RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's football is set for its second straight matchup against top-25 competition as the No. 16 Central Arkansas Bears come to Richmond this Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET at CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and simulcast on WCYO 100.7 FM, with Greg Stotelmyer, Jim Tirey, and Wes Chandler on the call.
The meeting between the Colonels and Bears is the sixth meeting all time, with UCA winning last year's contest on a 46-yard hail mary as time expired to win, 27-24.
EKU returns home coming off a 17-13 road win over then No. 7 Tarleton State, the win moved the Colonels to 5-5 all-time under head coach
Walt Wells against nationally ranked opponents.
The win was also EKU's first road win over a top-10 opponent since 2006 against UT Martin.
The Colonels
Running back
Joshua Carter will be a focal point once again for the Colonels with back-to-back multiple score games with two last week against the Texans and 148 yards rushing.
The Navarre, Fla. native has scored six times in the last three games with ten total this season averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Fellow Floridian
Maddox Marcellus has been an anchor for EKU's defense. The interior linebacker leads the team with 69 total tackles and is the reigning UAC Defensive Player of the Week as he recorded eight tackles, and an interception in the win over TSU.
The EKU defense forced three turnovers against the Texans and 12 total this season something the Colonels will look to continue against the Bears who turned the ball over six times last week.
In the special teams battle punter
Jacob Baker has flipped the field for EKU leading the UAC in punting, averaging 43.1 yards per punt with 15 being downed inside opponents' 20-yard line.
Scouting The Bears
UCA comes to Richmond ranked No. 16 in the STATS Perform FCS Poll following a 34-21 loss at then winless Utah Tech.
The Bears were without their star running back ShunDerrick Powell who leads the FCS in rushing yards per carry at 8.17.
He is currently listed as available to play per the publicized two-deep from UCA.
On defense the Bears are led by David Walker who averages 2.1 tackles for loss per game, the second most in all of FCS.
At linebacker, Jace Benesch is sixth in all of FCS football in total tackles.
