CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. _ Another week, another fourth-quarter comeback for the undefeated University of Central Arkansas Bears.

This time it was a 14-3 fourth quarter difference for the No. 18/20 Bears, who pulled out a 24-16 road victory over the Austin Peay Governors on Saturday afternoon at Fortera Stadium.

The Bears (2-0), who outscored FBS Western Kentucky 21-0 in the fourth quarter last week in the season opener, trailed the Governors (1-1) 16-10 after a pair of APSU field goals, the first after a UCA fumble deep in its own territory. But the Bears responded with a five-play, 95-yard drive that took just 1:31. UCA sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith hit senior running back Carlos Blackman for 19 yards to set up a 43-yard touchdown strike to sophomore wide receiver Lujuan Winningham with 12:05 on the clock, good for a 17-16 UCA lead, one they would not relinquish, thanks to a stout fourth-quarter performance from the defense.

UCA then tacked on another score with an 18-yarder to Winningham with just 1:46 remaining. UCA's defense sealed the win with a Robert Rochell interception _ his second in two weeks _ with 14 seconds left.
 

"Our guys showed so much resilience,' said UCA head coach Nathan Brown, who has the Bears 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2010. "Second week in a row on the road. Gosh, this is a tough atmosphere, and Austin Peay, that's a playoff team right there. You can book it. Coach (Mark) Hudspeth had those guys ready to go.

"I told Coach (Chad) Williams, our defense.. those guys are stout. He has them mixing it up and making plays. And then our offense made some timely plays, and that's what it's about. Those outside guys made plays again, Tyler Hudson and Lujuan Winningham, big-time games for both of them. Guys making plays when the time was right. You can't ask for more.'

The Bears scored the only points of a defense-dominated first half when junior Hayden Ray nailed a 25-yard field goal as time expired. The Bears used passes from Smith to sophomore Winningham for 25 yards and to freshman Tyler Hudson for 26 yards to move the ball to the APSU 15 yard line. After three running plays, the Bears turned to Ray and he connected on his first field goal of the season for the 3-0 lead.

UCA finished the first half with 121 total yards, with 62 of those coming on the final drive. The Bears' defense held the Governors to just 88 yards on 28 plays (3.1 yards per play). Winningham, the reigning Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, caught four passes for 64 yards in the first half.

The Bears overcame a muffed punt at the close of the first quarter that gave the ball to the Governors at the UCA 41. Junior defensive end Nick Grant tackled APSU running back Kente Williams for a 3-yard loss on fourth down at the UCA 35.

The Bears pushed their lead to 10-3 with a 37-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline from Smith to Hudson just four minutes into the second half. But the Governors answered with a 39-yard field goal by Logan Birchfield with 8:11 remaining. They then struck quickly to tie it with a two-play drive, capped by a 76-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback JaVaughn Craig to Baniko Harley at the 5:30 mark. APSU starter Jeremiah Oatsvall left the game early in the first quarter with an ankle injury.

APSU then used a blindside hit on Smith to force a fumble at the UCA 21. UCA's defense stiffened, however, and held the Governors to a 32-yard field goal that gave APSU a 13-10 lead. Another UCA defensive stop and another APSU field goal, from 20 yards, made it 16-10.

The Bears finished with 315 yards of total offense compared to 351 for the Governors. APSU rushed for 141 yards while the Bears had just 32 yard on the ground. Smith completed 19 of 30 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns, with Winningham catching eight for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He has now surpassed his season totals of  12 receptions for 158 yards from last year, with 16 for 358 yards and five touchdowns. Hudson caught four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

"Between him (Lujuan) and Tyler, their ability to track the ball and make plays is just impeccable,' Brown said.

Senior Taylor Wallace punted nine times for a 40.4-yard average and downed two punts at the 2 and the 1, both by Rochell.

"I thought that might have been the star of the game, Taylor Wallace and Robert Rochell,' said Brown. "Robert is out top gunner and he got down there twice and put them inside the 5. The last one inside the 1. Just a great, great job by the punt unit.'  

The Bears now carry some momentum into their home opener and Southland Conference opener next week on "The Stripes" at First Security Field at Estes Stadium. UCA and ACU will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"We have a lot to build on,' said Brown. "We have a big conference home opener next week, but gosh, to win these first two weeks like this, in this fashion, it just shows what this team may be built on. Again, it's just the tip of the iceberg. We've got so much to improve on, so much to get better at, keep getting healthier. 

"But golly, to come on the road two weeks in a row in some tough, tough places to play, and to come away with wins in the fourth quarter, that just tickles me to death.'