GAME 8
Arkansas State (3-4, 1-2) hosts Troy (5-2, 4-0)
October 27, 2007 l Indian Stadium (30,406)
Jonesboro, Arkansas l 6:00 p.m.
Radio: Arkansas State Radio Network (KWHF 95.9 FM, flagship)
Television: ESPN Regional, Suddenlink Ch. 22 (Jonesboro), XOS Webcasting (ASUIndians.com)
-Click here for PDF version of ASU game notes vs. Troy-
ON TAP: Arkansas State takes a 3-0 record at Indian Stadium into Saturday's game against Troy in the first of back-to-back home games for the Indians. Every Arkansas State game can be heard live on 95.9 FM in the Jonesboro area and the live radio broadcast can be accessed through the Arkansas State athletic web site (ASUIndians.com). The game is also being televised by ESPN Regional (Sam Smith and Doug Graber).
THE PRINCIPALS: Arkansas State returns home for its fourth game of the season at Indian Stadium, where it holds an 11-1 record over the last three seasons. ASU brings a 1-2 Sun Belt record into the game, while the Trojans are still perfect in league play with a 4-0 mark.
HEAD COACH STEVE ROBERTS: Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts is in his sixth year at Arkansas State after leading the Indians to the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Championship and its most single-season wins over Division I-A opponents in 2006. During his first five seasons as the Indians' head coach, he guided ASU to 26 wins for its most over a five-year span at the school since winning 33 from 1986-1990. Roberts was named the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Under Roberts, the Indians have had 44 All-Sun Belt Conference selections, a Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and a SBC Offensive Player of the Year.
ROBERTS CLIMBING VICTORIES LADDER: In his first six seasons as the Indians head coach, Steve Roberts already has the fifth most victories among ASU's 26 all-time head coaches with 29 wins. Larry Lacewell (1979-89) holds the record for victories with 69 and is followed by Bennie Ellender (1963-70) with 52 wins, Bill Davidson (1971-78) with 51 and Forrest England (1946-53) with 49.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS: Troy, picked to win the Sun Belt Conference according to the league's preseason coaches poll, has lived up to the prediction thus far as it sits in sole possession of first place with a 4-0 conference record. The Trojans have won their last five games after starting the season 0-2 with road setbacks at Arkansas and Florida. The Trojans winning streak began with a 41-23 home victory over Oklahoma State and reached five games with a 45-7 win over North Texas last week. While Troy is 4-0 in Sun Belt action, it still has not faced three of the other four teams in the top of the current league standings. The Trojans are ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt Conference in 12 statistical categories, including total offense.
THE ARKANSAS STATE - TROY SERIES: Arkansas State leads the all-time series that dates back to 1951, 5-1, and has outscored the Trojans 121-96 in those six contests. The Indians have won all three games played as Sun Belt Conference opponents, defeating the Trojans 33-26 last season, 9-3 in 2005 and 13-9 in 2004. Troy's lone victory in the series came 41-7 in 1992.
LAST TIME vs. TROY: TROY, Ala. (11/18/06) ? Cedric Wilkerson scored on a one-yard run with 17 seconds left in the game to give Arkansas State a 33-26 win over Troy at Movie Gallery Stadium.
The Trojans led 26-25 with 3:58 remaining as the Indians were driving downfield. With fourth down and eight yards to go and 1:36 left in the game, ASU quarterback Corey Leonard scrambled 11 yards and picked up the first down to keep the drive alive alive. As the Tribe offense continued to move, Wilkerson took advantage of a third-and-goal situation to run it in from the one, capping off a 70-yard drive. Leonard ran in the two-point conversion to cement ASU's lead.
When play resumed and with eight seconds showing on the clock, Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook threw a long pass which was intercepted by ASU's Darren Toney to run out the clock and seal the win for the Indians.
