Bears visit West Georgia for UAC matchup after off week

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas (3-4, 2-1 in the United Athletic Conference) travels to Carrollton, Ga., on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the West Georgia Wolves (5-3, 2-3) during the Wolves’ Homecoming.

After a bye week, the Bears aim to build on consecutive UAC wins over Utah Tech and North Alabama. The stretch has boosted confidence within the team, particularly after a slow start to the season.

Running back Landen Chambers powered the Bears by rushing for 184 yards and three touchdowns versus North Alabama, earning UAC Offensive Player of the Week. It marked his fourth straight 100-yard game and his fifth of the season.

Quarterback Austin Myers, in just his second start, threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns at North Alabama, giving him seven touchdown passes on the year. The sophomore has shown improved rhythm with the offense, especially with downfield targets.

Wide receivers Malachi Henry (476 yards, 5 TDs) and Tyrell Pollard (304 yards, 5 TDs) have emerged as the go-to options for Myers. Their ability to stretch the field has added needed balance to the Bears’ attack.

Defense tightening up for UCA

On the defensive side, three players — Dude Person, Ashtyn Williams and Dillon Williams — each have accumulated 40 total tackles this season. That unit’s cohesion has been key in recent wins.

In their last outing, the Bears held their opponent to 290 yards of total offense, the fewest they’ve allowed since Week 2. The defensive front has been disruptive in forcing pressure and helping the secondary stay aggressive in coverage.

The Bears’ defensive improvements have also complemented their offensive surge, giving the team much-needed balance as the regular season enters its final stretch.

UCA coach Nathan Brown said earlier in the week the upcoming matchup will test his team’s ability to handle road environments and maintain discipline against a physical opponent.

The defense will be tasked with limiting explosive plays against a West Georgia offense that has shown flashes despite recent struggles.

Wolves seek rebound after tough stretch

The Wolves enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak but have faced one of the toughest stretches in the UAC, playing No. 21 Austin Peay, No. 19 Abilene Christian and No. 3 Tarleton State in consecutive weeks.

Quarterback Davin Wydner has passed for 1,022 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions so far this season. Running back Latrelle Murrell has led the rushing game with 124 carries for 635 yards and a touchdown, while receiver Jordan Dees leads the team in receiving yards with 414 and three scores.

Linebackers Jay Carter (50 tackles) and Micah Thurman (45 tackles) anchor the Wolves’ defense. Both are key to slowing down Chambers and UCA’s ground attack, which averages more than 180 rushing yards per game.

West Georgia will also look to protect the football better after committing turnovers that have stalled promising drives during its recent skid. The Wolves’ coaching staff has stressed cleaner execution and situational awareness heading into Homecoming weekend.

Despite the losses, the Wolves have remained competitive, losing two of those contests by single digits, showing that their defense can keep games within reach.

What to watch and broadcast details

The game will air live on ESPN+, The Bear 91.3 FM and The Point 94.1 FM. Live stats will also be available online.

Key matchups include the Bears’ rushing attack versus the Wolves’ run defense, the ability of West Georgia’s passing game to protect the ball, and whether UCA’s defense can continue its recent improvement.

The winner will likely strengthen its position in the UAC standings heading into November. For UCA, a third straight win would move the Bears above .500 for the first time since Week 2.

For West Georgia, snapping the skid would reestablish momentum as it closes the regular season with two of its final three games at home.

Both teams will enter knowing this matchup could set the tone for the rest of their UAC campaigns.

3 Key Takeaways:

• UCA’s rushing game, led by Landen Chambers, is a major offensive advantage heading into Saturday.
• West Georgia’s passing game has shown production, but turnovers and recent losses are concerns.
• UCA’s defense is trending in the right direction, aiming to replicate lower yardage totals like the 290-yard outing.