CARROLLTON, Ga. - Facing a deficit in the fourth quarter, the West Georgia Wolves football team scored twice in the final seven minutes to push past the Central Arkansas Bear, 18-17 in front of the homecoming crowd at University Stadium. 

West Georgia (6-3, 3-3 UAC) trailed 17-6 after three quarters, but got two touchdown passes from Davin Wydner to Owen Dupree and clutch stops by the defense to snap a three-game losing streak and hand Central Arkansas (3-5, 2-2 UAC) their fourth road loss of the season. The Wolves, in just their second year of Division I, FCS football, secured a winning season with Saturday's victory.

The offense wasn't the only unit to step up in the final quarter as UWG's defense gave up just 22 yards of offense in the final quarter, forcing two punts in the final 15 minutes. 

Central Arkansas outgained West Georgia 339 to 320 in the game, but in the second half, UWG had the advantage 219-126. Both teams had turnovers on downs in the game, and UWG had the only takeaway with a clutch pick in the second half.  

The win evened the series 5-5 all-time between UWG and UCA, and in the two meetings as Division I programs, both games have been decided by one point with the home team winning each meeting. 

Both teams traded punts on their first offensive drives, and on the Bears' second possession, the UWG defense got a shot in the arm by forcing a turnover on downs, stuffing the UCA heavy set on fourth and short to get it back to Wydner and the offense. 

A couple of first downs set up the Wolves' first opportunity to score, but a 50-yard field goal from Simon Zeidan sailed wide right keeping it scoreless late in the first. 

UCA then drove 68 yards in 11 plays, capping off the drive with the first score of the game on an Austin Myers pass to Arlie Lee from 11 yards out, making it a 7-0 lead at the 12:39 mark of quarter number two. 

On the Wolves' ensuing possession they drove 60 yards before stalling out and calling on senior Tommy Holden, who converted the 33-yarder to make it 7-3, Bears. 

The Bears then engineered another lengthy drive, going 75 yards on 11 plays, and making it a 14-3 lead at the 3:40 mark of the period. The touchdown came from Myers arm again, this time to Malachi Henry from three yards out, and that's how the game would go into halftime. 

UWG didn't get much going offensively on their first drive, turning it over on downs in plus territory. 

UCA looked like they would make it a three-score game until Tre'Shawn Moore picked off Myers at the one-yard line, and set up the Wolves' offense at the UCA 49 after a solid return by the Baxley, Georgia native, Moore. 

Wydner and the offense turned into points, albeit only three, but cut it to a one-possession game as Holden converted from 48 yards to make it 14-6 with 7:23 to play in the third. 

Central Arkansas then countered with a chip-shot field goal, with Caleb Jones converting from 23 yards, stretching the Bears' lead to 17-6 late in the period. 

Following a DeAndre Buchannon return to the 50-yard line, the Wolves drove all the way to the one before the Bears' defense stuffed a fourth and goal attempt by TJ Lester. 

UWG got the stop the needed on defense, and then Wydner found Owen Dupree for the first UWG touchdown of the game, with the duo connecting for a 22-yard score. UCA intercepted the two-point try, keeping the deficit at five with 6:38 left in the final quarter. 

After another clutch defensive stop, UWG got the ball back with 3:45 to go and drove 74 yards in six plays to take the lead for the first time in the game. It was Wydner to Dupree once again, this time from 23 yards out, and the two-point try failed once more and the lead remained at one with UCA taking over with 1:31 to go needing just a field goal to win. 

Using a mix of short passes and run plays, UCA was able to drive the ball to midfield as time quickly ticked under the one-minute mark. With the ball at the Wolves' 43, UCA was inching their way into field goal range until a key sack by David Hoge pushed the visitors back, killing all the offensive momentum and getting the Homecoming crowd on the feet and fired up.  Forcing a turnover on downs, UWG would hold on to win their sixth game of the season.

Wydner ended the game with as gutsy as a performance as he's put together in a UWG uniform, ending with 175 yards passing on 17-of-32 attempts with two touchdowns and adding 81 yards on 11 carries.Dupree had six catches for 99 yards and the two scores to lead the receiving corps. 

The defense was led by Micah Thurman with 10 tackles while David Hoage continued his stellar play, recording nine stops, two sacks, and three TFLs. 

UWG now will enjoy a bye week after playing nine consecutive games to open the season. 

The next game action sends UWG to Florence, Alabama for another clash with former Division II rival, North Alabama. Kickoff from Braly Stadium is set for 4 p.m. EST from Braly Stadium. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS 
- Holden's two-field goal game gives him 10 on the season and marked the 17th double-digit field goal season in program history and the first since Omar Cervantes in 2021. 
- Tre'Shawn Moore's pick in the third quarter secured the 15th takeaway by the Wolves this season. UWG now has a takeaway in all nine games thus far. 
- The UWG defense extends its turnover streak to ten straight games, which dates back to last season's finale against Utah Tech (Nov. 16, 2024) 
- Wydner's first TD pass to Dupree was the 20th passing touchdown of his career, and the 11th of the season. 
- Dupree's 99 yards and two touchdowns are both career highs for the junior wideout. 
- David Hoage posted a career-high two sacks, and reached the three tackles for a loss mark for the second time this season.  
- Today's come-from-behind win marks the third victory this season that the Wolves' offense took the lead with under two minutes to play, and secured a winning season in year two of Division I football.