UCA geared up for tough Sam Houston State defense

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas is long familiar with challenges provided by Sam Houston State, but tonight’s game will come with a new twist.

During recent seasons, UCA’s first concern when it considered Sam Houston State has been with the ways to stop the Bearkats’ high-scoring offense, particularly from 2015-18, when they led the Southland Conference in scoring and total offense.

Sam Houston State’s offense remains potent, but the team’s strength this season is a dominating defense. UCA (5-2, 3-1 Southland Conference) will face the Bearkats (5-3, 4-1) at 6 p.m. today at Estes Stadium.

“I’ve been watching defenses in this league for a while, and this defense that Sam’s about to bring up here is as good as any of the top defenses that we’ve played in the last few years,” UCA Coach Nathan Brown said.

“They’re very athletic. They have a bunch of players who really attack the football.”

The Bearkats have allowed an average of 16.1 points a game, the fewest in the Southland by 9.9 points. By comparison, UCA and Nicholls State are tied for third in the conference for fewest points allowed with an average of 29.1.

Sam Houston State has allowed an average of 308.6 yards a game. Lamar is second in the Southland with an average of 380.4. UCA is seventh among the conference’s 11 schools, having surrendered an average of 435.1.

“The first thing that stands out is their defensive front,” UCA sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith said. “They have several guys on the inside who are very good. They use great technique. You can tell they’re very well-coached. They play hard. They play fast.”

Brown said senior linebacker Hunter Brown, a transfer from West Virginia, and junior defensive lineman

Trace Mascorro were among the notables for Sam Houston State.

“They just have a lot of guys,” Brown said. “They have a lot of good depth that they can roll in. Teams are struggling to block these guys.”

Mascorro has four sacks and leads the Bearkats with 11.5 tackles for loss.

Smith said Sam Houston State will challenge him and UCA’s offensive line.

“Our line knows that,” Smith said. “They know it’s a big game, just like we all know it’s a big game, but we’re excited, and we’re prepared for it.”

Sam Houston State will take the Estes Stadium field having come off its top defensive performance of the season. Last Saturday, the Bearkats traveled to Nicholls State and returned home to Huntsville, Texas, with a 17-0 victory that knocked the Colonels out of the outright lead in the Southland standings.

UCA lost 34-14 at Nicholls State on Oct. 5.