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    CONWAY, Ark. _There should be no secrets when the University of Central Arkansas Bears and the Eastern Kentucky Colonels meet at 4 p.m. Saturday on "The Stripes" at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.

    After all, it will be the third game in the past 12 months between the teams. The Bears and Colonels split a rare home-and-home series last season when both programs had to scramble to fill a schedule due to the pandemic. EKU won the first meeting  31-28 at home in Richmond, Ky., scoring the game-winning touchdown with just six seconds remaining. UCA had come back from a 24-14 deficit and taken a 28-24 lead on Breylin Smith's 1-yard quarterback keeper with 1:21 left to play.

    Smith went 30 for 45 (66.6 percent) for 320 yards and two touchdowns, with both Lujuan Winningham and Tyler Hudson topping the 100-yard mark in receiving yards. UCA outgained EKU 460 yards to 419.

    In the rematch, UCA again rallied from behind, scoring twice in the fourth quarter, including a 12-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Luke Hales to Winningham with 2:33 remaining to seal the victory. Hales, subbing for Smith, who missed the game due to covid-19 protocols, completed 20 of 32 passes for 324 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  Alonzo Booth led EKU with 124 rushing yards.

    This year's edition of the Colonels stand 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the ASUN/WAC. EKU will be playing its first road game since Sept. 11 after four consecutive games at Roy Kidd Stadium, including last week's 30-15 win over Abilene Christian. UCA (2-3, 1-1) is coming off its bye week, with ACU as its last opponent as well. The Bears went on the road to Abilene, Texas, and beat the Wildcats 42-21 on Oct 2.

    UCA came from behind against ACU and dominated the second half, scoring 35 unanswered points to win going away. The Bears rolled up a season-high 543 yards of total offense, with a season-high 185 on the ground. Smith threw for 358 yards and tied his career high with five touchdowns.

    UCA's passing game is ranked 10th in the nation, averaging 320.6 yards per game through the air. Smith is third in passing touchdowns with 18 and eighth in passing yards per game. Winningham, a junior from Humble, Texas, is ranked fourth in receiving yards in the FCS (584) and second in receiving yards per game (116.8). Hudson, a sophomore from Spring, Texas, is fifth in yards per game (109) and ninth in receiving yards (545).

    EKU has one of the top defenses in the nation vs. the pass with 10 interceptions, and three of those returned for touchdowns. Sophomore cornerback Davion Ross has two of those pick sixes, while six different Colonels have recorded an interception. As a unit, the Colonels' defense allows just 332.7 yards per game.

    UCA has been solid offensively, averaging 423.2 yards per game, including three games with more than 450 yards of total offense.

    The Bears will return to the road next weekend, taking on the Lamar Cardinals in Beaumont, Texas.

NOTES:
    The 2021 Class of the UCA Sports Hall of Fame will be honored with a pregame ceremony on "The Stripes," following their induction banquet held Saturday morning. The class includes Scott Schwartz (football/coaching); Larry Crandall (baseball/basketball); Greg Dunseath (golf); Leslie Clothier-Futrell (softball); Robin Smith-Everson (volleyball); Anthony Gardner (track and field), and Ted Yotter (baseball/coaching).
    The class was originally selected last year but the induction was canceled due to the pandemic.