Bielema: Razorbacks need to avoid stumbles
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)
With its victory over Samford, Arkansas accomplished two thingsit wasn't able to achieve last season: start the season 2-0 and winin Little Rock.
Though Arkansas prevailed 31-21 on Saturday, coach Bret Bielemasaid the team has a long way to go. Two fumbles and a lapse into adefensive ''funk'' enabled Samford (1-1) of the FCS SouthernConference to take a 21-17 lead in the third quarter.
In the end, Arkansas' tailback tandem of Alex Collins andJonathan Williams, with help from fullback Kiero Small, put thegame away. Quarterback Brandon Allen, who finished 9 of 17 passingwith two touchdowns and no interceptions, didn't throw a pass inthe fourth quarter.
''We took two steps forward,'' Bielema said. ''We took a stepforward last week when we won a game. We took a step forward (bybeating Samford). We just can't afford to go back anymore.''
The Razorbacks' next opponent is Southern Mississippi (0-2),which is riding a 14-game losing streak after being drubbed 56-13by Nebraska on Saturday. After that, Arkansas plays its first roadgame at Rutgers before opening its Southeastern Conference seasonat home against Texas A&M on Sept. 28.
The game with the Aggies opens a brutal stretch for theRazorbacks, who go on the road for an Oct. 5 game with Florida.They return home to face South Carolina on Oct. 12 and travel toNo. 1 Alabama on Oct. 19.
Bielema said the team finished the game without significantinjuries.
Allen said the 2-0 start felt good but that the team still has alot of rough edges.
"We have a lot of strides to be made Lebron On Sale Online. We had a lot of mentalmistakes, penalties, things that we can correct. That's somethingwe're really going to work on,'' Allen said.
Bielema was emphatic about avoiding penalties. The Razorbackswere flagged six times for 65 yards, including two personalfouls.
''Obviously too many penalties,'' Bielema said. ''Two of themwere inexcusable. Alex Collins will not do that again. If he does,he will not be here and playing with us. Tevin Mitchel has got tolearn to control his emotions KD 6 Shoes Sale Online.''
Collins drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag when he ran to thenorth end zone stands after A 2-yard touchdown run that put thegame away with 2:28 to play.
When Samford took the lead in the third quarter, Mitchel helpedthe Bulldogs' 50-yard drive with a 15-yard penalty for a personalfoul.
''I'm not calling anybody out,'' Bielema said. ''I've pointed itout to both of them, they'll grow from it and we'll see betterthings ahead.''
So far, one difference between the 2013 Razorbacks and lastyear's edition is that they've been able to win despite themistakes.
A last-play loss in overtime to Louisiana-Monroe last Septemberstarted a slide for the Razorbacks that resulted in a 4-8 record.Starting quarterback Tyler Wilson was hurt in the first half andAllen found himself suddenly leading the team.
''Last year, if you look back at the ULM game, we threw the balla lot more. That really killed us on incompletions, killing theclock. So being able to keep that clock rolling and getting firstdowns only by the run is huge. Any time you can keep that clockrolling, it's pretty good,'' Allen said 2013 Hyperdunk Low Sale Online.
Collins rushed for 172 yards and Williams gained 126, with eachaveraging more than 7 yards per carry.
The Razorbacks also got a first-half boost from kicker ZachHocker, who made a 53-yard field goal, a personal best.
''He's got the leg to go out there and execute - obviously (thekick) was a big point in the game,'' Bielema said.
The Razorbacks went into the locker room with a 17-7 advantage.But they gave up two touchdowns while not scoring a point in thethird quarter.
''We kind of hit a funk,'' Bielema said.
The sluggishness disappeared as Collins, Williams and Small, whogained 25 yards on five rushes, became the Razorbacks offense forthe rest of the game.
''Our guys took over in the fourth quarter,'' Bielema said.
And they did so without Samford losing its intensity. Bielemacredited the Bulldogs with playing a four-quarter game, as didSamford associate head coach Bill D'Ottavio.
''They (the Bulldogs) just kept fighting and kept playing,''D'Ottavio said.
D'Ottavio led Samford on Saturday while head coach Pat Sullivanstayed in Alabama, where he is recovering from back surgery.
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