FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema thinks his team might have turned a corner last week.
The Razorbacks (3-5) enter today's 3 p.m. nonconference homecoming game against Coastal Carolina (1-7) riding the high of the greatest comeback in school history.
Arkansas broke its seven-game losing streak against Power 5 teams and a five-game SEC skid by rallying from a 31-7 hole to outlast Ole Miss 38-37 on the road.
Sophomore kicker Connor Limpert capped the improbable comeback with a 34-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.
Bielema said this week the dramatic rally could "absolutely" change the season.
"That's kind of what I always make reference to is it just begins with one thing," Bielema said. "One thing begins a chain reaction. Guys played longer, guys played better, guys played with confidence."
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville had been blasted by a combined score of 141-51 in its previous three games against South Carolina, Alabama and Auburn.
The Razorbacks are aiming for their first back-to-back victories since opening last season 3-0 with victories over Louisiana Tech (21-20), at No. 15 TCU (41-38, 2 OT) and Texas State (42-3).
Whether Bielema is on to something or not isn't likely to be known until next week's road game at No. 19 LSU. Coastal Carolina, a program in its 15th season that will receive a reported $1.5 million guarantee from the Razorbacks, is more than a three-touchdown underdog today.
Both teams have suffered significantly from injuries to key personnel. The Chanticleers are banged up on their offensive line and at running back, and it showed in last week's 27-7 homecoming loss to Texas State as they managed season lows of 34 rushing yards and 183 total yards and scored their only touchdown on special teams.
"Just the size and the speed of what they're playing with is going to be the biggest challenge for us," Coastal Carolina interim coach Jamey Chadwell said of the Hogs. "We've not seen anybody all year long or at our university since South Carolina in 2013 with those type of athletes and size. That's going to be the biggest challenge we face."
Arkansas has lost two of its top four running backs, top receiver Jared Cornelius, top cornerback Ryan Pulley, and its best lineman in team captain Frank Ragnow. Freshman Cole Kelley is expected to make his fourth consecutive start at quarterback in place of senior Austin Allen, another team captain who is rehabbing a shoulder injury. Bielema said on Thursday he anticipates playing Allen for the first time since a 48-22 loss at South Carolina on Oct. 7.
The only key contributors right now for Arkansas who are seniors are defensive backs Josh Liddell, Kevin Richardson and Henre Toliver; nose guard Bijhon Jackson; linebacker Dwayne Eugene; tailback David Williams; and deep snapper Robert Decker.
The Razorbacks have taken their lumps in the second halves of games since late last year, but they reversed that trend by outscoring Ole Miss 17-6 after halftime.
In its losses to No. 23 TCU, at South Carolina and at No. 1 Alabama, the offense struggled or outright gave up points, and the special teams faltered in two of those games.
In the 50-43 loss to Texas A&M, the offense excelled behind new sets, but the defense gave up a series of chunk plays, which has cropped up in most games since. The offense and defense both had trouble in the Hogs' 32-point loss to No. 21 Auburn.
During the big rally at Ole Miss, each of the units turned in critical plays, starting with safety Santos Ramirez's strip and fumble recovery in the second quarter.
"In that second quarter, first with Santos making the play and then with the interception ... with that momentum, you can carry that into the offense," said Liddell, whose 54-yard interception return set up an Arkansas touchdown with 13 seconds left in the half.
"I think one of the big things was the mood on the sideline never changed," Jackson said. "There was just a certain vibe that, even when we were down 31-7, that we weren't down. It was just a certain vibe. A little more positivity than normal.
"When Santos got that fumble, everything changed. A lot of positive energy, a lot of encouragement. The offensive guys encouraging the defense, defensive guys encouraging the offense. We fed off each other, and we kept fighting and we came back."
Junior guard Hjalte Froholdt also pointed to Ramirez's fumble recovery as the trigger.
"It was great for the offense to finally start moving the ball well and scoring points," Froholdt said. "We've had some issues these past couple of weeks. We've been facing great defenses, not to take away from Ole Miss. But the whole momentum changed on defense. They turned the game around and we responded."
Arkansas got within striking distance with its opening drive in the second half as Cheyenne O'Grady's 9-yard catch and run on a screen pass pulled the Hogs within 31-28 at the 10:41 mark of the second quarter.
The Razorbacks still had plenty of adversity to overcome.
Kelley made an ill-advised pitch toward tight end Austin Cantrell while being wrapped up on a sack early in the fourth quarter from the Ole Miss 44. Cantrell failed to scoop the loose ball, which bounced around before the Rebels were awarded possession at the Arkansas 42.
The defense gave up a 31-yard pass on the next play, but dug in as the Rebels approached the goal line. Jackson and T.J. Smith stopped Jordan Wilkins for a 1-yard gain to the Hogs 3 on third and 3, forcing a field goal for a 37-28 Ole Miss lead.
Later, it appeared Kelley's interception on fourth down from the Ole Miss 34 might be the final nail for Arkansas.
The final 6:01 of the game served as a microcosm of how each Arkansas unit played off the other.
The decisive rally started when quarterback Jordan Ta'amu dropped a handoff on a zone read play, Richardson picked up the loose ball in stride and scampered 22 yards for a touchdown.
"In the past, when we got down, things didn't turn around for us," Liddell said. "With those plays, it was big for us."
Kelley completed a key third-and-5 pass to O'Grady during the Hogs' game-winning drive. Arkansas also benefited from a fourth-down pass interference call on the Rebels, and overcame a holding penalty on Jonathan Nance's 19-yard catch and Kelley's 6-yard keeper.
Williams gained the final 10 yards of the day with a run over the left side, putting Limpert well within range.
The field goal unit, which has had its struggles, polished off the comeback as Limpert made the 34-yard field goal three times after Ole Miss called timeout, then nailed the actual game winner.
"Everybody 100 percent still believed we could win," Ramirez said. "Obviously we've been down a lot this year, and we couldn't have that same mentality. We had to do something different."
The Razorbacks did so by outscoring the Rebels 31-6 in the final 32:44.
"I think it's that unwavering belief," outside linebackers coach Chad Walker said. "You believe and you feel it from the guys. When guys make plays there's energy. And with that energy the guys just feed off one another.
"Whether it's the offense or the defense or the special teams. it's just that belief. These guys are resilient, they keep coming. They're tough and they're competitors. I think the competitive nature in these guys is showing up."
Game glance
RECORDS Coastal Carolina 1-7; Arkansas 3-5
COACHES Jamey Chadwell (1-7 in interim season at Coastal Carolina, 61-43 in ninth season overall); Bret Bielema (28-31 in fifth season at Arkansas, 96-55 in 12th season overall)
LINE Arkansas by 23 1/2
SERIES First meeting
TELEVISION SEC Network Alternate
RADIO Razorback Sports Network, including KABZ-FM, 103.7, in Little Rock; KQSM-FM, 92.1, KIGL-FM, 93.3, KAKS-FM, 99.5, and KUOA-AM, 1290, in Fayetteville; KERX-FM, 95.3, in Fort Smith, Westwood One, Sirius 138, XM 190
Sports on 11/04/2017