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FLORENCE, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama and Central Arkansas will meet on the football field for the first time in 17 years on Saturday when the Lions and Bears clash at Estes Stadium in Conway, Ark.

Kickoff is set for 4:02 p.m. Central.

UNA and UCA last met when both were members of the NCAA Division II's Gulf South Conference in the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs. It was the last game for Central Arkansas on the Division II level.

This year's meeting will be the first with the two schools as members of the ASUN Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision.

North Alabama enters the game trying to snap a five-game losing streak and still looking for its first ASUN Conference win.

Central Arkansas comes in with a 3-4 overall record, but the Bears are tied for the ASUN lead at 2-0 in league play.

North Alabama has had its share of close calls this season and is looking to get an ASUN win.

In their last three outings, the Lions lost on the road in double overtime at Kennesaw State, saw Jacksonville State open up a 31-28 game in the fourth quarter for a 47-31 win and watched Eastern Kentucky score a game-winning touchdown with eight seconds left to take a 56-53 win in a shoot-out last Saturday.

"These guys deserve to get a win," said UNA head coach Chris Willis. "They continue to work hard and have great attitudes. They don't give up and every game is going down to the wire. We've just got to find a way to get over the hump."

The North Alabama offense has been impressive in recent weeks, including gaining 571 yards of total offense last week, with 356 coming on the ground.

Sophomore running back ShunDerrick Powell of Hoxie, Ark., rushed for 218 yards against EKU and scored three touchdowns, while freshman quarterback Noah Walters of Lincoln, Neb., threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, and also ran for a score.

Both were honored by the ASUN Conference for their performances.

It was Powell's fourth game this season with more than 100 yards rushing, and his third time to go over the 200-yard mark. He is the only player in UNA history with three career games with more than 200 rushing yards, and all three of his have come this season.

Powell is ranked in the top five nationally in the FCS in seven categories, including rushing yards per game (136.6), rushing yards per carry (7.59), all-purpose yards (157.0) and scoring (11.1).  He is just 44 yards shy of becoming UNA's first 1,000-yard rusher in a season since 2015

Walters is ranked seventh nationally in yards per completion (15.5) and has already thrown for 1,481 yards and 14 touchdowns this season for the Lions.

UNA is now averaging 31.9 points per game for the season after scoring 34, 31 and 53 the last three outings.

Receiver Takairee Kenebrew from Childersburg, Ala., leads the nation with a 25.5-yard average per reception. He is also ranked 19th nationally in the FCS with six receiving touchdowns.

The Lion defense has continued to struggle and will face another challenge this weekend in Central Arkansas. The Bears average better than 32 points per game and 401 total yards.

"Their offense puts up some big numbers," said Willis. "They do a good job of balancing running and throwing the football, and they have three really good receivers. Defensively, they are fast a physical and are very good up front."

UCA quarterback Will McElvain has thrown for 1,736 yards and 13 touchdowns. Running back Darius Hale has gained 673 yards and scored eight times. Jarod Barnes, Kylin James and Myles Butler all have more than 20 catches in the receiving corp.

North Alabama holds a 15-5 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1951.

The last meeting was in the quarterfinals of NCAA Division II playoffs in 2005 in Conway with UNA pulling out a win in overtime. North Alabama's Yuta Fukuda,  a walk-on transfer student from Japan, kicked a 45-yard field goal to give the Lions a 41-38 win.

That 2005 meeting also featured numerous players that have gone on to become prominent collegiate coaches. For the Bears, current UCA head coach Nathan Brown quarterbacked them in that playoff game, throwing for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Former UCA receiver and current Florida State head coach Mike Norvell caught four passes in the game for 127 yards and two scores.

For North Alabama, current University of Texas quarterback coach A.J. Milwee threw three touchdown passes against the Bears, and current Tulane offensive coordinator Chip Long caught three TD passes in the UNA win.

UNA is 8-2 against Central Arkansas in Conway and 7-3 in Florence.