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CONWAY, Ark. _ The 20th-ranked University of Central Arkansas Bears will try to win their first Southland Conference game of the season on Saturday when they travel to Lamar, and they will have to do it without a mainstay of their offense.

Senior quarterback Wynrick Smothers broke his ankle in UCA's 31-0 out-of-conference win over Nebraska-Kearney last Saturday and had surgery on Tuesday. The quarterback duties now fall to junior Ryan Howard of Vestavia Hills, Ala., and sophomore transfer Taylor Reed of El Dorado. A third option is wide receiver Jacoby Walker, a converted quarterback who runs the "Wildcat" package.

"It's hard to lose a player of the caliber of Wynrick, some one that was the face of your program for the past year and a half,' said UCA head coach Clint Conque, who said he could not remember losing a quarterback to a season-ending injury in his 30 years of coaching. "But we'll circle the wagons and move on with Ryan and Taylor.

"They are both capable quarterbacks who are going to have to step in and get it done these last six regular-season games.'

Both quarterbacks played for the Bears (3-3, 0-1) in last week's shutout, with Howard throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Chase Dixon. For the season, Howard has completed 10 of 17 passes for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. Reed, a transfer from the University of Arkansas, is 7 of 9 for 111 yards and a TD.

UCA will also be without its top receiver in junior Dezmin Lewis, who is expected to miss his second consecutive game with an ankle injury. The Bears have already lost four players to season-ending injuries, including cornerback Dominque Brown, safety Karl Brady and linebacker Aum'Arie Wallace.

"It's funny how it works,' said Conque, in his 14th season at UCA. "The last several years, we've been really luck to not have many injuries. Then this year, it's gotten pretty bad.'

UCA dropped its opening SLC game two weeks ago to McNeese State, while Lamar played No. 2 Sam Houston State as close as anyone has last week, losing 14-3. The Cardinals have the top-ranked defense in the league, allowing an SLC-best 309.8 yards per game and 19.3 points.

The Bears counter with the conference's No. 2 passing offense at 342.3 yards per game through the air, but now without Smothers running the show. That could put more emphasis on UCA's running game, one that averages just 109 yards per outing, last in the SLC.

The Bears' defense, which is ranked second behind Lamar in total defense, will see the return of senior middle linebacker and 2012's leading tackler Justin Heard after a three-game suspension.

"The return of Justin Heard should give our defense a spark,' said Conque. "I know his teammates are excited about his return.'

The Bears, co-champions of the SLC last season with a 6-1 league record, can probably not afford to start 0-2 in league play and expect to defend their title. UCA hosts Stephen F. Austin next weekend for Homecoming. The Lumberjacks handed the Bears their only loss a year ago.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The game will be televised by Comcast SportsNet Houston.