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Tarleton State University Athletics

FlemingCentralArkansasRecap
35
Central Ark. UCA 2-5 , 0-3
49
Winner Tarleton St. TAR 7-0 , 2-0
Central Ark. UCA
2-5 , 0-3
35
Final
49
Tarleton St. TAR
7-0 , 2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCA Central Ark. 0 14 14 7 35
TAR Tarleton St. 7 21 0 21 49

Game Recap: Football | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Football surges late to stay unbeaten, defeat Central Arkansas on Homecoming

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – With the game tied at 28 entering the fourth quarter, Tarleton State Football saved its best for last and scored 21 points in the final 15 minutes to come out with a 49-35 win over Central Arkansas in its Homecoming game on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. 

With its win, No. 2 nationally ranked Tarleton State (7-0, 2-0 UAC) is now in a position to obtain the top ranking in FCS for the first time in program history. No. 1 South Dakota State lost to North Dakota prior to the Texans' kickoff. 

The win over Central Arkansas (2-5, 0-3 UAC) makes Tarleton State just one of three undefeated teams in FCS (Harvard and SFA). Tarleton State has also started 7-0 for the second time in the Division I era, doing so in back-to-back seasons. 

Quarterback Kaden Anderson threw a career-high five touchdowns, completing 21-of-29 passes for 279 yards. Wide receiver Tanner Schmidt came up with his second straight 100+ yard receiving game, scoring two touchdowns in the process. Freshman Bryce Green netted 80 yards to lead the rushing attack, including a 72-yard run to the house in the fourth quarter. 

Senior linebacker Chris Robinson led the Texans defensively with 13 total tackles. Stephen Woods Jr., Avian Rice, and Gerard Culotta each tallied nine tackles, with Rice coming down with his first interception of the season. 

"Any time we win, we're certainly pleased with that and I thought we played hard," head coach Todd Whitten said. "Central Arkansas had a good game plan and played well. Their quarterback is a really good player. They did a good job of hanging onto the ball. We made some really big plays on the defensive side and had a couple of really good fourth down stops. We've got a good idea of who we are as a team. 

"Homecoming is a big thing in our program. We have the best fans anywhere and I believe that our fans deserve to see our program play well on Homecoming. We certainly have done that on Homecoming and I'm proud of that." 

Despite being forced to punt, Tarleton State got great field position in the first quarter after recovering a muffed punt. The Texans, however, were unable to convert the field goal later in the drive. 

The Texans forced a three and out on Central Arkansas' next drive, with Anderson completing six straight passes en route to the end zone. Anderson's final pass of the drive was caught by Schmidt for a 22-yard score that allowed the Texans to strike first with 5:22 left in the opening quarter. 

Central Arkansas used nine plays to get to the Tarleton State 11-yard line as time expired in the first quarter. It took Central Arkansas just three plays to start the second quarter to tie it up, but it didn't take long for the Texans to regain the lead. A 92-yard kickoff return from Miequle Brock allowed the Texans to move ahead on the scoreboard. 

The Bears, however, countered again. Central Arkansas capped off a five-play, 81-yard drive with a touchdown to tie the game. Tarleton State delivered the next punch with an Anderson touchdown pass, who found tight end Danny Joiner for a 13-yard score. 

After a fourth down stop late in the first half, the Texans took advantage. Anderson found Schmidt for the end zone a second time with eight seconds left in the half, giving Tarleton State a 28-14 lead into the locker room. 

Central Arkansas' response was immediate, opening the second half with a touchdown to cut the deficit in half. Following an interception, the Bears took advantage and tied it up at 28 entering the fourth quarter. 

Tarleton State's explosive offense was on full display in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to begin the final period. Anderson found wide receiver Marquis Willis for the touchdown to put the Texans back on top, later connecting with BJ Fleming to make it a 42-28 game. 

Rice took away a red zone opportunity from Central Arkansas by intercepting the pass aimed for the end zone. The Texans made the most of the opportunity, with running back Tylan Hines bursting to the defensive backfield for 27 yards. It was Green's turn for a big run, who broke free for 72 yards for the touchdown. 

Central Arkansas scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to trim Tarleton State's lead. The deficit, however, was too much for the Bears to overcome and allowed Tarleton State to get its seventh straight win of the season. 

Tarleton State goes on the road to continue UAC play next week, taking on West Georgia on the road on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
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