Bears take on Bobcats, one of four Southland Conference leaders

Even with a couple of blemishes, the University of Central Arkansas Bears have the chance to apply some makeup and emerge with a pretty attractive season.

It starts tonight in a regionally televised game against Texas State, one of four teams tied for the Southland Conference lead with 3-1 records. The Bears are 2-2 after a loss last week at Southeastern Louisiana.

“We still believe this team can be a special one,” UCA coach Clint Conque said. “We have a lot of seniors and basically they have 13 to 14 practices left and four football games, and they want to leave a strong legacy here. And we’re not mathematically out of the conference race. We’re one game back. We know some interesting things have to happen but you’re not out until somebody tells you that you are officially out.

“Our first goal every year is to have a winning season and you can’t get to seven (out of 12 games) without getting No. 6. And we want to finish nationally ranked (currently 19th and 20th in two polls). So there is still a lot out there.”

But the main thing Conque said he wants to see tonight is improvement in several areas.

“We want to be more efficient in the red zone and not get into the cycle of exchanging field goals for touchdowns as we have this year,” he said. “We want to see more playmakers emerge in critical situations, whether that’s the first quarter or the last drive of the game.”

The game will match the Southland’s top teams of a year ago. UCA posted the best record in the conference, including a 31-24 road victory over Texas State, but couldn’t be officially recognized as conference champion because of a rule on NCAA teams in transition to another classification that would have nullified the SLC’s automatic berth. Texas State became the SLC’s playoff representative and was designated the conference champion for that purpose.

“In our minds, last year, they (the Bears) were the best football team in the conference,” said Brad Wright, Texas State coach during the SLC’s weekly teleconference.

He said a key to the game would be how the Bobcats could attack the UCA defense.

“What this team (UCA) is about is how they play defense and Larry Hart (defensive end) is the heart and soul of that,” he said.

Conque said he was impressed the Texas State’s overall attack, particularly in last week’s 28-7 victory over Stephen F. Austin, previously unbeaten in conference play.

“I enjoyed watching how they defended and attacked SFA,” Conque said. “I think overall they have one of the gest offensive lines in the league. Bradley George (quarterback) is playing at a high level. They’re scoring lots of points and getting lots of yards and on defense, they make you be very patient and opportunistic.”

George, 6-foot-6, 220, a four-year starter, is second in the league in pass efficiency.

“When he throws off his back foot, he can throw in 60 yards. When he transfers his weight, he can throw it out of the stadium,” he said.

The game will be the final home conference game of the season for the Bears. The last home game will be a non-conference one against North Dakota on Nov. 28.

“This should be our style of defense and their style of offense and something’s got to give,” Conque said.