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    CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will hit the road for a third consecutive week on Saturday when they take on the Southeast Missouri Redhawks at 2 p.m. at Houck Stadium.

    The Bears (1-2), fresh off a 31-16 victory over the Idaho State Bengals last Saturday in Pocatello, Idaho, will meet the Redhawks (2-1) for the first time since 1986. The series is tied 7-7-1, but UCA has won seven of the past eight meetings after losing the first seven in the series which began in 1953.

    The Redhawks are receiving votes in both FCS polls after victories over No. 17 Southern Illinois (34-31) on Sept. 10 on the road, and 42-16 over Nicholls last weekend in their home opener. SEMO opened the season with a 42-10 loss at FBS Iowa on Sept. 3.

    SEMO has won 17 of its last 22 games at Houck Field, which is undergoing major construction this season after the home stands had to be demolished last season due to structural issues. The new capacity for this season is around 4,000. The Redhawks have had a winning home record in four of the last five seasons, including a 12-game home winning streak during that span.

    UCA played its most complete game of the season last Saturday at ISU. The Bears finished with a season-high 418 yards of total offense, while the defense forced three turnovers, including an fumble returned for a touchdown by transfer linebacker Corley Hooper at the 11:26 mark of the second quarter. Sophomore running back Darius Hale scored all three of UCA's offensive touchdowns, on runs of 1 and 2 yards and a 13-yard reception, to earn ASUN Offensive Player of the Week.

    Transfer quarterback Will McElvain completed 24 of 29 passes (82.7 percent) for 259 yards. He entered the game with a combined 299 passing yards in the Bears' first two outings. His completion percentage was the ninth best for a single game in UCA history. Transfer receiver John David White caught a career-high seven passes for 103 yards. McElvain completed passes to nine different receivers, including the 13-yard touchdown toss to Hale in the second quarter.

    UCA defense recorded eight tackles for loss and four sacks, with interceptions from redshirt freshman Sean Smith and Hooper in the end zone. Sophomore safety Tamuarion Wilson had eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble to lead the Bears' defensive effort. Hooper earned the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week award, finishing with seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a half sack, an interception and a fumble returned for a touchdown.

    Smith, from Arlington, Texas, was named the ASUN Freshman of the Week.

    The Redhawks were picked second in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll behind UT Martin. SEMO is led by transfer quarterback Paxton DeLaurent, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound sophomore who came from Central Methodist University, an NAIA school in Fayette, Mo. He has thrown for 863 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions through his first three games, including back-to-back 300-yard games against SIU and Nicholls.

    Senior running back Geno Hess (5-8, 222) is just two touchdowns short of breaking the school's career touchdowns record. He has 35 touchdowns (33 rushing 2 receiving), trailing Walter Smallwood, who has held the record for 54 years. This season, Hess had 39 carries for 143 yards and one touchdown, along with two more receiving touchdowns.

    The Bears and Redhawks last met in 1986, with UCA winning 13-9 in Cape Girardeau. UCA Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Joe McDaniels stopped  SEMO's final drive at the UCA 4 to preserve the victory. UCA went on to finish that season 9-2 and lost in four overtimes in the first round of the NAIA Playoffs. UCA running back Shawn Olive scored the only touchdown of the game, which featured five field goals, two by UCA's Darrell Hamilton.

    Saturday's game will be broadcast live on The Bear 91.3, The Point 94.1 and on ESPN+.