorgiaW, 34-33
Sat, Oct 26vs North AlabamaW, 24-19
Sat, Nov 2@ Utah TechL, 34-21
Sat, Nov 9@ Eastern KentuckyL, 31-24
Sat, Nov 16vs Southern UtahL, 38-31
Sat, Nov 30@Tarleton State2:00 PM
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High School Football Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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