CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. _ The goal for the No. 18/20 University of Central Arkansas Bears this weekend is simply to forget last week and refocus.

Following last Thursday's 35-28 victory over FBS Western Kentucky, the Bears (1-0) now shift their attention to a fellow FCS program in the Austin Peay Governors, who host the Bears at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fortera Stadium.

"Look, sports is humbling. We're getting a lot of pats on the back right now,' said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "You're national team of the week, you're this, you're that. Do you think Austin Peay cares about that? They don't. Just like we don't care that they beat NC Central 41-10. It's about this week and going 1-0, beating a really good football team.

"This is a great FCS marquee game. Anytime you get an opportunity to play within the FCS against an Ohio Valley Conference team, to have an opportunity nationally to play a team like this, because they are very well respected program, it's huge for us. Especially to get the opportunity to go and try to beat them again on the road. If you can go win your first two games in two tough, road environments, that's huge.'

  The Governors, coached by former UCA assistant coach Mark Hudspeth, are also 1-0 after a 41-10 home victory over North Carolina Central last Thursday. Hudspeth, the former head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette and North Alabmaa, is in his first season at APSU, replacing Will Healy, who led the Governors to an 8-4 mark in 2017 but just 5-6 last season before behind hired as head coach at UNC-Charlotte.

This season, the Governors were picked fourth in the preseason Ohio Valley Conference poll behind Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri and Eastern Kentucky.

"Coach Hudspeth does a great job, we know the history he has with UCA,' Brown said, who actually has Hudspeth's son Gunner as a graduate assistant on his staff. "He's been successful everywhere he has been. This will be very big challenge this week, but one we're ready to take head on. We're only talking about being 1-0 this week. Nothing matters from last week.' 

APSU racked up 563 yards of total offense in its season opener, including 272 on the ground and 291 through the air. The total was the sixth-highest in program history The Govenors have now scored at least 40 points in four of its past five home games.

The Bears fell behind to the Hilltoppers by double digits three times last Thursday before rallying for 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to beat an FBS program for the third time in front of a crowd of more than 17,000.

"It was just a testament to our program, a testament to our coaches and a testament our players,' said Brown. "You go into an atmosphere like Western Kentucky, you roll the ball out, you want to see how good you are. It's a great gauge for us. And they hit us in the mouth early. And in my head, dought creep in. Did I get them prepared, are we not as good as I thought we were in these spots.

"Doubts, naturally, it's human nature. But the coach in you has to hold your poise. Let's see what they're doing, let's see what kind of adjustments we have to make.And I thought every one of our assistant coaches did a great job of that. I think you could tell our sideline never panicked. We held our poise, we made adjustments, in the game, at halfttime, and then obviously in the second half, when we were the better second-half team. And that's what football is all about.

"And that's what makes football so great, the opportunity to continue to progress and get better, within a game, not just in a season.'

According to Brown, the Bears had 18 freshmen, redshirt freshman or sophomore playing significant minutes in the opener, including three true freshmen (OL Parker Ray,  LB Darin Davenport, WR Tyler Hudson) in the starting lineup. And they didn't blink. Just a great opportunity fot thoese guys to grow, a great opportunity for those guys to get their feet wet and see what college football is all about.'

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith, in his first action since breaking his ankle in Game 4 of last season, completed 20 of 28 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Lujuan Winningham set career highs with eight receptions for 222 yards and three touchdowns, including an 80-yard halfback pass from senior Carlos Blackman.

Winningham was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while junior cornerback Robert Rochell (7 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 interception) was the SLC Defensive Player of the Week.

The game will be carried on The Bear 91.3 and The Point 94.1 with Justin Acri, Chris Kane and R.J. Hawk, and online on ESPN+, with a 2 p.m. kickoff.