The Argos passed their first Division road test and United Athletic Conference opener with flying colors, dominating No. 24 Central Arkansas 42-14 at Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas.
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UWF (2-0 overall, 1-0 UAC) is believed to be the first team to beat ranked opponents in its first two games at the FCS level.
UWF excelled on both sides of the ball for the second straight week, racking up 401 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers.
Ty’ray Davis was masterful in his second career start, completing 14 of 17 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns and running for 75 yards and a touchdown. Davis and Donovan Leary combined to complete 17 passes to 11 different receivers. Gage Armbruster finished with a team-high 80 receiving yards and a touchdown on just two catches.
UCA (1-1, 0-1) finished with 347 yards, with Donovyn Omolo accounting for 322 of them. Omolo threw for 197 yards, a touchdown and an interception and ran for 125 yards and a touchdown.
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Carson Ratliff totaled 11 tackles to lead UWF’s defense, and Byron Puryear, Cameron Anderson and Christian Ware-Terry all finished with sacks. Roderick Webb broke up three passes in the secondary.
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Blake Boda (4) takes it to the house for a touchdown and a 19-6 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Blake Boda (4) takes it to the house for a touchdown and a 19-6 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
The Argos celebrate taking a 19-6 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
The Argos celebrate taking a 19-6 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos TJ Lane (8) carries the ball for a big pick up against the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Markel Townsend (0) rushes for a touchdown and a 26-9 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Markel Townsend (0) rushes for a touchdown and a 26-9 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Markel Townsend (0) rushes for a touchdown and a 26-9 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
The Argos celebrate taking a 26-9 lead over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Tyshon Mansell (5) celebrates with fans after their 34-31 victory over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Carson Ratliff (5) gets a hug from head coach Kaleb Nobles after their 34-31 victory over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Markel Townsend (0) celebrates with fans after their 34-31 victory over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Oliver Van Dyke (15) celebrates after their 34-31 victory over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos Ty Conze (7) celebrates with fans after their 34-31 victory over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
Argos quarterback Ty’ray Davis (1) celebrates with fans after their 34-31 victory over the Salukis during the Southern Illinois vs West Florida opening D1 football game at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 27, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
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Check out Argos thrilling win in first D1 football game at UWF
The Argos led 14-0 after the first quarter, with both scoring drives starting in UCA territory. A shanked punt gave UWF the ball at the Bears 7-yard line to start the first scoring drive, then Davis ran for a touchdown on the next play. Cannon Brite’s 42-yard punt return put the Argos just inside midfield on the next one, and TJ Lane finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 lead with 3:19 left in the quarter.
Donovyn Omolo put UCA on the board by running for a 44-yard touchdown with 11:44 left in the second quarter, and the Bears were moving the ball on the next drive before UWF’s Will Fennema recovered a fumble at the Bears 46. Five plays later, Brite sprinted for a 35-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 5:51 left in the second quarter.
Eli Webb recovered a fumble at the UCA 35 on the Bears next drive and the Argos capitalized again, with Davis finding Tyler Dostin for an eight-yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead with 1:49 left in the second quarter.
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A’khoury Lyde returned an interception for a touchdown for the second straight week on the second play of the third quarter, then Davis lofted a pass right over the defensive back and into the arms of Armbruster for a 42-yard touchdown and a 42-7 lead with 7:56 left in the third quarter.
Omolo found James Jointer Jr. for a 24-yard touchdown with 4:11 left in the third quarter to make the final score more respectable.
UWF will be off next week before facing Austin Peay (1-1) for Family Weekend on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. The Governors beat Gardner-Webb 35-17 on Aug. 27 before losing to Vanderbilt 28-9 on Sept. 5.
