Central Arkansas Beats EKU 38-35 on Last-Second Field Goal

Brady Hensley rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns as Eastern Kentucky fell 38-35 to Central Arkansas on a 27-yard field goal by Charles Viorel as time expired on Saturday at CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium.

To give the Colonels a quick 13-0 advantage during the opening quarter, Hensley found the end zone on 1-yard and 2-yard rushes separated by a span of under two minutes. Kaden Smith intercepted a pass on Central Arkansas’ first play after the opening touchdown to set up that second score at the Bears’ 29-yard line.

After Central Arkansas narrowed the gap to 13-7, Myles Burkett threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jakobie Hughes and connected with Jackson House for a two-point conversion. Joe Schlarman then recovered an Eastern Kentucky fumble in the end zone with 29 seconds left in the second quarter, sending the Colonels into halftime ahead 28-14.

Central Arkansas vs. Eastern Kentucky – 2026 FCS Football – Week 11 — CollegeSport

Hensley opened the second half with a 33-yard touchdown run that pushed the lead to 35-14. Central Arkansas responded with a third-quarter touchdown and then mounted a 99-yard, 16-play drive to pull within seven points early in the fourth quarter.

With 4:54 left on the clock in regulation, Central Arkansas signal-caller Donovyn Omolo leveled the score at 35 by connecting with Arlie Lee on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Sir Christian Johnson intercepted a pass on the ensuing Eastern Kentucky possession, setting the stage for Viorel’s game-winning kick as time expired.

With the result, Central Arkansas is 4-7 overall and 2-4 in the UAC. Eastern Kentucky dropped to 3-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

The Colonels conclude their 2026 season on November 21, 2026, on the road against No. 24 Abilene Christian. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ESPN+ and the EKU Sports Network.