On Aug. 30 of last year, UC Davis knocked off San Jose State for the FCS’ first win over an FBS team of the 2018 season. Exactly 364 days later, we have our first lower-level slaying of an upper-level foe.
Central Arkansas came into Thursday’s night game against Western Kentucky as 10-point underdogs, looking every bit the part for most of the matchup as they entered the fourth quarter trailing its host 28-14. After three touchdowns in the last 15 minutes, however, the Bears left Bowling Green with a stunning 35-28 upset win over the Hilltoppers.
This marked UCA’s third win over an FBS foe, with the most recent coming against Arkansas State in 2016 and the first coming against... Western Kentucky in 2009, a fact that wasn’t lost on the football program’s official Twitter account.
Got em again!#BearClawsUp🐻 pic.twitter.com/2KSwek4pcI
— 𝗨𝗖𝗔 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 (@UCA_Football) August 30, 2019
Bears passers accounted for 404 yards and four touchdowns, with two of those touchdowns coming in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to tie the game. A one-yard touchdown run with under seven minutes left by running back Carlos Blackman, who threw an 80-yard touchdown pass off a trick play to knot the score at 28-all, proved to be the game-winner.
The Hilltoppers last five possessions of the game, after they had held that 28-14 lead, ended on downs three times; a missed field goal once; and one punt.
The disappointing season opener was the first for Tyson Helton, who had taken over as head coach after Mike Sanford‘s 3-9 record led to his ouster after two seasons.