FAYETTEVILLE — If anyone can relate to the close game struggles that have affected the University of Arkansas football world over the past few years, it’s Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs, who will be the guests of the Razorbacks’ Senior Day Saturday at 3 p.m., have a 4-6 record under third-year coach Sonny Cumby, but have never lost by 10 points or more. There wasn’t. Five of the losses were by one point and three were in overtime.
“At times, victory has eluded us by such a wide margin, but they have stayed the course and we will continue to do so in our final remaining games,” Cumby said in a press conference Tuesday. spoke.
“Really all year long we’ve been playing right there with our opponents,” Louisiana Tech quarterback Evan Bullock said. “It was just finding the balance between attack and defense.”
The Bulldogs had another close game last week, but this time they improved to 3-5 in one-score games with a 12-7 victory over Conference USA co-leader Western Kentucky. Kicker Buck Buchanan accounted for all of the scoring with four field goals, but the win was no fluke as Louisiana Tech held the Hilltoppers to 215 total yards and converted 3 of 11 third down conversions. There wasn’t.
Camby, who played quarterback at Texas Tech and served as offensive coordinator at the Red Raiders and TCU before taking his first head coaching job, is highly regarded for his offensive intelligence and has overcome a difficult series of losses. I had to keep the team moving forward. He brought his 10-24 record at Louisiana Tech into the game at Arkansas.
Asked about last week’s big road win, Cambie said, “We need to win more often. That’s the first thing I say.”
“But in full transparency, I sat in that visitors’ locker room for a really long time before I decided to get dressed and get back on the bus, because you want to soak in the moment. I think our team was really excited to win football again.” To go out there and play against a good team and get a point. ”
Defensive back Jacob Fields said the Bulldogs took to the field each week knowing their players had each other’s backs.
“Every week we just attack the game like it’s our last,” he said. “We know we can score 12 points, so we have to earn the rest. We want to be respected by others.
“We know things aren’t going our way, but what do we do after that? We can’t just collapse or lie down. For us, this is bigger than just football. This is our It’s life for me.”
“We look at this from a completely different perspective than other people, so we just know we have to be on time every week, as Coach Cumbie says. We have to attack like it’s a game and we know we’re going “to win at the end.” ”
The Bulldogs are 0-4 against the Razorbacks in the series dating back to 1901, with the last three games played in Arkansas. They know they have to beat the Hogs and beat Kennesaw State at home next week to earn a bowl berth.
“This is definitely a big tournament considering we want to go bowling and things like that,” Block said. “So, yeah, we’re going to focus on that a little bit, but at the end of the day, we’re going to focus on our execution and how we can actually win this game and get through the week at a time. I’m going to focus on that.”
The week before defeating the Hilltoppers, the Gamecocks held a six-point lead over CUSA co-leader Jacksonville State until scoring on a 49-yard Hail Mary on the final play of regulation. Jacksonville State missed a point after the touchdown, but won 44-37 in overtime.
“Overtime… it’s pretty brutal when it doesn’t go your way,” Bullock said. “Just the mindset of flushing it out next week requires a whole new opponent, a whole new game plan and everything else. So you have to reset your mind and go into next week like it’s all over. There’s a new game. ”
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Monday that the Bulldogs are playing their best game right now.
“In a nutshell, they actually did the same thing to Western Kentucky that they were going to do to us,” Pittman said. “They’re emotional. ‘Hey, we’re sitting here 3-on-6. They’re big dogs.’
“They used it that week and the kids played really well on both sides of the ball. Their defense has been lights out the last three (games). Jacks State has scored some points. I know it was a decision, but they played well in that game. ”
Jacobs said unity on defense was the key to getting Louisiana Tech over its lowest point.
“I think we play together,” Fields said. “The biggest strength of our defense is that we never give up. We know we can support each other no matter what.
“Someone might fill in the wrong gap, but the safeties fill in the gap and make it right. We fly around and play together. I think that’s the biggest strength we have. .”
Led by defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson, the Bulldogs rank 12th in the nation in total defense, allowing 302.3 yards per game, and 35th in scoring defense, while allowing 21.1 points per game.
Louisiana Tech leads the nation in fourth-down defense, allowing a 21.4% conversion rate, while the Bulldogs are 15th in red zone defense, allowing points on 74.1% of opponent possessions among teams within 20. .
Kolbe will team with former Razorback Zach Zimos at linebacker. The 6-4, 236-pound Zimos has big stats: 53 tackles, three tackles for loss, one half-sack, two quarterback rushes and one pass breakup.
Offensively, Bullock completed 67.5% of his passes (135 of 200) for 1,518 yards, 12 touchdowns, and two interceptions. His efficiency rating is 149.06. Camby also played alongside quarterbacks Jack Turner and Blake Baker, and the pair combined for 785 passing yards, three touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Omiri Wiggins with 83 carries for 351 yards and one touchdown and Amani Givens (55-239, 1) are the Bulldogs’ top backs, and receiver Jimmy Holiday has a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns. He has recorded 4 times.
True Edwards, a 6-3 high school teammate of Mansfield (Texas) Legacy and former Razorbacks Jalen Catalon and Taurean Carter, has 59 catches for 760 yards and six touchdowns. Holiday (26 catches, 310 yards, 1 TD), tight ends Eli Finley (20-264, 1), Jay Wilkerson (12-255, 2) and Marlion Jackson (14-222, 1) all. He has gained over 200 receiving yards.
