CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will try to win their sixth game in their last seven Saturday when they host the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks on "The Stripes" at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.
UCA (5-3, 5-1) has won two straight over Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana following its lone Southland Conference loss to McNeese State on Oct. 17. Prior to that, the Bears won three consecutive games over Northwestern State, Abilene Christian and Houston Baptist.
UCA is tied for second place in the SLC with Sam Houston State at 5-1. McNeese State, ranked No. 5 and No. 9 in the national FCS polls, is in first at 7-0.
The Bears are coming off a 21-16 victory over the Lions in front of a Homecoming crowd. This week's game will feature a salute to the NCAA Division I Era, with all former student-athletes in all sports who competed at UCA since 2006-07 invited back for the game.
The Lumberjacks, coached by former UCA head coach Clint Conque, are 3-5 overall but 3-3 in the SLC after losing their first five games of the season. Since then they are 3-0, including a 55-21 victory over Incarnate Word last week in Nacogdoches, Texas. UCA leads the overall series with SFA 6-3, including a 49-39 victory a year ago at Homer Bryce Stadium.
UCA senior running back Blake Veasley was the workhorse again last Saturday against the Lions, rushing for 191 yards on 27 carries. Coupled with his record-setting day the week before at Lamar, Veasley has now rushed for 483 yards and 5 touchdowns in the past two games. He is now fifth in the SLC in rushing at 82.6 yards per game. Veasley set school records for carries (49) and rushing yards (292) against the Cardinals.
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Hildebrand, who missed last week's game against SLU, returns to the UCA lineup this week. Hildebrand, from Bossier City, La. is fourth in the conference in passing yards (161.6 per game) and second in pass efficiency (159.1). Junior receiver Desmond Smith leads the league in both receptions per game (5.6) and receiving yards per game (69.4).
UCA senior Jace Denker is tied for first in field goals per game (1.25), while senior punter Matt Spencer is fourth in punting average (42.1). Defensively, senior tackle Derek Floyd is fourth in sacks (0.57), while senior linebacker Ricky Wyatt is third in tackles for loss (1.31). Sophomore cornerback Tremon Smith is tied for first in the league with four interceptions and is second in pass breakups (1.62).
SFA's leading rusher is Loren Easly, who averages 86.3 yards per game, good for second in the SLC. Junior quarterback Zack Conque is fourth in total offense (204.6), sixth in passing yards (150.2) and eighth in pass efficiency (127.3).
Saturday's kickoff is set for 2:30. The game will be broadcast by the American Sports Network, and will be broadcast on KATV-DT2 (Retro TV) in Arkansas, Comcast 207 and Conway Corp 171, along with DirecTV 681 and Dish 413. The game can also be viewed at Southland.org/watch.
