Arkansas State vs. Florida International Final Stats
MIAMI, Fla. (9-30-2006) ? Sparked by a strong performance by the Indian defense and 146 yards rushing by tailback Reggie Arnold, Arkansas State (2-2, 1-0) began defense of its 2005 Sun Belt Conference Championship with a 31-6 victory over the Florida International Golden Panthers (0-5, 0-2) Saturday night at FIU Stadium.
ASU forced four Panther turnovers and limited the FIU offense to 186 yards on the night, including just nine rushing yards.
The Indian defense delivered on the first play from scrimmage when safety Tyrell Johnson intercepted Panther quarterback Josh Padrick's pass at the FIU 31.
The Indians cashed in on the turnover eight plays later when freshman tailback Cedrick Wilkerson barreled in from one yard out for the ASU touchdown. Kicker Josh Arauco tacked on the first of four extra points for the 7-0 Indian lead with 10:05 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Indian defense put the ball back in the hands of the offense early in the second quarter when Josh Williams stopped FIU's Chandler Williams short of a first down on fourth-and-three from the ASU 35, and the ASU offense responded again.
The Indians put together a 10-play, 67-yard drive that made the score 14-0 when quarterback Corey Leonard scrambled left and found the end zone from seven yards out.
On the Golden Panthers' initial possession of the second half, ASU linebacker Koby McKinnon stripped Padrick of the ball, and defensive tackle Jamarrow James recovered the FIU fumble at the Panther 19.
The Indian offense needed just four plays to find the end-zone, getting the touchdown when quarterback Travis Hewitt scored on a draw with 9:53 to play in the third for the 21-0 Arkansas State advantage.
Florida International got on the board with 1:40 remaining in the third when Panther tailback A'mod Ned scored on a five yard run, but the extra point attempt was blocked by ASU's Brandon Williams, leaving the Tribe with a 21-6 advantage.
The Indians answered the Panther touchdown on their next possession with a drive that ended with an 18-yard Arauco field goal with 12:17 to play that lifted the Indian lead to 24-6, and ASU's defense sealed the deal with 5:57 remaining when cornerback Dominique Williams intercepted a Padrick pass at the Panther 32 and returned it to the 25, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run from Hewitt that set the final at 31-6.
