Injuries haven’t wounded UCA’s playoff hopes
CONWAY — Blake Veasley followed orders last Saturday night.
“We tell our guys: Be somebody special,” University of Central Arkansas Coach Steve Campbell said. “He definitely showed up and was a special player for us.”
On a rainy night in Beaumont, Texas, with UCA’s starting running back at home with a concussion and its top two quarterbacks on the sideline with shoulder injuries, Veasley rushed 49 times for 292 yards and 4 touchdowns. The senior from Cherry Valley set school records for rushes and yards in a single game while helping the Bears earn a 3517 victory over Lamar to stay near the top of the Southland Conference standings.
It was another example of a player filling the void left by an injured starter, which has become a regular thing for UCA this season.
“They bring us in and pay us for a reason,” Veasley said. “When your number is called, you’ve got to be prepared. You hate to see it, but it’s part of the game.”
It’s a similar mentality taken by several of Veasley’s teammates as the Bears (4-3, 4-1) try to navigate the back end of their schedule after several key players missed games with nagging ailments. The total — or severity — isn’t the same as the 2013 season, when nine players suffered season-ending injuries, but these injuries couldn’t have hit the Bears in more key spots.
Starting quarterback Taylor Reed hasn’t played since injuring a shoulder Sept. 29 at Northwestern (La.) State. Hayden Hildebrand has started every game since but has missed time the past two weeks with a similar shoulder injury.
Dominique Thomas missed last week’s game with a concussion, and cornerback Dillion Winfrey missed last week’s game because of a groin injury. Starting receiver Courtney Whitehead hasn’t
played since suffering a foot injury in the season opener against Samford.
Campbell hasn’t had to strain much to find players to fill the void.
Hildebrand has completed 64.8 percent of his passes while averaging 188.5 yards per game with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in 4 starts since Reed went down. Freshman Kirk Baugh, who was likely going to redshirt if Hildebrand hadn’t gotten hurt, has thrown only six passes but hasn’t made many mistakes in Hildebrand’s absence.
Receiver Jatavious Wilson has helped leader Desmond Smith in the absence of Whitehead. Wilson is on pace for a career year with 33 receptions for 348 yards and 2 touchdowns.
“Guys just step up,” Campbell said.
Campbell credits his players and their practice methods for being able to keep the season on track with all of the injuries.
Even with all the ailments, the Bears’ hopes for a Southland Conference title and an FCS playoff berth are alive with a month left in the season.
Hildebrand agreed that UCA’s practice methods have paid off. He played a series in the season opener against Samford and took plenty of snaps with the top offense in practice. When he was called on to start his first game Oct. 3 against Abilene Christian, he said he didn’t feel like a firsttime starter.
“You just have to keep carrying it on and be mentally preparing each week like you’re the guy,” Hildebrand said.
The good news for Campbell is that he expects all of the injured players to return. Maybe not in time for tonight’s game against Southeastern Louisiana (4-3, 3-2) at Estes Stadium in Conway, but at some point.
Campbell said Whitehead had a boot removed from his foot this week and could return to practice next week, and that Reed threw in practice and is “getting better and better every day.”
Hildebrand, whose shoulder could require surgery after the season, returned to practice this week, as did Thomas, who completed the mandated concussion protocol this week.
Until then, Campbell will continue to rely on the guys who have filled the voids.
“It’s a hungry group,” Campbell said.
“Coming up short is not an option. We may lose a game, but crumbling is not an option.”