Football
UCA honoring seniors in final home game of year Saturday
Bears will recognize senior players before game against Southern Utah to wrap up games on The Stripes
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas closes out the home portion of their schedule on Senior Day on Saturday at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.
The No. 24 Bears will host Southern Utah in a United Athletic Conference matchup at 4 p.m. on “The Stripes”, the final home game for 19 Bears seniors.
UCA has battled numerous injuries throughout the past three weeks, and will not be at full strength again on Saturday. The Bears are 6-4 overall and 3-3 in league play. The Thunderbirds are 5-5 overall but 4-2 in the UAC and still in the running for a conference title.
The Bears beat the Thunderbirds in the initial meeting last season in Cedar City, Utah, holding off SUU 29-27. The Bears led 20-7 at the half, but the Thunderbirds scored the game’s final two touchdowns over the last 7 minutes to make it close. SUU’s two-point conversion pass failed on the final touchdown with 2:27 to play.
UCA outgained SUU 468 yards to 241, including 349 passing yards by quarterback Will McElvain, who completed 29 of 48 passes, with three touchdowns to Kylin James (2) and Jordan Owens.
ripThe Thunderbirds are coming off a 38-26 victory over North Alabama at home last Saturday. They also have an FBS win over UTEP (27-24 in overtime) back in September. SUU was picked third in the UAC preseason poll, behind UCA and Tarleton State.
UCA will recognize 19 seniors in a pregame ceremony beginning at approximately 3:35 on Saturday.
The seniors include: WR Trejan Bridges; DB Kemari (KC) Clark; QB Will McElvain; RB Darius Hale; DB Jacobrien Eichleberger; DB T.D. Williams; DB TaMuarion Wilson; DE David Walker; LB Demetrias Charles; DB Dude Person; PK Jake Gaster; RB ShunDerrick Powell; DL Javeon Jones; DB Karamba Kaba; DS Kyle Gasaway; PK Jake Ward; PK Ryan Carter; OL Bakarius (BK) Collier and OL Justin Lairy, along with student assistant La’Joey Jones.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | @ Arkansas State | L, 34-31 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Lindenwood | W, 34-13 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | Austin Peay | W, 45-17 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff | W, 56-17 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Lamar | W, 34-14 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ Abilene Christian | L, 41-34 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs West Georgia | W, 34-33 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs North Alabama | W, 24-19 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Utah Tech | L, 34-21 |
| Sat, Nov 9 |  | @ Eastern Kentucky | L, 31-24 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Southern Utah | L, 38-31 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @Tarleton State | 2:00 PM |
