HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana football team will close out a two-game road swing on Saturday, when it travels to Conway, Arkansas for a 7 p.m. Halloween night Southland Conference contest at league rival Central Arkansas.
 
The game between the visiting Lions (4-3, 3-2 Southland) and the host Bears (4-3, 4-1 Southland) will be televised by ESPN3 at WatchESPN.com and via the WatchESPN app. The contest with the Bears can also be heard on KSLU-FM (90.9) and LionSports.net, as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH).
 
After losing two games in a row, SLU got back on track with a 22-7 victory at Houston Baptist last Saturday. Playing in a driving rain storm, the Lions kept the ball on the ground, rushing for 288 yards versus the Huskies. Senior Kody Sutton tallied a career-high 156 yards to pace the ground attack, while freshman Julius Maracalin and senior Trey Hallman each rushed for a touchdown.
 
The Lion defense was sturdy in the win over HBU, limiting the Huskies to 10 first downs and 199 total yards. Junior Miki Fangatua led Southeastern with a sack and a safety, while the SLU secondary allowed HBU to complete just five-of-15 passes.
 
"The rain was a definite factor, but we needed to get back into the win column," Southeastern head coach Ron Roberts said. "We need to concentrate on being at our best over the last four games of the regular season. This is the time of year we need to be playing our best football."
 
Saturday's focus on the ground game has been the norm for the SLU offense throughout the season. The Lions have rushed the ball more than twice as much as it has passed it. Sutton (392 yards, 3 TD), Maracalin (267 yards, 2 TD) and junior D'Shaie Landor (162 yards, 3 TD) are the top rushers for the Lions.
 
UCA features a similar run-first mindset on offense. Dominique Thomas (525 yards, 4 TD) and senior Blake Veasley (470 yards, 7 TD) are the top runners for the Bear offense. Juniors Desmond Smith (38 catches, 510 yards, 2 TD) and Jatavious Wilson (33 catches, 348 yards, 2 TD) are the top targets for sophomore quarterback Hayden Hildebrand. Veasley is the reigning Southland Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 292 yards in last week's 35-17 win over Lamar.
 
The Bears will be facing a Southeastern defense that is allowing 22.1 points and 348.1 yards per game. Senior Jordan Batiste leads the team with 40 tackles and shares the sack lead with senior Aaron Price with four sacks each. Sophomore Ryan Sigers has a team-high seven tackles for loss, while senior Harlan Miller, a STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has a team-high three interceptions and eight pass breakups.
 
The UCA defense is allowing 371.0 yards per game heading into Saturday's contest. Sophomore George Odum has a team-high 47 tackles, while sophomore Tremon Smith paces the squad with four interceptions. A talented defensive line is led by senior Jonathan Woodard, who like Miller is a candidate for STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year.
 
"Central Arkansas is a physical team that is going to provide us with a huge challenge," Roberts said. "I think they're as good up front as anyone we've played this year."
 
UCA holds a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams. The Lions have won the last two meetings – 41-24 in Hammond last season and 58-31 on "The Stripes" in 2013. The 2013 win was the Lions' lone win on the unique purple and gray field at UCA's Estes Stadium.
 
Southeastern will return home next Saturday, hosting UIW in the 6 p.m. Hall of Fame game at Strawberry Stadium. The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television and on ESPN3 outside of CST's viewing area. The contest can also be heard on KSLU-FM (90.9) and LionSports.net, as well as affiliates and Northshore Broadcasting stations Kajun 107.1 FM (WHMD) and The Highway 104.7 FM (WJSH).
 
At halftime of the game with UIW, Southeastern will recognize 2015 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Rachel Ray Fitzgerald (softball) and Denise Kubena Wyninger (volleyball).