McNeese (5-2, 4-1 SLC) vs. Central Arkansas (5-2, 4-1 SLC)
Rankings: McNeese - 14 STATS, 16 AFCA Coaches; UCA – 13 STATS, 14 AFCA
Where: Lake Charles, La.
Stadium:  Louis Bonnette Field at Cowboy Stadium (17,610)
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: McNeese Radio Network
Live Stats: McNeeseSports.com
Twitter: @McNeeseFootball
Series: UCA leads 6-5
Game Notes: McNeese, UCA
 
LAKE CHARLES – The biggest came of the Southland Conference season for the McNeese Cowboys when they host the Central Arkansas Bears in a battle for first place in the league standings on McNeese's homecoming night.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be carried live on ESPN3.
 
Both teams will enter the "Red Beans and Rice Bowl" game with identical 5-2 overall and 4-1 league marks and sit in a three-way tie for first place with Incarnate Word who is playing at Nicholls on Saturday.
 
McNeese was stunned last week after falling 45-17 to UIW while UCA defeated Northwestern State by a 38-17 score.
 
"We have to put that behind us," said head coach Lance Guidry during his weekly press conference. "Our kids feel like they have something to prove after last week. We can't let one loss lead to a second."
 
Guidry expects the Cowboys to come out and play a good game on Saturday night.
 
"We've got a good game plan put together. I know our kids are excited to play. We also have something to prove from the last two times in playing them (UCA)."
 
The Bears have outscored the Cowboys 82-17 the last two years, winning 47-17 last year in Conway and 35-0 in 2016 in Lake Charles.
 
"I'm excited to be back home."
 
McNeese has won 10 straight games at home and will be looking to notch its 100^th Southland Conference victory. The Cowboys have not lost in "The Hole" since that 35-0 loss to the Bears in 2016.
 
GAMEDAY NOTES
 
Homecoming Night
• Saturday's game will be homecoming for the Cowboys.
• McNeese is 54-19-1 all-time in homecoming games and has won six straight and 8 out of the last 10 years.
 
Cowboys vs. Bears - Red Beans & Rice Bowl
• It's a unique trophy game that is in its 10th year after being established in 2008, one year after UCA played in its first season as a member of the Southland Conference.
• UCA leads the all-time series by a 6-5 edge and has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 82-17 (47-17 in 2017 at UCA and 35-0 in 2016 in Lake Charles).
• In 2013, McNeese ended UCA's 13-game winning streak on its new purple and gray striped field.
• In 2012, UCA scored 10 points in the last 1:10 to beat McNeese 27-26. The game-winning, 47 yard FG was set up by a onside kick recovery by UCA.
• In 2010, UCA put up a goalline stand in the final minutes to hold on for a 28-24 win.
• In 2009, McNeese capped up a championship season with a 21-17 victory.
 
McNeese in "The Hole"
• Cowboy Stadium, aka "The Hole" has been McNeese's home since 1965, and since that time, the Cowboys have recorded 208 wins in 303 games in their home venue.
• McNeese has produced 16 regular season undefeated home slates, including a 5-0 mark last year.
• The Cowboys have posted a 99-39-3 all-time record in Southland Conference home games, including a 51-13 home mark since the year 2000.
• McNeese has won 10 straight home league games dating to the 2016 season and is 25-7 since 2010.
 
BJ Blunt named to Buck Buchanan Award Midseason Watch List
• Senior linebacker BJ Blunt was one of seven players named last week to the midseason watch list for the FCS Buck Buchanan Award as the nation's top defensive player.
• With the seven additions, the list has 32 names on it as 25 were announced to the preseason list.
• Blunt is currently second in the Southland Conference and fourth nationally with eight sacks on the season and a 1.14 sacks per game average. He's also ranked second in the SLC and third in the FCS with 2.0 tackles for loss per game.
• The New Orleans native leads the Cowboys with 68 total tackles, ranking him fourth in the league.
• He's recorded 10 or more tackles in three straight games, 12 in his last outing at UIW, and had 20 versus Abilene Christian to become the first McNeese player to record 20 tackles in a game since the 1997 season (current LB coach Charlie Ayro).
 
Alex Kjellsten Pinning Opponents Deep
• Senior punter and kick off specialist Alex Kjellsten is having the best year of his career this season.
• The Lake Charles native is currently ranked No. 1 in the Southland Conference and 10th in the FCS with a 43.6 punting average while his kickoffs has the Cowboys ranked No. 1 in the league and No. 2 in the FCS in kickoff return defense by allowing just 12 yards per return.
• McNeese is also 1st in the SLC and 12th nationally behind Kjellsten's 39.2 net punting average.
• For the season, Kjellsten has punted 48 times for 2,094 yards; has 15 punts inside the 20 yard line and 12 that have gone for 50 yards or more with a long of 66.
• On kickoffs, he's booted it 32 times with 24 touchbacks and has opponents beginning drives on average at their own 22-yard line.