Today’s game
CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT ARKANSAS STATE
WHEN 6 p.m. WHERE Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro RECORDS ASU 0-3; UCA 2-1 COACHES Steve Campbell (15-11 in third season at UCA, 141-49 in 16th season overall); Blake Anderson 16-13 in third season at ASU and overall) SERIES UCA leads 12-10-2 RADIO KASR-FM, 92.7, in Little Rock/ Conway; KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro; KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway: KKPT-FM, 94.1, in Little Rock INTERNET ESPN3.com WHEN UCA HAS THE BALL The Bears were taught a hard lesson in their 3529 loss to Samford on Sept. 10. Their 19 unanswered points were not enough to overcome two turnovers returned for touchdowns and three first-half possessions inside Northwestern State’s 20 that resulted in a total of three points, with one field goal, one missed field goal and an interception. UCA has primarily relied on freshman running back Carlos Blackman and senior Antwon Wells. Blackman has rushed for 270 yards this season and Wells 180. Junior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand has thrown two interceptions in three game, all against Northwestern State. He has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 720 yards and 2 touchdowns. His primary targets are senior receivers Jatavious Wilson and Desmond Smith. Wilson has caught a Southland-best 20 passes for 306 yards, and Smith is 16 for 268. WHEN ASU HAS THE BALL The Red Wolves are hoping they’ve found something in sophomore quarterback Justice Hansen. The transfer from Butler County (Kan.) Community College will make his first start for ASU tonight after he came off the bench to pass for 277 yards and a touchdown at Utah State. Hansen’s arm strength provides ASU with an element not available during the games senior Chad Voytik started. Coaches are hoping it opens up the passing game, as well as a running game that’s been held to 92.7 yards per game. UCA has been good so far against the run, holding teams to 58.0 yards per game, which is fourth in the FCS. The Bears are tied for ninth in total defense (267.7 yards per game) and 21st in scoring (19.3). Teams have been able to pass against the Bears, a key for the Red Wolves whose coaches hope they can continue the success they found with Hansen last week. WHAT’S AT STAKE ASU is 0-3 for the first time since 2004 and a loss would mark its first 0-4 start since 2001. A victory, however, would put the Red Wolves in the same position they were in a year ago: 1-3 heading into Sun Belt Conference play. The Bears are going for their first victory over an FBS team. UCA is 1-11 against FBS teams since moving to the FCS in 2006. Its lone victory came over Western Kentucky in 2009.
— Troy Schulte and Pete Perkins