FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (10/28/06) ? Turnovers helped to bring Arkansas State's five-game Sun Belt Conference win streak to a screeching halt as the Indians were shut out, 29-0, by Florida Atlantic at Lockhart Stadium here Saturday.
The shutout was the first for ASU since 2003 when the Indians went to Utah State and were defeated, 49-0. Arkansas State is now 5-3 on the season and 3-1 in Sun Belt play. FAU stands 3-5 and 2-1.
Turnovers plagued the Indians throughout the game with quarterbacks Corey Leonard and Travis Hewitt throwing five combined. Most were tipped by FAU defenders and fell into the arms of Owl players. In addition, ASU fumbled twice and lost one.
It was also one of the lowest offensive outputs in school history for the Tribe with 104 yards of total offense, including six yards rushing and 98 yards passing.
The game got off to a rocky start for ASU when Florida Atlantic had a 21-play drive that chewed up nearly eight minutes off the clock and resulted in a 21-yard field goal. On the Owls' opening drive of the second quarter, B.J. Manley rushed for the 35-yard touchdown to put FAU up 10-0.
Following a fumble by ASU's Corey Leonard, FAU's Warley Leroy put up another field goal, a 41-yarder, with 9:40 remaining in the second quarter to make it, 13-0.
ASU had a chance when Rob Ramage intercepted FAU quarterback Sean Clayton and returned the football 33 yards for the Indians to set up shop at the FAU 40. However, the Indians' drive was cut short when Florida Atlantic's Corey Small stepped in front of an ASU receiver in the end zone to pick off Leonard's pass and return it to the FAU seven.
ASU punter Brett Shrable had a heads-up play when he recovered the high snap and tossed the football out of the end zone in the third quarter for a safety, a three-yard pass reception from Clayton to Aaron Sanchez with 3:37 left in the game, and another interception by Small for a 22-yard scoring return with 2:31 left rounded out the day's scoring.
A couple of bright moments for the Indians include receiver Levi Dejohnette who reached the 1,000-yard milestone for his career with his four catches for 73 yards on the day. He also moved up to ninth on ASU's all-time chart for career receptions. The junior from Bastrop, La., now has 82 catches for his career and needs three to pass James Hickenbotham (1999-2002) who has 84 for eighth. Corey Walker (1993-96) would be the next goal as he stands in seventh with 90.
Defensively, linebacker Koby McKinnon led with nine total tackles followed by Ben Owens with seven.
Next weekend, ASU steps away from Sun Belt play to take on Auburn Nov. 4. Game time is 1:30 p.m. in Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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