ASU vs. SUN BELT CONFERENCE: Arkansas State is 50-49-1 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference. Since the league's inaugural football season in 2001, the Indians are 21-22 against all opponents that have been a member of the league. Against current members of the conference, ASU is 16-18 since 2001. The Indians hold their most all-time victories against Louisiana-Lafayette with 17, while its most victories against a Sun Belt opponent since 2001 is Louisiana-Monroe with four. The Indians have defeated every team in the Sun Belt Conference since the football league was formed in 2001.
LAST TIME OUT: MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (10-20-07) ? ASU couldn't overcome a powerful Middle Tennessee defense, as the Blue Raiders defeated the Indians 24-7 at Floyd Stadium.
Middle Tennessee racked up a season-high nine sacks and 384 total yards of offense to power past the Indians.
The Blue Raiders got on the board early after junior Kevin Jones' fumble was recovered by Middle Tennessee's Rod Isaac and returned 42 yards for the 7-0 lead with 13:32 left in the first quarter.
The Blue Raiders increased their lead to 14 after Taron Henry took a 17-yard pass from freshman quarterback Dwight Dasher with 2:32 left in the first.
Middle Tennessee added a field goal and took a 17-0 lead before the Indians scored with 12:22 left in the second. Freshman Danny McNeal caught a 6-yard pass from Corey Leonard in the endzone and sophomore Josh Arauco added the extra point to make it a 17-7 game.
Henry caught his second pass of the game, a 52-yarder from Joe Craddock, with just over nine minutes left in the second quarter to extend the Blue Raiders lead to 17.
Neither team managed to score in the second half, as the Blue Raiders held on for 24-7 win.
ROBERTS AND INDIAN STADIUM: Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts has led the Indians to a 20-6 record at Indian Stadium over the last six years for a .769 winning percentage. Not only that, the Indians are 11-1 at Indian Stadium over the last three seasons.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: Arkansas State posted a school-record 681 yards of total offense against Louisiana-Lafayette two games ago, recording 406 rushing yards and 275 passing yards. The game is one of two this season inwhich the Indians have posted over 500 yards of offense (516 vs. SMU). Thus far, the Indians have turned their offense output around this season as they are ranked 44th in the nation in total offense in comparison to their 89th national ranking last season. ASU is averaging 410 yards of offense this season in comparison to 312 yards last season.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE BELT: Arkansas State is ranked among the top three teams in the Sun Belt Conference in 19 statistical categories and is ranked No. 1 in four categories.
MOVING THE CHAINS: ASU racked up a season-high 33 first downs against Louisiana-Lafayette on Oct. 13, a total good enough to rank as the second most in school history for a single game. ASU also posted the fifth most first downs in school history earlier this year with 29 vs. SMU. The Indians are ranked second in the Sun Belt in first downs with 152.
REIBE named draddy trophy semifinalist: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) has announced the 67 Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) semifinalists, including ASU senior offensive lineman Matt Reibe (El Dorado, Ark.), for the 2007 Draddy Trophy. One of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. Each semifinalist on the list must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
AUTOMATIC ARAUCO: Sophomore kicker Josh Arauco has made 22-of-22 extra point attempts this season and has made 26 in a row dating back to last season, which ranks as the seventh longest streak in ASU history. Arauco had a streak of eight consecutive field goals made earlier this season that ranked as the second longest in school history and tied the school record last year with 10 in a row.
SUN BELT HIGHS: ASU set or tied Sun Belt Conference single game highs this season that still stand in 11 statistical categories against UL Lafayette, including:
52 points, 7 touchdowns (tie), 681 yards total offense, 406 rushing yards, 62 rushing attempts, 5 passing touchdowns (tie), 73.9 pass completion percentage, 12.0 passing yards per attempt, 7 PAT's, 33 first downs and 20 first downs by rush.
NEW LEAGUE LEADER: Preseason Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year Tyrell Johnson recorded seven tackles against Memphis on Sep. 27 to give him 302 for his career and break the Sun Belt Conference record, previously held by ASU's Steven Tookes. Tookes, who played for the Indians from 2001-04, finished his career with 300 tackles. Johnson now has 316 career tackles to his credit.
