CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will be playing in their first FCS Playoff game on Saturday, against a team also competing for the first time in Tennessee Tech.
The difference is UCA is in just its second year of eligibility while Tech has been eligible since the FCS Playoffs began in 1978.
“It’s quite a tribute to our players and coaches that we are in the playoffs in just our second year,’ said UCA head coach Clint Conque. “Saturday will be an historic day for our university and our football program.’
The Bears, 8-3 overall and ranked 15th in the nation, will open against the Golden Eagles (7-3), who tied for the Ohio Valley Conference championship and received the league’s automatic bid by winning the tiebreaker. UCA finished 6-1 in the Southland Conference and received an at-large bid to the playoffs. Sam Houston State, the No. 1 team in the country, finished 7-0 and got the SLC’s automatic bid.
After a loss to FBS Arkansas State on Sept. 24, the Bears won their last seven games of the regular-season and hope to carry that momentum into Saturday’s game.
“While it’s certainly nice to make the playoffs in our second year,’ said Conque, “we’re not satisfied just being here. We want to go out and play to our capabilities and win a football game against a very talented Tennessee Tech team.’
The first-round winner earns a trip to face perennial power Montana next Saturday in Missoula, Mont.
Conque, in his 12th season at UCA, led the Bears to two playoff appearances at the Division II level, in 2001 and 2005. UCA won the Southland Conference with a 6-1 record in 2008 but was ineligible for postseason play while transitioning to the FCS level.
UCA features nine players who were named to the All-Southland Conference first or second teams earlier this week. Heading the list is first-team quarterback Nathan Dick, a senior from Allen, Texas. Dick is third in career pass completions (465) at UCA and fifth in career passing yards (5,359). He needs only 27 completions to pass Zak Clark for second and 220 yards to pass Ken Collums for fourth all time.
Defensively, the Bears are led by first-team All-SLC linebacker Seth Allison, a junior from Stuttgart. Allison is fifth in the league in tackles with 94, tied for first in tackles for loss and tied for fourth in sacks. He also has two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Allison is tied with senior defensive end Jermayne Lett, another first-team selection, in sacks and tackles for loss.
Senior receiver/kick returner Isaiah Jackson of Conway can pad his career return records with at least one more game. Jackson is the career leader in kickoff returns (100) and return yards (2,348). He is also eighth in career all-purpose yards (3,627).
Kickoff at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium is 2:05 p.m.. The game will be carried live on ESPN3, KUCA 91.3 FM, 106.7 The Heartbeat and at www.ucasports.com.
