NACOGDOCHES, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears have figured out a winning formula for going on the road this season, having won all four road games in 2016. Dating back to last season, the Bears have won eight consecutive times on the road.

    The 17th-ranked Bears (7-1, 6-0) face another formidable task Saturday, traveling to Nacogdoches, Texas, to take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at 2:30 at Homer Bryce Stadium. SFA, coached by former UCA head coach Clint Conque, is 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southland Conference. 

    UCA plays two of its three remaining games away from home, hosting Nicholls State next Saturday before finishing the regular season at top-ranked Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. The Bears have beaten FBS Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Abilene Christian in Abilene, McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., and Southeastern Louisiana last week in Hammond, La.

    "We've been a really good road team this season,' said UCA head coach Steve Campbell. "Our guys have done a really good job of going on the road, focusing on what we needed to do and going out and playing well. We need to continue to do that with two of our last three away from home.'

    In those four road contests, UCA has outscored its opponents 166-60, including a season-high 58-point outburst at ACU on Oct. 1. In the last two road games, UCA shut out McNeese 35-0 and beat SLU 45-10. The shutout was the first for the Cowboys at home since 1987.

    UCA's defense is ranked No. 1 in the Southland in scoring defense (16.2 points per game), total defense (276.9 yards per game), rushing defense (61.0 yards per game) and opponent first downs (15.0 per game). That defense has been aided by a 34:12 time of possession and a +10 turnover margin, which both lead the SLC. UCA is also second in the conference in opponent third-down conversions (26.2%) and third in sacks (21) and interceptions (10 by seven different players).

    "I've always heard that if you can win the turnover battle, you have a chance to win some football games,' Campbell said. "The one game we lost (to Samford), we didn't win the turnover battle and it cost us.'

    UCA's offense has also put up some impressive numbers, particularly on the road. The Bears had 502 yards of offense against ACU, 483 at McNeese and 495 versus Southeastern. UCA is first in the SLC in rushing offense (227.9), and second in scoring offense (37.1) and total offense (460.8).

    Senior wide receiver Jatavious Wilson continues to lead the league in receptions per game (5.4) and is No. 2 in receiving yards per game (77.8). He is No. 2 in all-purpose yards (120.0) behind Lamar's Kade Harrington, who is out for the remainder of the season with an injury. Fellow senior Desmond Smith is fourth in receptions at 4.8 per game.
    
    Wilson, from Bastrop, La., has set two school records this season, including career all-purpose yards (5,012), which ranks seventh in SLC history, and career kickoff return yards (2,526). Smith, from Bentonville, Ark., has moved into fourth in career receptions (194) and is fifth in career receiving yards (2,486).
    
    Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Homer Bryce Stadium. The game will be broadcast by American Sports Network on Conway Corp 176, KATV DT3, Comcast 208, DirecTV 681-1 and Dish 440. The game will air live on the radio on The Bear 91.3 and The Point 94.1.