A full slate of head-to-head United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football games highlights Week 10 action along with the penultimate non-conference game as teams kickoff the final month of the regular season.
WEEK 10 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY SLATE | Nov. 2
2 PM ET | WEST GEORGIA vs Lincoln (CA) (ESPN+)
2 PM MT | #9 CENTRAL ARKANSAS at UTAH TECH* (ESPN+)
3 PM CT | SOUTHERN UTAH at #17 ABILENE CHRISTIAN* (ESPN+)
4 PM CT | AUSTIN PEAY at NORTH ALABAMA* (ESPN+)
6 PM CT | EKU at #7 TARLETON STATE* (ESPN+)
* UAC Conference Game
OPENING KICKOFF
GAME OF THE WEEK: With a conference crown and postseason considerations clearly insight for both squads, Southern Utah pays a visit to #17 Abilene Christian on Saturday for a real Texas Shootout. The T-Birds feature an offense paced by Targhee Lambson, the number two ranked rusher in FCS with 154.1 ypg on the ground. The Wildcats counter with the nation’s number two ranked quarterback Maverick McIvor, who is averaging 319.0 ypg passing. SUU has won a pair of contest entering the match-up while ACU is coming off a bye following a win in their last competition.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
– At the midway point of the 2024 season, a trio of UAC squads are still undefeated on their home fields as Central Arkansas (4-0), EKU (4-0) and Tarleton State (3-0) have successfully defended their homes
BORN TO RUN
– The UAC is home to the TOP THREE running backs in FCS rushing with TSU’s Kavyon Britten (1,266 yds), SUU’s Targhee Lambson (1,233 yds) and UCA’s ShunDerrick Powell (1,177 yds) … In all of Division I Football (FCS & FBS) only Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty (1,376 yards) of Boise State has more yards
NOTEWORTHY
– Week 10 features all nine UAC members in competition
– West Georgia will step out of conference for the penultimate non-conference game on the UAC slate
– APSU’s Chandler Kirton was named a finalist for the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award
– Stats Perform named a trio of UAC rookies to the “Watch List” for the Jerry Rice Award, presented to the FCS Freshman of the Year… Honorees: UNA’s Josh Anglin and Jalen Fletcher, SUU’s Jayden Robertson
– Oct. 5 clash between #5 Central Arkansas and #16 Abilene Christian was just the second head-to-head UAC battle of ranked squads in league history… UCA has been part of both competitions, having faced #12 Austin Peay, ranked 20th last season
– With Southern Utah’s 27-24 OT win over UTEP on Sept. 7, the T-Birds secured the league’s first victory against an FBS foe… Abilene Christian (52-51 loss at Texas Tech) and Central Arkansas (34-31 loss at Arkansas State) both nearly accomplished the feat as well this season
– UCA’s 34-14 victory over #19 Lamar (Sept. 29) marked just the second UAC win against a ranked non-conference foe… EKU topped #16 Southeast Missouri, 41-38, last year
– Thunderbirds head coach DeLane Fitzgerald earned the 100th of his career with SUU’s victory over EKU… Fitzgerald joined TSU’s Todd Whitten (135 wins) in the Century Win Club
HOW DO WE STACK UP?
– A trio of UAC teams were again ranked in the Top 25 nationally as ACU, UCA and TSU were all recognized. The Texans were listed 7th (STATS & AFCA), the Bears were 9th (AFCA)/ 11th (STATS) while the Wildcats were 17th (STATS)/ 18th (AFCA)… SUU received votes in the STATS poll
– In the Sept. 30 STATS Ranking, Central Arkanasas was listed No. 5, marking the highest ever rank for a UAC program
– The league has seen three teams ranked in the Top 25 for seven consecutive weeks … Three teams ranked in one week is a league high benchmark
– Including the Preseason Poll, eight of the nine teams in the conference have received votes for the Top 25 in one or both of the National Rankings (STATS Peform & AFCA)
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
– No. 9 Central Arkansas and Utah Tech will meet for the first time ever on the gridiron when the Bears travel cross country to Greater Zion Stadium. UCA is riding a two-game win streak and looking to remain in the hunt for the UAC crown while the host Trailblazers are in search of their first win of the season
– West Georgia steps out of conference play for the final time this season as they host Lincoln University (CA) in the second of game in a five game homestand to conclude the Wolves inaugural season in Division I. Both of UWG’s win this season have come on their home field against non-conference foes.
– Austin Peay hits the road for the final time in 2024 making the 145-mile trip south across the Tennessee-Alabama border to face rival North Alabama. Saturday is the 22nd edition in the all-time series with UNA holding 13-8 advantage. The Govs have posted back-to-back wins on the road in UAC play but are looking to rebound from a tough home loss last week to #7 Tarleton State. The Lions carry a two-game home win streak into the clash including a win over #10 Abilene Christian the last time they took the field in Florence.
– In Saturday’s nightcap, #7 Tarleton State welcomes EKU to the Lonestar State. The Texans are undefeated in FCS play this season and are on a current seven game win streak led by the FCS leading rusher, Kayvon Britten at 158.3 yards per game. The Colonels look to build off their homecoming win last Saturday against Utah Tech. EKU has claimed the first two meetings in this series including a 41-35 double overtime thriller last year in Richmond, the last FCS loss for TSU (current 11 game win streak)
UAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK | Week 9
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JOSHUA CARTER EKU RB | RS-SR
– Carter had a career-best performance on Saturday leading the Colonels to a 28- 17 win over Utah Tech. Carter had a career-high 167 yards rushing on 31 carries averaging 5.4 yards per carry providing the first and final touchdowns for EKU in the winning effort on Homecoming
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DAVID WALKER Central Arkansas DE | SR
– Walker tallied nine tackles (six solos) including 3.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. He forced a school-record three fumbles and recovered one of those. Walker broke the UCA school record for career TFLs and now has 54.5 in just 2 ½ years and earned the L.B. Jackman Award as the MVP of the Homecoming game. He was also named the Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JUSTIN LUKE North Alabama KR | RS-JR
– Luke totalled 103 yards on three kickoff returns against No. 10 Central Arkansas, marking the most single-game kick return yards by a UNA player since 2019. Luke had a long return of 82 yards setting up the Lions for score moments later. He is the first kick returner at UNA over 100 yards since 2019
FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MALACHI HENRY Central Arkansas WR | RS-FR
– Henry caught two passes and both went for touchdowns in UCA’s win over UNA. Henry had a 21-yard TD reception early in the 3rd quarter and then added a 69-yarder in the fourth quarter
