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(STATS) -- While the FBS is littered with conference title games, the FCS is nearly void of them.Sam Houston State and Central Arkansas are having one anyway.Its an unofficial, de facto Southland Conference championship game Saturday when the top-ranked Bearkats (10-0, 8-0) host the No. 11 Bears (9-1, 8-0). While the only league with a true title game is the SWAC, Southland schedule makers must be pinching themselves because its been 28 years since two teams with perfect conference records played for the championship in the final week.If were in the top five in the country, then Central Arkansas should be in the top five in the country because its like looking into a mirror, Sam Houston State coach K.C. Keeler said.Both teams are headed to the playoffs regardless of the result, but theres still plenty on the line -- besides just a conference crown.Keelers squad can make a big statement to the FCS selection committee after cruising through a weak schedule and never really being challenged. SHSU won every game by at least 13 points behind an unstoppable offense led by likely Walter Payton Award candidate Jeremiah Briscoe. The Bearkats average of 53.7 points is best in the country, about a touchdown better than second-place Ohio State, and so is their average of 592.4 total yards.A team with no discernible weaknesses, Central Arkansas coach Steve Campbell said. Very strong, and theyre at the top of the statistics nationally in many, many categories. Offensively, in about every category.Theyre not at the top, however, in the selection committee rankings. The Bearkats are only No. 5 on that list while the Bears are No. 7. The top eight seeds receive first-round byes, so its very possible the loser Saturday wont get one.A defeat would crush SHSUs hopes of earning one of the top two seeds, which receive home-field advantage through the semifinals. Thats a very real and important possibility for a Bearkats team which is 37-2 at home since the start of 2011.The Bears, on the other hand, have been road warriors. Theyve won nine straight away from home, including a 5-0 record this season which includes a win over FBS foe Arkansas State and a 35-0 thrashing of defending conference champion McNeese. In fact, Central Arkansas four road wins over FCS schools have all been by at least 20 points, so it wont be scared going into Bowers Stadium.While SHSU was the preseason favorite to win the conference, the Bears were picked to finish third, but it was hard to see this coming after the Bears lost in Week 2. However, that defeat was to a Samford team which now resides at No. 18 in the STATS FCS Top 25, and Central Arkansas has recovered to win eight in a row.The Bearkats havent faced anyone of that caliber. They didnt have to play the Southlands third-place team, Southeastern Louisiana, while the Bears whipped the Lions by 30 points on the road.Sam Houstons only non-conference wins were against Division II Panhandle State and sub-.500 Texas Southern. Central Arkansas, meanwhile, lost by only six to Samford and defeated an Arkansas State team which is tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead.For the most part, weve been very dominant, but its great to have a phenomenal opponent, Keeler said. We are playing one of the best teams in the country this weekend. So I think for both of us its a big ballgame, an opportunity to move up.Central Arkansas ranks among the FCS top 10 defensive teams, allowing 16.8 points and 300.7 yards per game. The Bears are No. 1 against the run -- in FCS or FBS -- at 67.8 yards per game.However, theyre not as good against the pass, and no offense passes better than the Briscoe-led Bearkats.No one in all of college football has more touchdown passes than Briscoes 45, and he has only seven interceptions in 377 attempts. The FCS top-rated passer has thrown for 3,665 yards -- good for third among quarterbacks in both subdivisions -- and hes been sacked just seven times.Tremendous poise in the pocket, he knows where he wants to go with the football, Campbell said. Hes got great awareness, he never gets rattled. Hes a very, very calming presence, and they play a fast-tempo offense. Hes really got a great handle on everything that theyre wanting to do. Outstanding football player.He could be a big problem for a Bears defense which just allowed 340 yards passing last week to Nicholls freshman Chase Fourcade and gave up 424 to Arkansas States Justice Hansen. Each of those signal-callers had only one other 300-yard game all season. The best quarterback theyve faced is Samfords Devlin Hodges -- the FCS eighth-rated passer -- and he picked apart the Bears for 282 yards and three touchdowns.Central Arkansas employs a balanced offense, throwing and rushing for more than 2,000 yards apiece, as junior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand has had a solid season with 15 touchdowns through the air and four on the ground.Keeping up with the Bearkats -- on their home field, no less -- is a different animal altogether. Then again, maybe the Bears defense is the one which can keep that scary offense in check.Defensively, they just fly to the ball, Keeler said. Steve has done a phenomenal job there. Theyve gotten better every single year. 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"It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Left-hander Rich Hill will try to pick up where he left off when he makes his first start for the Oakland As in more than a month Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Oakland Coliseum.Hill is 8-3 with a 2.25 ERA and has a five-game winning streak, but he hasnt started since May 29 against the Detroit Tigers, when he sustained a groin injury that sent him to the disabled list.Despite his long layoff, Hill said his game plan wont change.I think just the same thing I was doing before, which was staying in the moment, Hill said Friday before the As fell 7-3 to the Pirates in the opener of a three-game series. Thats really the biggest thing is focusing in on the task at hand, and that doesnt change at any stage of the game. Thats what I did in my rehab outing, thats what Ive done in my bullpens. I think for me thats the most beneficial way to go about my business.Hill went 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA in four September starts for the Boston Red Sox last year -- his first major league starts since 2009 -- and he parlayed that performance into a one-year, $6 million contract with the As and a spot in their rotation.Hill has gone 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA over his past eight starts, relying heavily on a nasty curveball.I think its always been something Ive been able to throw, Hill said. Ive had it my whole life. To be able to have that in conjunction with my fastball has been great. Theyve been working well this year.Hill threw 66 pitches for Class A Stockton in his lone rehab start, and he likely will be on a pitch count Saturday.It will be a little more mindful than just sending him out there on a regular start, As manager Bob Melvin said. Youure probably not going to see him throw 110 pitches.ddddddddddddThe Pirates will send rookie right-hander Chad Kuhl to the mound for his second career major league start. Kuhl made his debut Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw at PNC Park and got the win in a 4-3 victory. He allowed three runs on four hits over five innings.Just a lot of excitement, a lot of emotion, Kuhl said of his debut. I had a bunch of family there. It was just a really special time and experience.I tried to get out there a little extra early. I got out there, took it in. I stretched earlier, I threw earlier. I allowed myself time to walk in from the bullpen, look around. Even before first pitch, just really take it in and get acclimated. And when it was time to play, just went after it.Kuhl, 23, said he expects to be more relaxed as he progresses.When I went out for my second inning, I thought to myself, All right, its not your first time anymore, Kuhl said. So the second inning obviously went a lot smoother than my first inning. It definitely helps.The Pirates drafted Kuhl in the ninth round in 2013, and he made a quick trip to the major leagues. Last year, he went 11-5 with a 2.48 ERA for Double-A Altoona. This year, he was 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA for Triple-A Indianapolis, earning a promotion.Starting his major league career with a victory against Kershaw and the Dodgers was very sweet, Kuhl said.You get called up, thats the one thing on your mind, you want to get up here, you want to help win ballgames. Thats why Im here. ' ' '