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CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will hit the road this weekend looking to get back in the win column when they take on the Abilene Christian Wildcats in Abilene, Texas.

UCA and ACU will meet for the 13th time at 6 p.m. Saturday at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium on ESPN+.

The Bears (1-3) are coming off a 10-point loss to the defending FCS national champion Sam Houston Bearkats at home last Saturday. The Wildcats (3-1) shut out the Lamar Cardinals 56-0 last weekend on the road in Beaumont, Texas. 

UCA leads the series 9-2-1 and has won the past five meetings, including a crazy, down-to-the-wire 31-30 victory in the last matchup in 2019 in Conway. The Wildcats missed a 46-yard field goal attempt with 35 seconds remaining after UCA had taken the lead on a short touchdown run by Carlos Blackman with just 1:30 remaining. The teams combined to score six times in the fourth quarter after the Wildcats had taken a 17-9 lead through three quarters.

This year's ACU squad is allowing only 260 yards and 18 points per game, including a 56-9 loss to FBS Southern Methodist and two games against non-Division I competition (Louisiana College, UT Permian Basin).

"We went back and watched our 2019 game with them, and we were inside the 10 yard line four times and came out with nine points,' said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "We kicked three field goals and turned the ball over the fourth time. We found a way to win the game but that's hidden points that we just weren't able to capitalize on. So they make you execute all the way down.

"I think they do a great job keeping the ball in front of them. They are a bend-but-don't-break defense, which might sound negative but that's not a negative by any means. That's the philosophy they have. They're not going to blitz you a ton, they're going to play coverage. They're going to make you execute down the field, which most teams have a tough time doing.

  "I have a ton of respect for Coach (Adam) Dorrel and his defensive staff. They do a great job year in and year out. They are just a clean, sound defense.'   
  
In ACU's romp over Lamar last week, the Wildcats gained 461 yards of total offense and held the Cardinals to just 136 yards. ACU averaged 8.2 yards per play compared to Lamar's 2.6 yards per play. ACU stuck to the ground game with 274 rushing yards and just 187 through the air. For the season, the Wildcats are nearly even, averaging 205 on the ground and 215 through the air.

"Obviously Abilene has a great facility and they play well at home, and they are playing winning football right now coming off a huge, huge win against Lamar,' said Brown. "They're a good football team. Shut them (Lamar) out and put up a lot of points. Watching them, they definitely add some stress to what we're trying to accomplish.'

UCA has been much more accomplished in the passing game this year, with junior quarterback Breylin Smith throwing for 1,245 yards and 13 touchdowns through four games, including four touchdowns each in the past two games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Sam Houston. The Bears average 82 yards per game on the ground and 311 through the air.

The Bears overcame a 31-7 deficit to No. 1 SHSU last weekend and cut their deficit to 31-28 late in the third quarter, but could not hold on against the Bearkats. Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Hudson caught 11 passes for a career-high 181 yards and two touchdowns to earn the ASUN Offensive Player of the Week award for the second time this season. Smith completed 25 of 41 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns, including a 14-yarder to freshman running back Darius Hale and a 24-yarder to junior receiver Lujuan Winningham.

The ACU game will be UCA's first true road trip of the young season, after day trips to Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark., and Missouri State in Springfield, Mo.

"Big, big week for us,' Brown said. "Another opportunity to play an AQ7 conference game, one in which we have a chance to go and compete and hopefully have a chance to win. Bottom line is, we're going to a 3-1 Abilene Christian team and this is our first real road trip, which I'm going to spin as a positive. 

"I'm actually a fan of road games _ obviously you don't want every game to be a road game _ but I think it actually brings your team a little closer. You're taking 70 guys, you're eating together, you're staying together, you're spending 48 hours straight with each other. You just get closer and closer and develop bonds and have some of the best memories you'll have of football on those road trips, especially those long ones like Abilene.

"And we haven't had a chance to do that this year. We've had two road games where they've both been day trips. We'll have probably 10-12 guys who this will be the first time they've stayed in a hotel with us. So that's new to them. We're looking forward to it.'

The Bears have their only open date of the season next Saturday before hosting Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 16 at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.