UCA falls to UTRGV in OT as Bears’ late rally comes up just short

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas kicked a field goal to take the lead in overtime Saturday, but UT Rio Grande Valley needed just one play to answer.

Broderick Taylor’s 25-yard touchdown run sealed a 30-27 win for UTRGV on Hall of Fame Day for the Bears.

UCA had tied the game with 15 seconds left in regulation just to get there.

The loss drops the Bears to 2-6 and 0-3 in conference play. It was also their first overtime game since 2018.

UTRGV left town at 4-4 and 2-3.

Before the finish, it was a back-and-forth game that was tied at 7, 14, 21 and 24.

UCA never trailed by more than seven.

UT-Rio Grande Valley running back Broderick Taylor scores on their first play in overtime against Central Arkansas in game at Estes Stadium in Conway, Ark. | Ted McClenning-allBears+ Images

One snap and done

The Bears got the ball first and kept handing it off.

On third-and-5, Donovyn Omolo kept it himself for 6 yards and a first down.

The drive got to the UTRGV 6 and stopped there.

Caleb Jones kicked a 23-yarder, and UCA led 27-24 after seven plays and 19 yards.

That left the door open, and UTRGV walked right through it. Taylor needed one carry to answer.

The Bears never touched the ball again.

Jones gets them there

The fourth quarter came down to field goals, too.

UTRGV took a 24-21 lead on a 24-yarder with 1:48 to go.

UCA didn’t need all of that time. It went 55 yards in 1:33.

Omolo hit Triston Edwards and Dakarai Anderson along the way to get the offense into range.

Jones tied it at 24 with a 37-yard kick and 15 seconds left.

Nobody scored after that, so the Bears went to overtime.

Running it over and over

UCA ran it 49 times for 233 yards.

That’s how the Bears kept the ball for 32:09, and it helped the offense go 9-for-17 on third down.

Omolo kept busy. He went 16 of 28 for 179 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also ran 19 times for 76 yards and another score.

Jalen Washington carried 20 times for 79 yards and caught a pass. Enoch Assan only needed eight carries to pile up 72 yards and a touchdown.

Anderson was Omolo’s favorite target with seven grabs for 96 yards.

Inside the 20, UTRGV was better. It scored on four of its five trips, while UCA went three for five.

Bend, then break

UTRGV had 418 total yards, 241 of them passing.

The Bears’ defense gave up yards but had a few big moments.

The best one came early in the second quarter. UTRGV got to the 1, didn’t score and then missed a 23-yard field goal.

Tae Bulock finished with 10 tackles.

Deorius Cobbs got a sack on the last play of the third quarter to keep it tied at 21.

UCA just couldn’t come up with one more stop late.

How it got there

UTRGV scored first.

The Bears answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Omolo kept it alive with a 14-yard run on third-and-7, and Assan finished it with a 27-yard touchdown run. Jones’ kick tied it at 7 with 2:28 left in the first quarter.

UCA had 134 yards and six first downs after one quarter.

After the goal-line stand, Omolo marched the Bears 80 yards and found Arlie Lee for a 24-yard touchdown at 7:50 of the second. Jones’ kick made it 14-7.

UTRGV tied it on an 11-yard touchdown pass before the half.

In the third, UTRGV went up 21-14. UCA got it back quickly.

Bulock picked off a pass at the UTRGV 38 and brought it back to the 30. Omolo ran for 12, then took it in from 13 yards out, and Jones’ kick made it 21-21.

Next up

The Bears host North Alabama on Saturday at 4 p.m. for homecoming.

UCA will try to pick up its first conference win when UNA comes to town.