TODAY’S GAMES

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern

WHEN 4 p.m. Central

WHERE A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.

RECORDS UAPB 1-5, 1-3 SWAC; Southern 3-2, 3-0

COACHES Monte Coleman (18-57 in ninth season at UAPB and overall); Dawson Odums (31-20 in fifth season at Southern and overall)

SERIES Southern leads 37-11-2

RADIO KUAP-FM 89.7, in Pine Bluff

INTERNET uapblionsroar.com

WHEN UAPB HAS THE BALL The Golden Lions must look to get back on track moving the football. After averaging a little more than 20 points per game through the first five games of the season, UAPB was nearly shut out before scoring on a short field in the fourth quarter against Alabama A&M last week. Quarterback Brandon Duncan still leads the SWAC in passing, averaging 269 yards per contest. Receiver Willie Young in averaging 95 yards per game receiving, but the Golden Lions’ struggles on the ground don’t appear to be going away. UAPB is ninth in the SWAC in rushing offense, averaging just 73.3 yards per game.

WHEN SOUTHERN HAS THE BALL If the Golden Lions seem to fluctuate on offense, the Jaguars would be what you set your watch to. They lead the conference in scoring (38.6 points per game) and passing efficiency (155.1). Running back Lenard Tillery is just 245 yards away from becoming the SWAC’s all-time leading rusher. He has 3,923 rushing yards and is one of just 14 SWAC running backs to top 3,000 yards rushing in a career. Senior receiver Willie Quinn is one of just two wideouts in the conference averaging more than 100 yards receiving a game. Quinn is averaging seven catches for 108.3 yards a game. Quinn, Tillery and kicker Ruan Albuquerque are the top three scorers in the SWAC.

WHAT’S AT STAKE The Jaguars are tied with Grambling State atop the SWAC’s Western Division at 3-0. Unlike the Eastern Division, where every team has at least two conference losses, this game could severely sway the balance of power. Even with a 1-3 start in conference play, the Golden Lions could get back into the conversation with a second upset conference victory. If the Jaguars are to keep pace with the Tigers, they’ll have to improve upon their three-game winning streak.

Nick Walker, Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Lamar at Central Arkansas

WHEN 6 p.m.

WHERE Estes Stadium, Conway

RECORDS Central Arkansas 5-1, 4-0 Southland Conference; Lamar 3-3, 3-1 COACHES Steve Campbell (18-11 in third season at UCA, 45-19 in sixth season overall); Ray Woodward (34-41 in seventh season at Lamar and overall)

SERIES UCA leads 5-0

LAST MEETING UCA beat Lamar 35-17 in 2015

RADIO KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway; KKPTFM, 94.1, in Little Rock

INTERNET ESPN3.com, ucasports.com/ watch

WHEN UCA HAS THE BALL Coach Steve Campbell said it is always in UCA’s best interest to establish the run, but that should be particularly true against Lamar. Lamar’s rush defense is ranked last in the Southland Conference. Through six games, it has surrendered an average of 283.7 yards per game on the ground. The Bears pass defense leads the Southland, and its opponents have managed an average of 147.7 passing yards. UCA is second in the conference in rushing yards per game with an average of 235.5 yards, led by freshman Carlos Blackman’s 346 yards. UCA senior wide receiver Jatavious Wilson leads the Southland with 552 receiving yards.

WHEN LAMAR HAS THE BALL Lamar typically starts on offense with its runners, but after senior running back Kade Harrington was injured early in Lamar’s 32-31 victory over Northwestern (La.) State last week, senior quarterback Carson Earp passed for 412 yards to more than compensate for the backfield loss. Earp’s total was nearly half of his 921 passing yards this season. Harrington, who leads the Southland Conference through six games with 677 rushing yards, is out for the season with a broken foot. Underclassmen backups will attempt to fill in for Harrington, but Lamar’s primary attack might come through the air. Lamar’s leading receivers include sophomore Zae Giles, 25 catches for 284 yards, and junior Marcus Daggs, 16 catches for 187 yards.

WHAT’S AT STAKE A victory for UCA would give it a 5-0 start in the Southland Conference for the first time and keep it in at least a tie for first place with Sam Houston State, which is scheduled to play at Nicholls State today.

Pete Perkins,

Special to the Democrat-Gazette

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