# 2012 Central Arkansas Bears football team

The 2012 Central Arkansas Bears football team represented the University of Central Arkansas in the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were led by 13th year head coach Clint Conque and played their home games at Estes Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 9–3, 6–1 in Southland play to share the conference championship with Sam Houston State. Due to their victory over Sam Houston State, the Bears received the Southland's automatic bid into the FCS Playoffs where they lost in the second round to Georgia Southern.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 6:00 pm | at Ole Miss* | No. 24 | Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS | CSS PPV | L 27–49 | 50,544 |
| September 8 | 6:00 pm | at Murray State* | No. 25 | Roy Stewart StadiumMurray, KY | OVCDN | W 42–20 | 9,848 |
| September 15 | 6:00 pm | Bacone* | | Estes StadiumConway, AR | | W 70–3 | 9,079 |
| September 22 | 3:00 pm | No. 3 Sam Houston State | No. 25 | Estes StadiumConway, AR | SLC TV | W 24–21 | 10,157 |
| September 29 | 6:00 pm | at Stephen F. Austin | No. 16 | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | | L 37–42 | 7,324 |
| October 6 | 6:00 pm | Nicholls State | No. 24 | Estes StadiumConway, AR | | W 34–14 | 4,357 |
| October 13 | 7:00 pm | at No. 19 McNeese State | No. 21 | Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA (Red Beans and Rice Bowl) | | W 27–26 | 12,913 |
| October 20 | 6:00 pm | Lamar | No. 19 | Estes StadiumConway, AR | | W 24–14 | 9,374 |
| October 27 | 7:00 pm | at Southeastern Louisiana | No. 14 | Strawberry StadiumHammond, LA | Southeastern Channel | W 34–14 | 6,795 |
| November 3 | 7:00 pm | Northwestern State | No. 14 | Estes StadiumConway, AR | SLC TV | W 35–14 | 11,579 |
| November 17 | 5:00 pm | No. 24 Eastern Illinois* | No. 10 | Estes StadiumConway, AR | | W 48–30 | 6,754 |
| December 1 | 1:00 pm | at No. 6 Georgia Southern* | No. 8 | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA (NCAA Division I Second Round) | ESPN3 | L 16–24 | 8,888 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Ole Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #24 Bears | 7 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| • Rebels | 14 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 49 |

### Murray State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • #25 Bears | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| Racers | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 20 |

### Bacone College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warriors | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Bears | 21 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 70 |

### #3 Sam Houston State

The 7th meeting between the Bearkats and the Bears will provide one team with the series lead. Currently the two are 3-3 in head-to-head matches with the Bears having won the first 3 matches and the Bearkats having won the past 3.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #3 Bearkats | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| • #25 Bears | 0 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 24 |

### Stephen F. Austin

The Bears look to build on last years win and build upon the 4-2 record they have against the Lumberjacks. However, the Lumberjacks have recent history on their side, having won the 2009 and 2010 matches.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #16 Bears | 21 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 37 |
| • Lumberjacks | 15 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 42 |

### Nicholls State

The Bears have never lost to the Colonels at home, owning a 3-0 record and a 4-2 series lead overall. The Bears have also won 3 straight in the series and 4 of the last 5 games.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| • #24 Bears | 7 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 34 |

### McNeese State

The Bears own a 3-3 record against the Cowboys. However, they have won two games in a row and 3 of the last 4 to even the series.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • #21 Bears | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 27 |
| #19 Cowboys | 3 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 26 |

### Lamar

The Cardinals head to Conway, Arkansas for the second match against their SLC rival, the Bears. Currently Central Arkansas leads the series 1-0.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| • #19 Bears | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |

### Southeastern Louisiana

The team the Bears have had the most success against in the SLC is the Lions. The Bears own a 4-1 series advantage and have won two straight as they head into this 2012 contest.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bears | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |

### Northwestern State

SLC play ends with the match against the Demons. The rivalry has been unexpectedly close, with the Bears hold a 3-2 series advantage. After winning in 2011, the Bears hope to make it two consecutive wins.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Bears | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 35 |

### Eastern Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
| • Bears | 10 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 48 |

## Ranking movements

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| Sports Network | 24 | 25 | RV | 25 | 16 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Coaches | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 14 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 8 |

## Media

All Central Arkansas were aired on KHLR 106.7 FM and are streamed online through the station's website.