Central Arkansas at Northwestern (La.) State

WHEN 6 p.m. Central WHERE Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, La. RECORDS Central Arkansas 0-2, 0-0; Northwestern State

0-3, 0-1

COACHES Steve Campbell (6-8 in second season at UCA, 13246 in 15 seasons overall); Jay Thomas (12-15 in third season at Northwestern State and 39-50 in ninth season overall)

RADIO KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway; KKPT-FM, 94.1, in Little

Rock INTERNET ESPN3.com, ucasports.com/watch

WHEN CENTRAL ARKANSAS HAS THE BALL The Bears’ offensive statistics aren’t anywhere near what they want them to be, but Coach Steve Campbell isn’t panicking. UCA threw 69 passes Sept. 3 in a season-opening loss to Samford in part because it fell behind and had to play catch up. Quarterback

Taylor Reed completed 43 passes in that game, the most for an FCS quarterback in a single game this season, but the Bears would like to be more balanced. Reed was 14 of 25 in a loss two weeks ago at Oklahoma State, a more desired total, but the Bears couldn’t get any traction against the nationally ranked Cowboys. Campbell and his players hope an off week and the start of its Southland Conference schedule can provide some normalcy to what has been an odd schedule so far. Campbell would like to kickstart his running game.

WHEN NORTHWESTERN STATE HAS THE BALL Northwestern State has struggled to generate offense against what could be considered the toughest opening schedule in the Southland Conference. The Demons lost to No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana 34-20 and followed that with losses to FBS members Louisiana-Lafayette (44-17) and Mississippi State (62-13). The Demons are seventh this season in scoring (16.7 points per game), ninth in passing (133.0 yards per game) and 10th in total offense (295.0 yards per game). The Demons also have played three quarterbacks in each game, and four quarterbacks have thrown at least nine passes this season.

THE STAKES A loss would mean UCA’s first 0-3 start since 1990 and would drop UCA to 6-4 in Southland openers since joining the league in 2006.