CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will attempt to win their 12th consecutive Homecoming game on Saturday when they host the Northwestern State Demons at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.

    The last time the Bears lost a Homecoming game was in 2002 when they were still at the NCAA Division II level. 

    UCA (4-4, 3-1) is coming off its first Southland Conference loss last weekend at Top 10 Southeastern Louisiana. The Demons are just a half-game behind the Bears in the standings at 4-3 and 2-1, one of five one-loss teams remaining in the league at the halfway point of the conference race.

    The Demons have won two straight games, including a 31-27 victory over Top 25 Sam Houston State last week at home in Natchitoches. NSU beat the Bears 31-28 in last year's meeting at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches. UCA leads the all-time series 4-3, and is 2-1 in games played in Conway.

    UCA returns last year's L.B. Jackman Award winner, senior quarterback Ryan Howard. That award goes annually to the Outstanding Player in the Homecoming game and is voted on by working media in attendance. In UCA's 66-31 rout of Stephen F. Austin a year ago, Howard threw for 403 yards and four touchdowns and led the Bears to 38 fourth-quarter points.

   Howard, from Birmingham, Ala., currently directs the No. 2 scoring offense in the SLC, one that averages 40 points and 438.2 yards per game. One of the key weapons is senior receiver Dezmin Lewis from Mesquite, Texas. Lewis has moved to fourth in UCA career receptions with 171, and is tied for fourth in career receiving touchdowns (19) and is fifth in career receiving yards (2,284). The Bears' offense is averaging 438.2 total yards and 40 points per game.

    On the defensive side, junior Jonathan Woodard is already tied for fourth in career sacks at UCA with 21.0. He is tied for first in the SLC in sacks (6.0) and is second in tackles for loss (13.5). Senior linebacker Blake Childress is UCA's leading tackler through eight games with 46 stops, including 5.0 tackles for loss and an interception. Junior safety Bobby Watkins has two of UCA's 11 interceptions on the season, while fellow safety Tirell Wellmaker has two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. 

    Northwestern State quarterback Zach Adkins is third in the SLC in passing at 219.6 yards per game. Wide receiver Ed Eagan is second in the conference in receptions per game (5.4) and fifth in yards per game (61.9).

    Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on "The Stripes.'  The Homecoming Court and Queen will be introduced at halftime.