STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State Football proved its playoff case on Saturday with a rout of once No. 5 ranked Central Arkansas, as the Texans set a new program NCAA Division I record in wins at nine.
The No. 16 Texans (9-3, 6-2 UAC) rolled the Bears (6-6, 3-5 UAC) 39-14 on Senior Day at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, proving without a doubt they deserve to be one of the 14 at-large teams to make the 2024 FCS Playoffs. The NCAA will announce the 24-team FCS Playoff bracket on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. CT. Tarleton Athletics is hosting a watch party with the team and fans on the field at Memorial Stadium on Sunday, with doors opening at 11 a.m. CT.
Tarleton State improved to 9-3 overall on Saturday, setting a new record for wins in a season in its D1 era, surpassing the eight wins last season. The Texans’ 6-2 conference mark is also a new program D1 best.
Tarleton remained undefeated against the Bears, improving to 3-0 against UCA all-time, including a 2-0 mark at Memorial Stadium. This is the second time in the past four seasons that Tarleton has closed the regular season against Central Arkansas, combining for a 46-point margin of victory. The Texans, who were ranked No. 16 in both national FCS polls this week, won by three scores against UCA, who had been ranked as high as No. 5 in the national polls earlier this season.
The Texans were clearly the better team from kickoff, but really made their mark over the final 20 minutes. Owning a 14-7 lead with five minutes to play in the third quarter, Tarleton State forced a safety, then scored a touchdown 15 seconds later. Up 22-14 at the start of the fourth quarter, Tarleton scored another touchdown, then recovered the kickoff, then made a field goal, then recovered a fumble on the next kickoff, capping off the sequence with a touchdown less than a minute later to lead 39-14.
Tarleton’s big hitters throughout the season all stepped up again on Saturday, on Senior Day nonetheless, where the team honored 24 impactful players who have poured so much into the program. Kayvon Britten covered 201 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns, recording 154 yards on 26 carries (5.9 yards per rush) and a touchdown, plus a 47-yard receiving touchdown. Darius Cooper wowed the crowd with multiple acrobatic catches, finishing with 110 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. Victor Gabalis threw for four touchdowns and 245 yards on 15-of-21 passing, adding 15 rushing yards. Cody Jackson had a touchdown and 28 yards on three catches, while Benjamin Omayebu logged three catches for 34 yards.
Defensively, Kasyus Kurns recorded an interception, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and five total tackles. AJ Owens forced the safety with his tackle for loss, finishing with five total tackles. Jaylen Jackson had a forced fumble on a kickoff that was recovered by Rodrick Weaver Jr., Steve Albert Jr. had an interception, and Blake Smith had a team-high six tackles.
More records were set by a pair of Tarleton’s seniors on Saturday, as well.
Cooper broke the program’s career receiving yard record, surpassing Clifton Rhodes III’s 2,757 career mark from 2011-14. He’s now at 2,834 career receiving yards. Cooper also became the second player in program history to record multiple seasons with 1,000 receiving yards, joining Devin Guinn, who crossed the threshold in 2007 and 2009. Cooper tied the program career record for 100-yard receiving games at 12, tying Zimari Manning (2018-19). Cooper also tied Jeremy Madkins (2003-06) for fourth in the program’s history in career receiving touchdowns at 25.
Britten, who set a new single-season rushing record in program history last week, has tied the program mark for most 100-yard rushing games in a Texan player’s career at 14 (Roderick Smith, 2006-09). Britten finished the regular season with 1,750 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
As for Saturday, Tarleton started strong with a turnover on downs on its first defensive stand, then the Texans marched 62 yards on six plays for a touchdown on their first drive. Tarleton capped it off with a 7-yard touchdown by Jackson from Gabalis. The Texans led 7-0 after the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, Britten broke free for a 27-yard rushing touchdown to boost Tarleton ahead 14-0. Central Arkansas avoided a first half shutout with a touchdown three minutes before halftime, scoring on a Caleb Koger 1-yard scamper. Tarleton led 14-7 at the break.
To open the second half, Tarleton drove the length of the field, getting to the UCA 1-yard line and seemingly scoring a touchdown on 3rd and Goal by Braelon Bridges, but the officials ruled otherwise. Tarleton turned it over on downs, but responded quickly, with Owens refusing to let UCA RB Darius Hale out of his grasp in the end zone, scoring a safety for the Texans. On Tarleton’s first offensive play after getting the ball back, Gabalis found Britten for a 47-yard touchdown to make it 22-7 Tarleton State.
The Bears didn’t give up, getting back within one possession on a ShunDerrick Powell 64-yard rushing touchdown. Tarleton’s Albert held UCA back on its next drive with an interception, giving the Texans the lead after three 22-14.
The floodgates opened in the fourth quarter, starting with the second play, a 22-yard touchdown to Cooper by Gabalis to make it 29-14 Tarleton State. On the ensuing kickoff, Adrian Guzman purposely lofted a high ball that fell around the 20-yard line, which UCA couldn’t get to before Tarleton’s Omar Emmons snatched it up. Corbin Poston made a 22-yard field goal on the turn of events to make it 32-14. Then, on the very next kickoff, the Texans got the ball back again, this time Jackson laying the hit stick to force the fumble, recovered by Weaver. Two plays later, Cooper made an incredible toe-tapping touchdown reception from 22 yards out to cement a 39-14 victory for Tarleton State.
The Texans will now await the FCS Selection Show on Sunday to see what their playoff situation looks like. Tarleton will likely play on Saturday, Nov. 30. Information regarding the game and the entire playoff bracket will be announced on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPN.
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