Bears rally late but fall 41-38 at Austin Peay in road loss

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Central Arkansas fell just short in a road battle Saturday night, losing 41-38 to Austin Peay at Fortera Stadium.

The Bears rallied from a 27-14 halftime deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead but could not hold off a late Governors drive.

The loss dropped the Bears to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in United Athletic Conference play. Austin Peay improved to 6-4 and 4-3 in the league.

UCA opened strong when quarterback Austin Myers found receiver Malachi Henry on a 50-yard touchdown strike less than three minutes into the game. Caleb Jones added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

After forcing a turnover on downs, the Bears struck again late in the first quarter. Landen Chambers sprinted 53 yards to set up Cameron Young’s 2-yard touchdown run, pushing UCA’s advantage to 14-3.

Austin Peay answered quickly in the second quarter. Following a fumble by Myers at the UCA 35-yard line, Governors quarterback Chris Parson threw a touchdown pass to Nate Garnett Jr. to trim the margin to 14-10.

The hosts kept the pressure on, scoring 24 straight points to end the half ahead 27-14. UCA’s early rhythm gave way to turnovers and stalled possessions, allowing Austin Peay to seize control at the break.

Bears storm back in second half

UCA regrouped after halftime. Jones’ 29-yard field goal midway through the third quarter narrowed the deficit to 27-17.

Moments later, Daylon Land recovered a fumble at the Austin Peay 43. On the very next play, Myers connected with Tyrell Pollard for a 43-yard touchdown, cutting the gap to three points.

With just over a minute left in the quarter, Chambers powered into the end zone from a yard out to give the Bears a 31-27 lead. In less than 15 minutes, UCA had erased a 13-point deficit and taken control.

Austin Peay reclaimed the lead early in the fourth on a scoring drive that made it 34-31, but the Bears again responded. Gavin Smith’s fumble recovery set up a short field, and Myers hit Ty Durham for a 9-yard touchdown to regain a 38-34 advantage with 9:19 remaining.

The Governors, however, produced the game’s final points. Parson led a decisive drive capped by a go-ahead touchdown with 7:25 left. UCA’s last possession ended on downs near midfield with under two minutes to play.

Offensive leaders shine for UCA

Chambers led all rushers with 155 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown, averaging more than eight yards per carry. Myers completed 19 of 35 passes for 213 yards and three scores, while Henry hauled in nine receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Dillon Williams paced the Bears with eight tackles. Land and Smith each recovered key fumbles that fueled UCA’s third-quarter rally.

Statistically, the Bears finished with 412 total yards — 213 passing and 199 rushing — while Austin Peay posted 480 yards of offense, including 301 through the air. Both teams committed two turnovers, but Austin Peay’s 36:33 to 23:27 edge in time of possession proved crucial late.

The loss marked another close finish in a season filled with narrow results for head coach Nathan Brown’s squad.

UCA closes its regular season next Saturday, Nov. 15, on the road at Southern Utah. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.

Key takeaways

• Central Arkansas erased a 27-14 halftime deficit to briefly lead 38-34 in the fourth quarter.
• Landen Chambers rushed for 155 yards, while Austin Myers threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns.
• Austin Peay’s 36-minute possession time helped secure the Governors’ comeback win.