Mighty fine comeback for Casey

FAYETTEVILLE — Senior quarterback Casey Dick had been nothing but supportive of his freshman brother Nathan’s play in the Razorbacks’ 31-28 loss at Mississippi State, and again during the first half against LSU on Friday.

But when Casey Dick got the call, he came through with flying colors to help rally Arkansas past the Tigers and send the Razorbacks’ seniors out with a victory in their final game. Dick threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to London Crawford with 21 seconds remaining to tie the game at 30-30, and Alex Tejada kicked the extra point for a 31-30 Arkansas victory.

“He was really into it, even in the first half, watching what was going on,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said of Casey Dick.

“He’s had different offenses he’s had to try to learn in a hurry and execute, and he’s always done it with a great attitude and a smile on his face, and he’s had the ability to lead other players.

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“ You can’t say enough about him being able to finish his career with that throw and beating LSU. I feel great for him.”

Dick took a stoic approach to the events of the past three weeks, which began with him suffering a concussion on his sixth sack of the game at South Carolina. “I was going to be fine if things didn’t work out and I didn’t get in,” Dick said. “I just waited, got in, and had to make the most of the opportunity.” Dick led three scoring drives in the second half, including a 69-yard sequence that led to the touchdown pass to Crawford. “That was a great way to end it, and hopefully it’ll be remembered,” Dick said.

Snapshots Scenes from the frenzied aftermath at War Memorial Stadium: London Crawford, who caught the game-winning pass, rushing around War Memorial Stadium with a Razorbacks flag and planting it on the turf near the 50-yard line.

Tight end D. J. Williams, helmet still on, rushing around the field, giving high-fives to fans in various sections of the stadium.

A string of Razorbacks, giddy with victory, making a tour around the stadium, slapping high-fives with fans.

Crawford, still cradling the football he caught for the touchdown, coming into postgame interviews with his trademark stretch bandana and a big grin.

Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long hugging every Razorbacks player and coach he saw as they entered the tunnel to the locker room.

Tailback Dennis Johnson, helmet off, nodding his head while walking around the end zone where he scored his first college touchdown almost four hours earlier.

Quarterback Casey Dick, whose career has been filled with adversity and modest success, getting a much-earned national radio interview over the phone in the interview room.

All-America center Jonathan Luigs, his cheeks flushed as usual, sipping on a soda and grinning from ear to ear in the interview area after going out a winner as a senior in his hometown.

Hold the presses: Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino smiling — on several occasions ! — while sitting at the postgame podium. Grabbing the boot

An all-out sprint as soon as Colt David’s field-goal attempt came up short on the game’s final play allowed tailback Brandon Barnett, defensive end Chris Berezansky and linebacker Jermaine Love to reach the Golden Boot trophy first. The Razorbacks had to rush across the field beyond the LSU sideline to grab the gold-plated trophy in the shape of Arkansas and Louisiana.

That trio of players got to lug the 175-pound relic back over to the Arkansas sideline to join in the celebration.

Getting the call How did Casey Dick find out he would get his first playing time since the fourth quarter at South Carolina on Nov. 8 ? Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino, who had seen that Nathan Dick would not be able to return from a thumb injury in the second half, approached the senior and said, “You’re in.” Dennis the menace Freshman tailback Dennis Johnson hit his stride in Game 12.

The former Texarkana High School star had three carries for 40 yards on Arkansas’ game-opening touchdown drive, including runs of 18 yards and 17 yards that were longer than his previous-best run of the season, 8 yards.

“We felt if we could get the front blocked and get to the linebacker level, the safeties haven’t been coming to run like most of the safeties all year long,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.

“Our running game is there if everybody gets on the same page and blocks the right guys,” Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs said. “Early on, we gashed them. I thought Dennis Johnson did a great job of hitting the holes and cutting up with it when guys overpursued.”

Johnson also had a 54-yard run to the LSU 9 to set up Arkansas’ second score. One run that shouldn’t be forgotten was one of his shortest of the game. The freshman appeared stopped at the line of scrimmage on a third-and-1 snap from the LSU 36 in the fourth quarter, but, with his back turned, Johnson pushed backward and lunged for the 1 yard needed to move the chains.

Miller injured Results of the magnetic resonance imaging that was scheduled to be performed on junior receiver Lucas Miller on Saturday were unavailable. Miller suffered what looked like a relatively serious knee injury with 1: 36 remaining in the third quarter at the end of a 20-yard reception to the Arkansas 47. Miller finished the season with 30 catches for 490 yards and 2 touchdowns. The yardage total was the secondhighest on the team, behind the 723 yards recorded by tight end D. J. Williams. A Greenwood High School product, Miller caught 10 passes for 201 yards against Mississippi State in Week 11.

Full Nelson The Arkansas defensive backfield clearly missed true freshman Jerico Nelson the previous two games.

Nelson, one of the team’s hardest hitters, sat out losses to South Carolina and Mississippi State with strained knee ligaments suffered in the Tulsa game.

The Destrehan, La., product posted six tackles in his return against LSU and sacked his old high school teammate, LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, twice in the fourth quarter. One of those sacks was a combined 9-yarder with safety Matt Harris on a critical third-and-5 snap from the LSU 45 just before Arkansas’ game-winning touchdown drive. “It’s the old saying, ‘You don’t know what you have until you lose it,’” Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. “To get him back after a three-week layoff because of injury, I mean, he is a difference-maker.”

Worth noting Both Joe Adams and London Crawford finished the season with a reception in every game. Adams, who was slowed late in the season by a hamstring injury, had a 4-yard grab on Arkansas’ final possession, similar to the previous week when his only catch was on a late touchdown drive. Crawford had three catches for 34 yards, including the game-winning 24-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-1 go route with 21 seconds remaining.

Seniors Cord Gray and Walner Leandre didn’t have big-time stats or large amounts of playing time this season, but they played key roles in the victory in their final game. Gray started at the “3” technique on the defensive front, the better to stuff LSU’s ground game, and he finished with three tackles. Leandre had 4 unassisted stops and 1 assist to post 5 tackles. Both tackle totals were season highs for Leandre and Gray, who entered the game with 14 and seven tackles, respectively.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino was escorted by his security detail into the locker room shortly after the Razorbacks’ 31-30 thriller of a victory over LSU, but the party was going on out on the War Memorial Stadium field. Petrino returned to the field to hug his wife, Becky, and join in the revelry. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense CASEY DICK There are several good candidates, including freshman tailback Dennis Johnson (18 carries, 127 yards, 1 touchdown ), tight end D. J. Williams (8 catches, 51 yards ), and receivers London Crawford (gamewinning 24-yard TD catch ), Jarius Wright (3 catches, 63 yards, 1 TD ) and Lucas Miller, who left with a knee injury after 3 catches for 47 yards.

However, the nod must go to quarterback Casey Dick, who came off the bench to complete 18 of 29 passes for 197 yards and 2 scores, including the game-winning touchdown to Crawford with 21 seconds left

Defense MALCOLM SHEPPARD Sheppard finished off a big second half of the season with one of his best games. The junior moved from tackle to end, giving the Razorbacks more bulk in the middle to plug the run, and the move worked. Sheppard posted 8 tackles and 3 1 / 2 of them were behind the line of scrimmage for 21 yards in losses.

The Bainbridge, Ga., product also recorded 2 of the team’s 5 sacks to finish the season with a team-best 6 1 / 2 sacks. The two sacks of LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson totaled 8 yards in losses.