HBU Huskies (0-0, 0-0 SLC) at Central Arkansas Bears (0-0, 0-0 SLC)
Thursday, Sept. 1 – 6:06 p.m. kickoff
Estes Stadium – Conway, Arkansas

TV: American Sports Network (Houston: Comcast 268, DirecTV 366) Full list of ASN affiliates
Live Stream
Audio
Live Stats
Game Notes
 
CONWAY, Arkansas - HBU kicks off the 2016 season with a Southland Conference road game against Central Arkansas Thursday at 6 p.m. at Estes Stadium and televised live on American Sports Network and the Huskies' audio broadcast on Legacy Sports Network.

In its second official season under head coach Vic Shealy last year, the Huskies went 2-9 overall and 0-8 in the SLC. Junior quarterback Max Staver completed 80-of-187 passes for 1,010 yards, five touchdowns and nine interceptions, while senior quarterback Tony Dawson completed 34-of-68 passes for 360 yards, a touchdown and seven interceptions and gaining 111 yards on the ground. Junior running back Terrance Peters rushed 96 times for 576 yards (6.0 ypc) and two touchdowns, both of which were for 75-plus yards, and junior running back B.J. Kelly rushed 62 times for 284 yards and led the Huskies with five touchdowns. Junior wide receiver D'Angelo Wallace led HBU with 24 catches and 308 yards and senior wide receiver Ricardo Barnett led the team with a pair of TD receptions. The Huskies return 10 starters on offense.

The defense is once again led by junior linebacker Garrett Dolan, who ranked 13th nationally and second in the SLC with 11.0 tackles per game, forced two fumbles and recovered one. Junior linebacker Cody Moncure recorded 85 tackles and junior safety La'Travien Gee had 71 stops and led HBU with a pair of interceptions. HBU has nine starters returning on the defensive side of the ball.

Junior punter Christian Guzman missed the final two games of 2015 with a knee injury, but has returned after leading the SLC and ranking 10th in the nation with a 43.6 punting average. He launched 14 kicks of 50-plus yards, including a season-long of 63. Sophomore Alec Chadwick is a transfer who will take over the Huskies' placekicking duties.

UCA went 7-4 overall and tied for second in the conference with a 7-2 mark after dropping their season finale to Sam Houston State, a result which likely cost the Bears a berth in the FCS Playoffs. Quarterback Hayden Hildebrand completed 132-of-208 passes for 1,707 yards, 12 TDs and four interceptions. UCA lost its top three leading rushers from 2015, leaving Kelton Warren as the top returning running back with 165 yards and a pair of TDs. The Bears, however, return their top two receivers in Desmond Smith, who made 67 catches for 817 yards and two TDs, and Jatavious Wilson, who caught 49 passes for 536 yards and a team-leading four TDs.

Defensive back Devin Spurlock led the Bears with 75 tackles and had a pair of interceptions, while George Odum had 69 tackles. UCA loses 11.5 sacks between Derek Floyd and Jonathan Woodard, but return their interceptions leader in Tremon Smith, who made five.

UCA leads the all-time series over HBU, 2-0, and won last year's meeting in Houston, 43-7, on Oct. 10.

The Huskies return to Houston for three-straight home games, beginning with Texas Southern on Sept. 10, followed by conference games against Abilene Christian on Sept. 17 and Sam Houston State on Sept. 24.