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CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will attempt to move past the events of last Saturday's controversial last-second loss at Arkansas State when they take on the Lindenwood Lions on Saturday night.

The ninth-ranked Bears will face the Lions at 6 p.m. at Harlan C. Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo.

The Bears, who lost to the Red Wolves on a overturned incomplete pass with three seconds remaining, moved up to No. 9 in the poll despite the loss to an FBS program. UCA and Lindenwood will be meeting for just the second time on Saturday. 

The Lions won the previous meeting 52-49 in a wild offensive shootout in 2022 at Estes Stadium. The teams combined for 1,231 total yards of offense, scored 151 points and ran 151 offensive plays. After an offensive explosion for three quarters, the only score in the fourth period was the game-winning field goal for Lindenwood.

"Lindenwood is a very well-coached team," said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "This will be a sound, fundamental football team. They didn't have a lot of success last year, but obviously they're in the NCAA transition stage. A few years ago I think they won six games. The three years prior to that they made Division II playoff appearances before they made the transition.

"Their facilities are unreal. They've put a lot of money into this place. It will be a beautiful setting to play a football game."

  The Lions are coming off a 48-3 loss to the No. 22 Kansas Jayhawks at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. Lindenwood's lone score against the Jayhawks was a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter by Logan Seibert. Kansas finished with 26 first downs and 530 total yards of offense, while holding Lindenwood to 12 first downs and 202 yards.

"They've done a good job recruiting the midwest, and have dipped down in the south to get some kids as well," said Brown. "But when you start getting up to that St. Charles, St. Louis area, you see some bigger kids, more physical type bodies. So they'll be big and they'll be strong. So we'll have to play well and fundamentally sound to win this game, and our players know that."

The Bears scored 31 second-half points to overcome a 13-0 halftime deficit at ASU, and took their only lead on a 4-yard rushing touchdown by senior Darius Hale with 55 seconds remaining. That was set up by a strip sack by senior defensive end David Walker, and recovery by senior tackle Javeon Jones. Walker finished with 2.5 sacks, giving him 23.0 for his career. 

"There are a lot of top 25 FCS teams that are sitting 0-1 right now that people have high expectations about," said Brown. "Seven of the Top 10 teams in FCS football lost last week. Who are the ones that are going to respond? So that's the challenge.

"But we're excited about the opportunity. First trip to Lindenwood for me. It will be new part of the country to go play a football game, so that will be fun. The weather is supposed to be great, kind of fall-like weather. We're excited about the opportunity and the challenge ahead."

UCA plays its home and United Athletic Conference opener next week against Austin Peay at Estes Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on "The Stripes."