Allen sheds critics with late-game performance

It was the kind of embrace that fathers and sons reserve for special occasions like graduations, weddings and the birth of a child.

A tearful Bobby Allen, the longtime Arkansas assistant coach, found his middle son, Brandon, and hugged him tenderly.

Shortly after they met, Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema joined his assistant and quarterback and patted them both on the back. It was easy to see the relief from both Allens.

It hasn’t been an easy four years for the Fayetteville native. His tenure as the starting quarterback has been short on wins and marked with heavy criticism by the fans. He’s even had property vandalized.

Ironically, Allen receives national praise and has made his way on to award watch lists and was a counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy, organized by Archie Manning.

However, while his numbers are among the tops in the SEC, his knack for big plays is what has drawn the ire of the armchair coaches. He’s endured badgering from fans that few Hogs have had to endure.

He nearly proved critics wrong against Toledo in the final seconds but an errant pass soared high above the 6-foot-6 Hunter Henry, who was open in the end zone. An earlier interception was even more ammunition for the boo birds.

So, when Auburn tied the game Saturday and forced overtime, there was a group of Hogs faithful that were prepared for Allen to buckle – again.

However, he did the exact opposite. He made plays and showed guts in the 54-46 four-overtime thriller that will have Hogs mentioning him in same breath as Matt Jones.

The first hurdle came in the first overtime with Arkansas trailing 31-24 and facing fourth-and-3. Allen calmly hit sophomore receiver Drew Morgan for a 6-yard touchdown and tied the game.

In the second overtime, UA offensive coordinator Dan Enos got tricky and called for the quarterback throwback play. Allen caught an 11-yard pass from receiver Damon “Duwop” Mitchell, a former quarterback.

While the pass was successful, Allen came up limping; He hobbled with the injury the rest of the way.

With Allen leading the way, the Hogs trailed again in the third overtime on third down, Allen pitched to junior running back Kody Walker, who scored. The Hogs needed a two-point conversion to tie the game, and Allen drilled a strike to junior tight end Jeremy Sprinkle.

Allen clinched the game with a 25-yard TD pass to Morgan and a two-point pass to Walker.

Allen was 7 of 10 passing with two touchdowns in overtime. He converted twice on fourth down and was perfect on two-point conversions.

He came up clutch more in one game than he has his entire career and stealing a line from Little Rock radio host Bill Vickery, was reminiscent to Longest Yard quarterback Paul Crewe with the limp. The only thing missing was a torn jersey.

On Saturday, Allen showed both physical and mental toughness. If you’ve paid attention, those traits have been there since he played across the street at Fayetteville High School. But it took Allen putting the team on his shoulders to convince the naysayers.

He didn’t have to prove that to his team, Bielema or his family. Everyone close to him knew he was capable of late-game heroics.

Watching the father and son hug, it is apparent the constant criticism has weighed heavy. The look on their faces was similar to the expression of relief Clint Stoerner had when the Hogs beat Tennessee in 1999, the year after he fumbled a ball away against the No. 1 Volunteers costing the Hogs the win.

So now, Allen has his signature moment. He has shined in the spotlight in a game that will be remembered for years to come and showed he can make big plays when it counts and do it when he isn’t 100 percent.

That is a mark of a winner, and that’s what Allen is, on and off the field.

There shouldn’t be any late game heroics against FCS Tennessee-Martin in the Homecoming game Saturday. But what will be important is to see how Allen’s brother, Austin, and maybe Rafe Peavey do in relief.

Other than Brandon Allen, only Mitchell has completed a pass in a game. That should be concerning to Hogs fans.

Arkansas needs Brandon Allen and the reserves to blow the game open quickly, so younger players, including the reserve quarterbacks, can get some much-needed game reps. This may be the last opportunity of the season for that.

If Arkansas had lost to Auburn, Bielema may have been another loss away from considering benching the older Allen to get ready for next year. But thanks to a legendary overtime performance, that is on hold and unlikely.

Brandon Allen was masterful, gutsy, and yes — even clutch. He not only proved he can make plays with the game on the line, he notched one of the more memorable quarterback performances in Hog lore.

Nate Olson is a contributor to WholeHogSports.com. He has covered sports in Arkansas since 1998.