It took a little "Hart" for the University of Central Arkansas Bears to hold off UC Davis on Saturday night at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.
Larry Hart, 6-foot-1 junior defensive end who transferred from Holmes (Miss.) Community College last spring, finished the game with three sacks, five total tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup to help the Bears hang on for a 24-21 win. He disrupted numerous other plays.
"I thought (Hart) was pretty much a one-man wrecking crew," UCA coach Clint Conque said. "That was obviously a significant part in us getting the win."
Hart and the defensive front stoned the Aggie run game, allowing just 11 yards on the ground. The passing game, though, gave the Bears a little more trouble.
Hart, in turn, gave UC Davis quarterback Greg Denham some trouble, too.
"The secondary did a great job of holding the routes," Hart said. "He (Denham) had to hold on to the ball a little longer, and I was able to get back there."
That's not to say all the credit was the secondary's, though.
"We were able to use our speed advantage," Hart said. "We were able to just get off the ball well, and I motored passed their line and was able to put some pressure on them."
That was especially true in the first half, when Hart had two of his sacks. Denham was just 6 of 13 for 35 yards before halftime. Things were different in the second half, as the UC Davis quarterback finished 30-for-45 for 296 yards.
"I thought we disrupted his timing in the first half," Conque said of the Aggie quarterback. "He got a little happy feet. He wasn't comfortable.
"I thought in the third quarter he got in a good rhythm and was able to make some things happen."
Hart, though, continued to give Denham some trouble. In fact, Hart nearly had a sack on UC Davis' final drive of the game.
"I got off the ball well and got to Denham, but he just got away from my arms," Hart said.
That didn't end up hurting UCA, as Anthony Gambles' interception sealed the deal for the Bears. Even that could be credited to the play of the defensive front.
"It definitely helps to have the d-line play like that," Gambles said. "You don't have the quarterback looking at all the receivers (when under heavy pressure). He has to work hard just to find one receiver and (defensive backs) can make a jump on the ball."
That ended up being the difference in the game. However, all phases of the defense had to jell for such a result.
"Having defensive backs like we do gives you a lot of confidence," Hart said. "We all just have to work together to get the job done."
