Central Arkansas at Abilene Christian
WHEN 2 p.m. Central
WHERE John Clark Stadium, Plano, Texas
RECORDS Central Arkansas 5-4, 4-1 Southland Conference; Abilene Christian 4-5, 2-3
COACHES Central Arkansas: Steve Campbell (5-4 in first season at UCA, 131-42 in 14th season overall); Abilene Christian: Ken Collums (17-14 in third season at Abilene Christian and overall)
SERIES UCA leads 4-1-1
RADIO KHLR-FM, 106.7, in Benton/Little Rock; KUCA-FM, 91,3, in Conway
INTERNET ucasports.com
WHEN UCA HAS THE BALL If Coach Steve Campbell had his druthers, the Bears’ would look offensively like they did last week, when they rushed for a season-high 306 yards in a victory over Northwestern State. Willie Matthews rushed for 119 yards, Dominique Thomas added 96 yards and Blake Veasley totaled 81 as the three combined for 7 touchdowns. While, Campbell prefers a stout running game, the Bears have been able to move the ball with either method this year. Central Arkansas’ 58 points against Northwestern State raised its average to 42.0 points per game, best in the Southland and seventh best in the FCS. Ryan Howard passed for 150 yards, but UCA is averaging 257.1 yards per game in passing offense, fourth most in the Southland and 24th in the FCS. Abilene Christian is third in the Southland in scoring defense (24.6) and fifth in total defense (404.6 yards per game). The Wildcats has had trouble slowing some of the Southland’s top teams, though, having lost 31-20 at McNeese State on Oct. 18 and 38-21 at Sam Houston State on Oct. 25.
WHEN ACU HAS THE BALL Outside of two quick touchdowns, UCA is coming off one of its best games. The Bears held the Demons to 21 points despite giving up touchdowns in the first 12 minutes, and allowed the other 14 in the final nine minutes when the game was decided. The Bears will be facing a Wildcats’ offense that, like their defense, struggled against McNeese State and Sam Houston State. They were held without a touchdown through 49 minutes of a 31-20 loss to McNeese State, and held to one late touchdown in the second half of a loss to Sam Houston State. Quarterback Parker McKenzie’s 286.7 yards passing per game leads the Southland. He passed for 385 yards against Sam Houston State, but threw an interception and lost two fumbles that led to touchdowns in the second half.
WHAT’S AT STAKE Today starts a four-week sprint in which five teams with one Southland loss will try to separate and position itself for the 24-team FCS playoff field. The Bears are one of only two of those teams to have only three games left, and two of those — Lamar and Abilene Christian — are against teams with even or losing conference records.
QUOTING COACH CAMPBELL “There’s a long way to go between now and then. But we still control our own destiny as far as [a Southland title] is concerned.”
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Mississippi Valley State
WHEN 2:30 p.m. today
WHERE Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff
RECORDS Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2-5, 1-4 SWAC; Mississippi Valley State 2-6, 1-5
COACHES Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Monte Coleman (33-41 in seventh season at UAPB and overall); Mississippi Valley: Rick Comegy (2-6 in first season at Mississippi Valley, 165-92 in 23rd season overall)
RADIO KUAP-FM, 89.7, in Pine Bluff
INTERNET uapblionsroar.com
WHEN UAPB HAS THE BALL Ben Anderson finally got some help last week in the form of running back Brian Handley. The junior from Monticello rushed for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns, the first time this season a UAPB back had rushed for more than 100 yards. That made it so Anderson didn’t have to establish a running game. Anderson completed 12 of 23 passes for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns. Defense has been an issue for the Delta Devils under first-year Coach Rick Comegy, who was previously the coach at Jackson State. The Delta Devils gave up 465 yards in a 52-19 loss to Prairie View A&M last week and have allowed 40 points or more four times this season. UAPB has scored at least 30 points in four of its five SWAC games and at least 36 points in each of the last three weeks. Anderson has 8,707 career passing yards, and needs to average 323.3 over the final four games to be the fourth quarterback at an Arkansas college to eclipse 10,000 yards passing.
