Richesson leads UCA past Arkansas–Pine Bluff 41-17 at Estes Stadium

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas quarterback Luther Richesson spent much of Saturday night carving up Arkansas–Pine Bluff’s defense with his arm and legs.

He ended up delivering three touchdown passes and added another on the ground, powering the Bears to a 41-17 victory at Estes Stadium.

The Golden Lions briefly made things interesting with an early interception return that set up a touchdown, but UCA responded with long drives, explosive plays and a balanced attack that proved too much.

“We stayed patient after the slow start,” head coach Nathan Brown said. “Luther settled in, our offensive line took control, and everything opened up from there.”

Bears strike back after early stumble

Richesson’s first quarter interception gave UAPB momentum, and quarterback Christian Peters made the Bears pay with a 9-yard touchdown run. For a moment, it looked like the Golden Lions might build confidence after being outscored 76-10 across their first two games.

But Richesson came right back with a poised drive. He connected with receiver Malachi Henry for a short touchdown, then found Ty Durham late in the second quarter to send Central Arkansas into halftime with a 20-10 lead.

Henry, who finished with seven catches for 82 yards, said the team never lost focus.

“We knew it was early, and we just had to answer,” Henry said. “Once we started clicking, they couldn’t stop us.”

UCA controls the trenches

The Bears’ offensive line wore down UAPB, opening running lanes for Landen Chambers, who rushed for 106 yardsand a touchdown. By game’s end, Central Arkansas had rolled up 318 rushing yards to Pine Bluff’s 44.

Richesson himself added to that total, scrambling for 82 yards, including a one-yard keeper for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

“We wanted to stay balanced,” Richesson said. “When we establish the run, it makes everything in the passing game easier.”

UCA’s dominance in time of possession, nearly 37 minutes to just under 23 for UAPB, showed the Bears’ control of the line of scrimmage.

Golden Lions unable to keep pace

Peters managed 228 passing yards and a late touchdown strike to Kareem Burke, but the Golden Lions spent most of the night playing catch-up. Their rushing attack never materialized, and UCA’s defensive front consistently disrupted plays.

Defensive back Ny’Len Ramon Jones led the Bears with seven tackles, while defensive lineman Gary Lewis added a sack that helped stall a second-quarter drive.

“We did a good job of getting off the field,” Brown said. “That gave our offense more chances, and they took advantage.”

Looking ahead

The win evened UCA’s record at 1–1, with Tarleton State set to visit Estes Stadium next Saturday. The Bears will look to build on their 600-plus yards of offense against a Texans defense that has struggled early in the season.

Arkansas–Pine Bluff, now 0–2, heads back home to face Lincoln (CA). Head coach Alonzo Hampton said his team must regroup quickly.

“We had chances early, but we couldn’t finish,” Hampton said in his postgame remarks. “Central Arkansas capitalized on every mistake. We’ve got to get better at handling adversity.”

For Brown and the Bears, Saturday’s win showed how much potential this group holds when the passing game, rushing attack and defense all sync together.

“This was the type of response we needed after last week,” Brown said. “Now it’s about consistency.”

3 Key Takeaways

• Richesson’s breakout night — The quarterback accounted for four total touchdowns and more than 350 yards of offense.

• Rushing dominance — Central Arkansas ran for 318 yards while holding Pine Bluff to just 44.

• Defensive control — UCA forced UAPB into long passing downs and limited the Lions’ time of possession.