The Bears will take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at 6 p.m. Saturday at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas for their second to last game of the season.

The Lumberjacks are 4-5 with three games left this season, while the Bears are 7-2. The Bears defeated the Lumberjacks 35-23 last year at Estes Stadium.

“Last year the Lumberjacks did an excellent job playing. They took away our running game with their big wide receivers which made us have to use more of our passing skills,” Coach Clint Conque said.

The Bears are not taking this game lightly. Like any other game the Bears are trying to improve their skills to win.

“It is still a serious game since it is a conference game,” junior fullback Nick Cowger said. “The team does have confidence since we won last year but the Lumberjacks have improved a lot on their offensive and defensive techniques.”

In their 2007 game, the statistics show the Lumberjacks had 20 first downs to the Bears 16.

“Last year’s game was closer than the team expected. We just have to execute what the coaches call out and we should play really well and win over the Lumberjacks,” Cowger said.

This season the Lumberjacks senior place-kicker Cory Long was named the 2008 First-Team “ESPN The Magazine” Academic All-District. Long has scored 54 points this season. Long is one of two kickers in the Southland Conference whose record is perfect in extra point attempts.

“Going on the road is always tough on a team. This year the Lumberjacks have improved a lot and we have to generate more points because their kicker [Long] is having a good year,” Conque said.

Playing the same team from years before gives some teams a head start on what to expect from their opponents.

“With us playing them and winning last year, the vets on the football team know what areas we need to focus on so we can execute. We have confidence that we know their skills,” Cowger said.

So far the Bears are having a good season this year.

“Every practice our offense gets better. Offensive is working on passing and running the ball more which will take pressure off of our quarterback Nathan Brown,” Cowger said.

Conque said the defensive side of the Bears has dramatically improved since the begging of the season.

“When we started off the season, [coaches]were not sure how well our defensive [unit]would be since strong players left the team. I am proud of the defensive because of their hard work and going the extra mile for the team,” Conque said.