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CONWAY, Ark. _ After a one-year hiatus, the "Red Beans and Rice Bowl" returns to First Security Field at Estes Stadium on Saturday when the University of Central Arkansas hosts McNeese State in Southland Conference action.

    The Bears (3-2, 3-0) and Cowboys (5-0, 4-0) will be playing for more than just a trophy when they meet at 6 p.m. on ESPN3 and ESPN College  The winner will sit in sole possession of first place in the league at the midway point of the season.

    The teams did not play in 2014 due to a scheduling quirk. The overall series is tied 4-4, with UCA holding a 4-1 advantage in games played in Conway. Since the inception of the Red Beans and Rice Bowl in 2008, the Bears hold a 4-2 edge. 

    "This should be a great matchup between two good teams,' said UCA head coach Steve Campbell, who in his second season at UCA, has never faced McNeese State. "They're bringing a good team with a good record into town and we're playing at home on "The Stripes." We're looking forward to a great day of football.'
 

    The Cowboys bring the top-rated defense in all four categories in the Southland to Conway. McNeese State is allowing just 6.8 points per game, 73.2 rushing yards, 170.6 passing yards and 243.8 total yards per game. The Bears counter with an offense that has scored more than 40 points in three consecutive victories, beating Northwestern State 49-21 on the road, Abilene Christian 42-14 on "The Stripes" and Houston Baptist 43-7 in Houston.

    "People have really struggled running the football on them,' said Campbell. "Then the people that are just dropping back and throwing it every snap, they're getting sacked. So you have to pound it in there. You have to be able to run the football to create some balance.

    "They have very good football players. We give them a lot of respect but we're going to do what we do. And I think our defense is pretty good, too. And I like the way we run the football. I think it's going to be a great football game. It's us against them and let's see where we're at.'

    UCA is 3-0 under the direction of sophomore quarterback Hayden Hildebrand, who took over in the second quarter against Northwestern State when senior Taylor Reed was injured. Hildebrand is No. 1 in the league in pass efficiency and is No. 3 in passing yards per game (179.0). He has completed 43 of 60 passes (71.6 percent) for 716 yards, with nine touchdowns and one interception. 

    Sophomore running back Dominique Thomas is third in the league in rushing at 92.2 yards per game, and has topped the 100-yard mark the past two games with 126 yards against ACU and 119 versus HBU. As a team, the Bears have topped the 200-yard rushing mark in three consecutive games, with a high of 267 at Northwestern State.

    McNeese quarterback Daniel Sams, a transfer from Kansas State, is the team's top rusher at 421 yards. The Cowboys are third in scoring at 33.2 points per game, and fourth behind UCA in toral offense (435.4 to 432.2). UCA is first in the SLC in net punting (41.6), while sophomore Brandon Cox is also first (17.0) after his 93-yarder for a touchdown last week against HBU. It was the second-longest punt return in school history, behind a 97-yarder by John Simmons in 1960.

    The game will be carried live on ESPN3 and ESPN College Extra (DirecTV 795, AT&T Uverse 621, Verizon Fios 328). Radio coverage is also available on The Point 94.1 and The Bear 91.3.