CONWAY, Ark. — Tarleton State has handled Central Arkansas in recent history, and that remained true on Saturday, as the Texans cruised to a blowout win on the road in the conference opener Saturday night.
The No. 3 Texans (4-0, 1-0 UAC) won 56-10 at Central Arkansas (1-2, 0-1 UAC) at Estes Stadium in Conway, improving to 4-0 against UCA all-time and becoming one of just two teams to start the season 4-0 in all of college football so far this season (Iowa State).
Tarleton State scored a defensive touchdown on the first snap of the game and never relented, going up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter, 42-7 at halftime, 49-7 at the end of three and 56-10 the final. The Texans have scored 30 points or more in every game this season, 40 points or more three times and now back-to-back games with 50-plus points. Tarleton State has also allowed 10 points or fewer in three games this year, and has given up just one touchdown in three games against fellow FCS programs (4.3 points per game allowed against FCS programs).
Texan running back Caleb Lewis rushed for a career-high three touchdowns, finishing with 69 yards on 20 carries. Quarterback Victor Gabalis completed 10-of-16 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns, and once again, no turnovers. Tight end Dawson Hearne caught two touchdowns (two receptions, 29 yards) and Marquis Willis caught his first touchdown as a Texan, finishing with 34 yards. Tre Page III led the team in rushing with 81 yards on 18 carries, and Peyton Kramer led the team in receiving with 71 yards on two receptions. Quarterback James Paige, in a running back role, busted free for a last-minute touchdown to finish with 76 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Texans had six sacks, with Angelo Anderson totaling a pair to go with a forced fumble, Josh Griffis a sack and forced fumble, Yasir Holmes a sack and three tackles for loss, Stephen Woods Jr. a sack and Pius Njenge a sack. Tarleton State had two takeaways with AJ Owens earning a fumble recovery for a touchdown and Branson Tita-Nwa recording an interception.
Tarleton State started with a defensive touchdown just 10 seconds into the game, with Griffis earning a QB sack forced fumble, and Owens recovering the fumble in the end zone for the score. On Tarleton State’s first offensive series, the Texans drove 90 yards and capped it off with a Gabalis-to-Hearne three-yard touchdown. Tarleton State’s defense then forced a turnover on downs, and the Texans struck again, this time a Lewis 16-yard scamper to put the Texans ahead 21-0. The Texan defense then forced another turnover on downs as Woods sacked the Bears QB, and the opening quarter ended with Tarleton State ahead by three scores.
To open the second quarter, Hearne and Gabalis hooked up for a touchdown again, this time from 26 yards out to make it 28-0 Texans. Hearne now has five receiving touchdowns through four games this year, scoring in every contest. He has the most touchdowns by a Texan TE in the last 24 years, and he’s the first tight end across all of college football this season with four-plus receiving touchdowns and to score in four games. The Bears answered for the first time on their ensuing drive, but the Texans responded right back, a 34-yard touchdown grab by Willis from Gabalis. On Tarleton State’s next possession, Lewis earned his second touchdown on the night from six yards away to make it 42-7 Texans.
In the third quarter, the Texans forced another turnover on downs, Lewis scored from 14 yards out, and Tita-Nwa earned his interception. Lewis’ three rushing touchdowns are his most as a Texan, and he is now the third Texan in their NCAA Division I era to rush for three touchdowns in a game. The third ended with Tarleton State ahead 49-7.
In the fourth quarter, the Texans forced their fourth turnover on downs of the game, and Paige busted out a 53-yard rushing touchdown to cement a Texans a 56-10 win.
Tarleton State outgained Central Arkansas 418-294, went 8-of-14 on third downs and 2-of-3 on fourth downs, plus had zero turnovers and just four penalties.
Tarleton State has started 4-0 for the first time since 2019. The Texans will be back home next week, as they’ll host Chattanooga in Stephenville at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. That will be Family Weekend at Tarleton State, and the first 1,000 fans in the gates will receive a free shirt, courtesy Triple Crown Ford.
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