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NATCHITOCHES, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will try to make it four straight Saturday night when they continue Southland Conference play against the Northwestern State Demons at Turpin Stadium.
UCA (5-3, 2-1), ranked Nos. 15/18 in this week's FCS national polls, has won three consecutive games since opening SLC play with a home loss to McNeese State. The Bears have four games remaining, two on the road and two at home.
UCA has a 4-2 career record against Northwestern State and has won the past two meetings. The Bears won 45-20 in 2011 in their last meeting in Natchitoches, then took a 35-14 victory last year at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.
The Demons are 3-5 overall and 0-3 in league play under new head coach Jay Thomas, a former head coach at Nicholls State. The Demons lost 44-10 to Sam Houston State last week, while the Bears are coming off a 66-31 victory over Stephen F. Austin.
Freshman wide receiver/kick returner Jatavious Wilson earned his second SLC Player of the Week honor this week after a school-record 314 all-purpose yards against SFA. Junior quarterback Ryan Howard, in just his second career start, earned the SLC Offensive Player of the Week honor after throwing for 403 yards and four touchdowns in the blowout victory.
UCA, thanks to Wilson, leads the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 27.5 yards per return. Wilson is the No. 1 individual at 38.4 yards per return, with a nation-leading two returned for touchdowns. The Bears are No. 4 in passing offense, No. 15 in total offense and No. 9 in tackles for loss.
The Bears, who have lost six players to season-ending injuries this year, are currently in a second-place tie with Sam Houston in the SLC standings at 2-1. McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana, which comes to Conway next week, are tied for first at 3-0.
