CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears got back on the winning track in a big way on Saturday, celebrating Senior Day with a 30-7 victory over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks on "The Stripes" at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.

No. 13/14 UCA had three running backs rush for more than 50 yards and totaled a season-high 263 yards on the ground to go along with 169 through the air. The UCA defense did its part, holding the Lumberjacks (2-9, 2-6) to just eight first downs and 232 total yards of offense.

UCA, coming off a shutout loss to Southeastern Louisiana a week ago, broke the scoreless quarter streak with a field goal from sophomore Hayden Ray, a career-long 45-yarder with 10:48 left in the first period. The Bears then added a 15-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith to junior tight end Sam Camargo and another 26-yarder from Ray in the second quarter for a 13-0 lead.
   

SFA, coming off just its second win of the season last week at home, got a 71-yard touchdown pass from Cam Arnold to Xavier Gipson late in the first half for its only score of the game. From there, the Lumberjacks only managed 71 yards of offense in the second half. UCA forced and recovered three first-half fumbles and intercepted a pass to limit the Lumberjacks. UCA finished with more yards of offense in the first half (242) than SFA had for the game.

With the win, the Bears (8-3, 6-2) held onto a share of first place in the Southland Conference standings. A four-way tie heading into Saturday is now down to three teams as Sam Houston State lost to Northwestern State, while SLU and Nicholls both won.

UCA added another field goal by Ray, a 35-yarder with 5:45 left in the third quarter, a four-yard touchdown run by senior Carlos Blackman and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Smith to freshman Tyler Hudson with 13:30 left to play to round out the scoring. The Lions and Colonels play their regular-season finale on Thursday in Hammond, La. UCA closes on Friday night at Incarnate Word, a 41-28 non-conference loser at New Mexico State on Saturday.
 

Junior Kierre Crossley led UCA's ground attack with a season-high 94 yards on just 11 carries for an 8.5-yard average. Blackman added 83 yards on 16 carries, while senior D'erek Fernandez had 59 yards on 10 carries. UCA averaged 5.7 yards per rush after entering the game averaging just 71 rushing yards per game. Smith threw for 169 yards to move into second place in single-season passing yards at UCA with 3,210, passing UCA head coach Nathan Brown (3,206). Nathan Dick holds the school mark at 3,275 (2011).

UCA was not perfect, tossing two interceptions and losing a fumble, but made up the difference with stout defense, particularly in the second half. SFA's second-half possessions ended in five consecutive punts and a turnover on downs with 4:11 remaining. UCA, behind the running of Fernandez, then picked up a pair of first downs to out the clock.
   

Sophomore linebacker T.J. Campbell recorded three tackles for loss, including a sack, one of UCA's five sacks on the day. Sophomore noseguard Caden Brown, junior cornerback Robert Rochell and junior free safety Chris Kershner recovered fumbles that were forced by freshman linebacker Darin Davenport, junior noseguard A'Javius Brown and Kershner. Junior linebacker Davis Harrison picked off an Arnold pass at midfield on SFA's third possession of the game, immediately after UCA had thrown a pick at nearly the same spot on the field. Wide receiver Dwight Blakey blocked an SFA punt _ the first for UCA since 2016 _ and Luke Ross recovered at the Jacks' 4, setting up Blackman's touchdown run in the third quarter.

UCA will be playing for a share of its second SLC title in the past three years at 6:30 p.m. Friday against UIW in San Antonio, Texas.