WHEN MVSU HAS THE BALL Today might provide UAPB’s reeling defense some relief. The Golden Lions have allowed more points than any team in the SWAC, but welcome in one of the league’s most struggling offenses. The Delta Devils have scored a league-low 19 touchdowns and their 18.1 points per game and 300.5 total yards per game are also last in the SWAC. They’ve committed 22 turnovers this season and third most in the FCS. UAPB’s defense hasn’t been much better, having not held an NCAA Division I opponent to less than 33 points all season. The Golden Lions’ allowed 582 yards last week, but beat Texas Southern 38-37.
WHAT’S AT STAKE UAPB’s victory last week staved off postseason elimination for at least another week. The Golden Lions still need to win out and hope several teams in the Western Division finish at 5-4 for a possible SWAC title game. If they win out and fall short, a 6-5 record would still be their third winning season in four years, which would be its best four-year run since going 27-16 in 1997-2000 under then-Coach Lee Hardman.
QUOTING COACH COLEMAN “I want them to look at the big picture, a 6-5 overall record, and it would be a 5-4 SWAC record if we win out. But, the most important thing is one game at a time. And that’s Valley right now.”
Southern Arkansas at Ouachita Baptist
WHEN 1 p.m.
WHERE Cliff Harris Stadium, Arkadelphia
RADIO KVMZ-FM99.1, in Magnolia; KHTE-FM, 96.5, in Little Rock; KHTO-FM, 96.7, in Hot Springs; KFMD-FM, 105.3, and KFMD-AM, 1340, in Springdale/ Rogers; KAMD-FM, 97.1, in Camden; KNAS-FM, 105.5, in Nashville; KQORFM, 105.3, in Mena
INTERNET muleriderathletics.com, obutigers.com
RECORDS SAU (4-3, 4-3 GAC); OBU (7-0, 7-0)
RANKINGS OBU is No. 13 in the American Football Coaches Association poll, No. 23 in the d2football.com poll and No. 4 in the NCAA Division II Super Region 3.
COACHES SAU Bill Keopple: (25-33 in sixth season at SAU and overall); OBU: Todd Knight (102-113-2 in 16 seasons at OBU and overall)
SERIES OBU leads 35-34-1.
LAST MEETING SAU defeated OBU 31-23 in 2013.
LAST WEEK SAU was off; OBU defeated Arkansas Tech 14-9.
COMMENTS The Muleriders lead the GAC, and rank No. 10 in NCAA Division II, in total offense (507.1 yards per game). ... Senior quarterback Si Blackshire has completed 134 of 227 passes for 1,869 yards and 20 touchdowns. ... OBU senior defensive end Kyle Lamothe was the GAC Defensive Player of the Week last week after finishing with 4 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 quarterback hurry against Arkansas Tech. It was the second time this season Lamothe received player of the week honors. ... OBU's defense is ranked fourth in NCAA Division II in fumbles recovered (12). Junior lineman Barkley Legens has three which ranks fourth in the nation. ... The Tigers had a season-high five sacks last week against Arkansas Tech with Lamothe's three leading the way. ... Senior running back Steven Kehner needs three rushing touchdowns to tie the GAC single-season record of 15 and eight to break the OBU single-season record of 19 set by William Miller in 1978.
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Southeastern Oklahoma State at Harding
WHEN 2 p.m.
WHERE First Security Stadium, Searcy
RADIO KVHU-FM, 95.3, in Searcy
INTERNET hardingsports.com
RECORDS Harding (6-1, 6-1 GAC); SE Okla. (5-3, 4-3)
RANKINGS Harding is No. 17 in the American Football Coaches Association poll and No. 9 in the NCAA Division II Super Region 3.
COACHES Harding: Ronnie Huckeba (46-34 in eighth season at Harding and overall); SE Okla.: Bo Atterberry (5-3 in first season at SE Okla., 46-31 in seventh season overall)
SERIES Harding leads 18-7.
LAST MEETING Harding won 42-10 in 2013.
