CONWAY -- They like what they've seen so far. Near the midway point of their 2016 football schedule, the Central Arkansas Bears sound pleased by the cumulative results of their first five games, but they know significant challenges await.
UCA (4-1, 3-0 Southland) is working through its bye week with an eye on its Oct. 15 game at McNeese State (3-2, 2-1). After McNesse, UCA's opponents include Sam Houston State (4-0, 3-0), and Stephen F. Austin (3-2, 2-1). UCA Coach Steve Campbell said he thinks the first five weeks of the season have offered nice answers to questions he had before it began.
"I'm pleased that we're 3-0 in the conference because that's where we wanted to be," Campbell said. "I'm pleased with the way we've played that last couple of weeks. We've protected the ball well. We've won two on the road, and we're getting better each week. That's the key, to make continuous improvement throughout the season."
UCA won 58-27 at Abilene Christian on Oct. 1, after defeating NCAA FCS member Arkansas State, 28-23, on Sept. 24.
Particular areas of concern for Campbell were UCA's revamped backfield and offensive line, but the performances of both units have met his preseason hopes.
Senior left guard Stockton Mallett was the only returning starter on the line when the season began.
"Our line has performed well so far, and they're getting better every week," Campbell said. "There are a lot of new faces up there, but now, after five games, they've played a lot, and they're a hard-working blue-collar group."
"The O-line has really come together," junior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand said. "That was a big question mark going into the season, so we weren't really sure what to expect, but they have done a great job."
UCA ranks second in the Southland in total offense with an average of 475.6 yards a game and is second in rushing yards at 236.4.
UCA's top three rushers from 2015 exhausted their eligibility, but Campbell said from the start that he was confident in their replacements.
"We've got depth at running back, and that's been good for us," Campbell said.
Freshman Carlos Blackman leads UCA with 348 yards rushing. Five other running backs have rushed for at least 100 yards this season, including fifth-year senior Antwon Wells with 237.
The assumed givens included Hildebrand, who became UCA's starter last season, and senior wide receivers Jatavious Wilson and Desmond Smith, and none have disappointed Campbell.
"Jatavious and Desmond have made plays for us, and they've played like the two all-conference and all-American kind of guys that we are, and Hayden's done a good job of getting the ball in their hands," Campbell said. "I like our skill guys."
"Those guys make my job a lot easier," Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand has completed 58.8 percent of his passes and averages 232.6 yards a game while throwing for eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Wilson leads the Southland in receptions with 31 and yards with 485. Smith ranks fourth with 25 receptions for 368 yards.
Campbell said he expected excellence from his defense and that he hasn't been disappointed. UCA leads the Southland in yards and points allowed, surrendering an average of 21.6 points and 305.0 yards, respectively. It has given up an average of 54.8 yards rushing a game, which leads the NCAA FCS.
Defensive coordinator Greg Stewart's confidence and pleasure echoed Campbell's.
"Our defense has done good," Stewart said. "What they've done is they've played extremely hard, and they've bought into what Coach Campbell and we try to preach to them."
Sports on 10/07/2016