Bears open 2026 season with road win over UT Martin

MARTIN, Tenn. — Central Arkansas kicked off its season in style, knocking off No. 22 UT Martin 36-24 on the road Thursday night at Hardy M. Graham Stadium.

The win pushed UCA to 1-0 while UT Martin dropped to 0-1 on the young season.

Quarterback Donovyn Omolo carried the offense from start to finish.

He completed 20 of 27 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 118 yards on the ground.

The Bears racked up 471 total yards and moved the chains on 10 of 15 third-down tries, numbers that told the story of a team that stayed patient even when the scoreboard got shaky early.

Bears’ defense forces an early turnover

UCA won the coin toss and deferred, sending the defense out first.

It didn’t take long for the unit to make its mark as Bryson Adamoh picked off a pass from UT Martin’s Julian Calvez.

The Bears’ offense couldn’t cash in right away and went three-and-out on the ensuing drive.

On the next possession UCA found the end zone when Omolo hit Kealen Juniel for an 8-yard score with 5:42 left in the opening quarter.

A blocked extra point kept the margin tight at 7-6 after UT Martin had already answered with a 55-yard interception return touchdown from Trey Cotton. The Skyhawks led 7-6 after one.

UCA answers before the half

The second quarter belonged to the Bears for a stretch. Que Tillman punched in a 3-yard touchdown run at the 6:53 mark to put UCA up 13-10.

UT Martin clawed back in front at 17-13, but Omolo and Arlie Lee weren’t finished.

With less than a minute on the clock the duo connected for a 19-yard touchdown that put the Bears back on top 19-17, though another blocked extra point kept things close heading into the locker room.

UCA didn’t waste time extending its lead once the third quarter opened.

Omolo and Lee struck again, this time from 51 yards out, and Caleb Jones’ extra point made it 26-17 just over two minutes into the half.

UT Martin’s chance to answer fizzled when a 34-yard field goal try from Brandon Sims sailed wide, letting the Bears carry momentum into the fourth.

Fourth-quarter push seals the win

Jones added a 32-yard field goal early in the final period to push the lead to 29-17.

UT Martin trimmed the gap to 29-24 with a touchdown, but the Bears had an answer ready. Jalen Washington broke off a 27-yard touchdown run with 3:38 remaining to make it 36-24.

Jacob Sekiyoba added an interception in the closing minutes to put the finishing touch on the win.

Lee finished with just two catches but made them count, hauling in both for touchdowns and totaling 70 receiving yards.

Ashtyn Williams anchored the defense with 16 tackles while Sekiyoba chipped in four stops and the game-sealing pick.

UCA will stay on the road one more week before returning home.

The Bears host West Florida on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Conway for their home opener.