UCA Coach Steve Campbell says Bears have stepped up to challenges.
His theme was evident throughout.
As Central Arkansas Coach Steve Campbell addressed the Little Rock Touchdown Club at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock on Monday, he spoke again and again about players who have “stepped up” to meet and, in some cases, surpass the expectations of he and his staff.
Whatever those expectations began, the results to this point tend to impress. UCA is 7-1 and 6-0 in the NCAA Division I FCS Southland Conference.
Among the units to have led Campbell’s “stepped up” qualification are the almost totally restocked offensive and defensive lines and offensive backfield.
“We’ve had a lot of guys step up at a lot of different positions,” Campbell said.
Five full-time or part-time offensive linemen from last season either graduated or ran out of eligibility. Former backups on the defensive line are all part of this season’s six-man rotation, and six running backs have combined to fill in for the top three rushers from last season, each of whom were seniors.
Campbell drew laughter throughout his 30-minute address, but no story surpassed in humor his account of UCA’s 28-23 victory at Arkansas State on Sept. 24, when the Bears stepped up in class to face a Football Bowl Subdivision team for the only time this season.
UCA trailed 23-16 with 13:16 left in the fourth quarter and faced a fourth-and-goal from the 3. Arkansas State called timeout. Campbell said he wasn’t sure what to do before senior running back Antwon Wells approached him on the UCA sideline.
Wells had already drawn feature billing among Campbell’s stories. Three seasons earlier, Wells played under Campbell at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and Campbell spoke at length about how Wells had “stepped up” to play despite a torn anterior cruciate ligament throughout much of the second half of the season.
“So I’m standing there on the sideline, and Antwon Wells, the same guy who played six weeks with a torn ACL and all that, he’s got a tear coming down his eye, and goes, ‘Coach, give me the ball. I’m going to score or die in the attempt,’’’ Campbell said. “I said, ‘OK, we’re going for it.’ ’’
Wells scored on a counter play, but UCA missed the extra-point attempt and still trailed 23-22.
UCA junior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand completed the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Cox that proved to be the game winner with 6:26 left.
Campbell has coached two national championship teams. Mississippi Gulf Coast won the junior college championship under him in 2007, and he led Delta State to the NCAA Division II title in 2000.
Earlier this season, Campbell said his current team at UCA might be the most complete he has coached.
“I’m very proud of the obstacles our guys have overcome,” Campbell said. “I’m proud of the way they’ve all stepped up.”