LAST WEEK Harding defeated Henderson State 28-24; SE Okla. defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State 45-7.
COMMENTS The Bisons will be playing their sixth consecutive game as a nationally tanked team. ... It's homecoming for Harding. The Bisons are 35-17-2 (.667) in homecoming games. ... Harding's offense is ranked second in NCAA Division II in rushing (394.9 ypg). ... The Bisons are eighth in Division II in scoring offense (44.6 ppg) and has scored 40 or more points five times this season. ... Harding leads the GAC and is tied for third in Division II in turnover margin. The Bisons have forced a Division II-high 14 fumbles. ... The Savage Storm are on their first four-game winning streak since the final four games of the 2008 season. ... SE Okla. scored on its first offensive play in last week's victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State and had touchdowns rushing, passing, on defense and on special teams.
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East Central (Okla.) at Arkansas Tech
WHEN 3 p.m.
WHERE Thone Stadium, Russellville
RADIO KWKK-FM, 100.9 in Russellville
INTERNET arkansastechsports.com
RECORDS Arkansas Tech (3-5, 3-4 GAC); East Central (5-2, 5-2)
COACHES Arkansas Tech: Raymond Monica (8-11 in second season at Tech and 53-45 in ninth season overall) East Central: Tim McCarty (33-38 in eighth season at East Central, 53-56 in 11th season overall)
SERIES East Central leads 9-7.
LAST MEETING Arkansas Tech won 26-17 in 2013.
LAST WEEK Arkansas Tech lost 14-9 to OBU; East Central defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State 36-13.
COMMENTS It is the final home game of the season for the Wonder Boys. ... This is the third consecutive week East Central will be part of a homecoming game. ... The Tigers are 4-1 playing in Russellville. ... Arkansas Tech has the third ranked defense in the GAC, allowing 334.4 yards per game. Their 13 interceptions lead the conference... East Central has blocked five kicks this season.
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Arkansas-Monticello at Henderson State
WHEN 3 p.m.
WHERE Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia
RADIO KHBM-FM, 93.7, in Monticello; KARN-AM, 920, in Little Rock; KYXK-FM, 106.9, in Arkadelphia; KZYP-FM, 1007.7, and KZYP-AM, 1310, in Malvern; KVHU-FM, 95.3, in Searcy
INTERNET hsusports.com, uamsports.com
RECORDS UAM (2-5, 2-5 GAC); Henderson State (7-1, 6-1)
RANKINGS Henderson is No. 14 in American Football Coaches Association coaches poll, No. 12 in the d2football.com poll.
COACHES UAM: Hud Jackson (17-27 in fourth year at UAM and overall); Henderson State: Scott Maxfield (67-37 in 10th season, 96-48 in 13th season overall)
SERIES Henderson leads 44-30-2.
LAST MEETING Henderson won 37-21 in 2013.
LAST WEEK UAM beat Southern Nazarene 44-37. Henderson lost to Harding 28-24.
COMMENTS This year is the 100th anniversary of the first meeting between the schools. Today's game is the 76th in the series. ... UAM leads in the conference and ranks 10th in NCAA Division in pass defense, allowing 156.0 yards per game. However, the Boll Weevils rank last the GAC in rush defense, allowing nearly 257 yards per game. ... Boll Weevils QB Hunter Leppert was named the GAC offensive player of the year after completing 20 of 37 passes for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns last week against Southern Nazarene. ... Last week's loss to Harding ended Henderson State's 30-game regular-season and and 27-game GAC winning streaks. ... With 12,510 yards, Reddies QB Kevin Rodgers moved into eight place on the NCAA Division II career passing list. He needs 55 yards to pass Southwest Baptist's Steve Gachette (2007-2010) into seventh. ... Henderson WR Darius Davis has recorded at least one catch in 35 consecutive games. He has scored 272 career points and needs one touchdown to become HSU's all-time leading scorer. He needs 81 yards to become the first Reddie to top 1,000 receiving yards twice. He had a school- and conference-record 1,597 yards last season.
Sports on 11/01/2014