Stephenville, Texas - Central Arkansas (2-5, 0-3) lost to Tarleton St. (7-0, 2-0) 49-35 on Saturday. Central Arkansas rushed for four touchdowns and threw for another, but Tarleton St. totaled 507 yards and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter.
Central Arkansas produced 28 first downs and held the ball for 36:54, with 321 passing yards and 170 rushing yards. Tarleton St. generated 507 yards at 8.7 yards per play, including 228 on the ground and 279 through the air. Central Arkansas converted three of four fourth-down tries, while each team threw one interception.
Central Arkansas put together its best possession after Tarleton St. went ahead 7-0, using five first downs to move from its 25 to the Tarleton St. 11 by the end of the first quarter. Earlier, Central Arkansas avoided damage after a muffed punt gave Tarleton St. the ball at the 22, with
Samuel Horton breaking up a pass before a missed 36-yard field goal. Tarleton St. led 7-0 after the first quarter.
Central Arkansas twice pulled even in the second quarter, first on
Jalen Washington's 1-yard touchdown run and
Caleb Jones' extra point for a 7-7 score. After Tarleton St. answered with a kickoff-return touchdown,
Donovyn Omolo hit
Arlie Lee for 65 yards to set up
Que Tillman's 1-yard score, and Jones' kick tied it at 14-14. Central Arkansas later drove to the Tarleton St. 13 but turned it over on downs, and Tarleton St. added two touchdown passes to take a 28-14 lead into halftime.
Central Arkansas scored touchdowns on both of its third-quarter possessions and tied the game at 28-28 on
Cameron Young's 6-yard fourth-down run and
Caleb Jones' extra point with 4:58 left. Omolo first capped a 71-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to
Ty Durham, and
Sir Christian Johnson's interception on Tarleton St.'s next snap gave Central Arkansas the ball back near midfield.
Jalen Washington's 28-yard run and a face-mask penalty helped set up Young's score, while Tarleton St. reached the Central Arkansas 21 before the quarter expired.
Central Arkansas first fourth-quarter red-zone drive ended with
Donovyn Omolo's interception at the Tarleton St. goal line, and Tarleton St. followed with a 99-yard scoring drive that made it 49-28. Earlier, Tarleton St. had scored at 14:11 and 9:36 to move in front 42-28 while Central Arkansas opening possession ended in a punt. Central Arkansas closed with a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by
Jalen Washington's 8-yard touchdown and
Caleb Jones' PAT, setting the final score at 49-35.
Donovyn Omolo
- 27-for-36 passing for 310 yards
- 1 touchdown pass
- 45 rushing yards on 12 attempts
Jalen Washington
- 78 rushing yards on 20 attempts
- 2 rushing touchdowns
Arlie Lee
- 6 receptions
- 113 receiving yards
Ty Durham
- 10 receptions
- 93 receiving yards
- 1 touchdown reception
Dakarai Anderson
- 8 receptions
- 96 receiving yards
Up next, the Bears will play UTRGV at home on the Stripes, Oct. 24th, kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.
