CFB-FCS: United Athletic Conference (UAC) Week 9 Release & Preview

October 26, 2024

9

Another full slate of head-to-head United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football games highlights Week 9 action as teams continue to battle for the league title and postseason consideration.

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

OPENING KICKOFF

GAME OF THE WEEK: With both team coming off byes following important conference victories, the clash between #10 Central Arkansas and North Alabama on “The Stripes” in Conway pits a pair of conference championship contenders, each with just one UAC loss, against each other… UNA looks to post back-to-back upsets of Top 10 ranked opponents and extend its current win streak to four games while remaining in the chase for the crown… UCA turned back a late upset bid by West Georgia in their last outing and now turn their attention to “Homecoming” and remaining undefeated at home this season… The Lions leads the all-time series with a 15-7 advantage, but the Bears have won the last two matchups in 2022 and 2023

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 (3-0), EKU (3-0) 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 (1,160 yds), UCA’s ShunDerrick Powell (1,107 yds) and SUU’s Targhee Lambson (1,093 yds)… In all of Division I Football (FCS & FBS) only Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty (1,248 yards) of Boise State has more yards

NOTEWORTHY
– Week 9 sees only ACU on a BYE with four teams (UCA, UNA, SUU and TSU) returning from a week off
– 3 of the 4 games will be “Homecoming” contests for their hosts as the Govs, Bears and Colonels will welcome back alumni
– 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 8th (STATS & AFCA), the Bears were 10th (AFCA)/ 12th (STATS) while the Wildcats were 17th (STATS)/ 19th (AFCA)
– 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 six 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 Preform & AFCA)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR…
– Following an impressive out of conference win last Saturday, West Georgia steps back into league play as they welcome Southern Utah to the “Peach State”… The Thunderbirds are coming off a bye last week and look to collect a second straight UAC win and keep pace in the race for the championship… The Wolves are still seeking their first league victory but have been close in their last two games, losing by just a combined five points

– EKU hosts Utah Tech for “Homecoming” with the Colonels striving to stay undefeated (3-0) at Roy Kidd Stadium this season… The Trailblazers are in search of their first win of the year and in UAC play as they make the cross country trip… EKU posted a 34-30 win at Utah Tech in the inaugural match-up of this series

– In the day’s final “Homecoming” clash, #8 Tarleton State returns from a bye with a road trip to the “Volunteer State” and a game versus Austin Peay… The Texans are undefeated (3-0) in UAC play and have won five games in a row as they continue to climb the national rankings… The Govs, the defending UAC Champions, are back in “The Fort” following a pair of hard fought UAC road victories the last two games

UAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK | Week 8
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

BLAYNE TAYLOR Abilene Christian WR | RS-SR

– Taylor hauled down 10 catches for a career-high 154 yards along with a pair of touchdowns in the Wildcat victory. It marked the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his ACU career and pushed his season total for receiving yards over 500

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

IZAIAH KELLEY Abilene Christian DB | SR

– Kelley posted nine tackles and snared two interceptions for ACU. His first pick happened in the endzone, while the second INT gave the Wildcats the ball back allowing them to kneel the clock out. The game was Kelley’s return to the starting lineup for the first time since week two of the season

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

CARSON SMITH Austin Peay K | RS-JR

– Smith scored seven of Austin Peay’s 13 points in their win at Utah Tech. Smith hit a 39-yard field goal in the first quarter before connecting on a career-long 51-yard field goal with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter. In addition to the field goals, Smith kicked off four times and recorded a touchback on all four kickoff attempts

FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MARCUS CALEWISE JR. EKU WR | FR

– Calwise Jr., had a breakout game recording a career-high seven receptions on seven targets for 84 receiving yards. Additionally, he collected his first touchdown as a collegiate student-athlete on a tight rope catch in the end zone.