THOMPKINS OVER 1,000: Brandon Thompkins has returned 29 kickoffs for 682 yards this season, the second most in ASU history, to give him 1,230 yards for his career and move him into fourth place all-time for career yards in the stat.
TWICE AS NICE: While senior safety Tyrell Johnson recently broke the Sun Belt Conference record for career tackles, his teammate and fellow safety Khayyam Burns is also approaching the old record of 300 tackles. Burns currently has 282 career tackles and if he passes 300 this season, he and Johnson would finish their careers as the top two tacklers in Sun Belt Conference history.
GAINING GROUND: With 679 rushing yards this season, sophomore running back Reggie Arnold now has 1,755 career rushing yards to leave him just 427 yards shy of joining the top 10 career rushing leaders in ASU history. Arnold has rushed for at least 100 yards in three games this season and has reached the mark eight times for his career for the seventh most in school history.
RUSHING REGGIE: Reggie Arnold rushed for a career-high 225 yards against Louisiana-Lafayette this season, a total good enough to rank as the third most in ASU history for a single game and the most ever by an ASU player at Indian Stadium.
LEONARD BREAKS RECORD: Corey Leonard broke the school record for touchdown passes in a single game with five against Louisiana-Lafayette. Just seven games into the season, Leonard has 13 touchdown passes to leave him just two shy of the school record for a single season.
QUICK CLIMB: Corey Leonard is making a quick climb up the all-time passing records at Arkansas State. Leonard is already ranked eighth all-time for both career completions (228) and passing yards (2,893) and seventh in passing touchdowns (21). With 1,576 passing yards over his first seven games, Leonard has already passed his total for all of last season (1,321).
DUAL THREAT: Corey Leonard is ranked 27th in the nation and second in the Sun Belt Conference in total offense with 271 yards per game. He posted a career-high 359 yards of total offense against Louisiana-Lafayette and has recorded more total yards of offense in five of ASU's first seven games than he had in a game for all of last season. Leonard combined to throw and rush for 329 yards against Memphis, 318 yards against SMU and 296 yards against both Texas and Louisiana-Monroe.
NICE DEFENSE: Arkansas State, ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference in total defense, held Louisiana-Lafayette to just 270 yards of total offense two games ago. That is the fewest yards allowed by ASU this season.
BREAK IT UP: Senior safety Tyrell Johnson has recorded three interceptions and four pass break-ups this season. He now has 10 career interceptions and 15 break-ups for his career. Just seven games into the 2007 season, Johnson needs just one more pass break-up to tie his career best of five for an entire season (2004).
FINISHING IN THE RED ZONE: ASU reversed its fortune in the red zone the last six weeks in a big way. Since posting just two scores in six red zone trips against Texas in its season opener, the Indians have scored on 22 of its 25 trips in the red zone over the last six games.
Dejohnette ON PACE TO CHALLENGE SCHOOL RECORD: Levi Dejohnette is averaging 5.5 receptions per game this season and if he maintains that average will finish the regular season with 147 catches for his career, just 11 shy of the school record. He has caught 33 passes this season, giving him 124 for his career and making him the fourth player in ASU history to record 100 receptions in a career. Dejohnette passed Reginald Murphy (1993-96) last week to move into third place at ASU in career receptions.
DEJOHNETTE OFF TO FAST START: Just seven games into the season, Dejohnette already has more receptions (33) and yards (478) than he posted as freshman or junior. He is just 10 receptions and 76 yards shy of his career-best totals set during his junior year (2005).
400TH VICTORY: With its victory over Louisiana-Lafayette this year, ASU became the fifth Sun Belt Conference school with 400 all-time wins. ASU is in its 93rd season of football and holds an all-time record of 400-424-37 since its inaugural 1911 season. The Indians have played in seven bowl games, including the 2005 New Orleans Bowl.
QUICK START: ASU has established its offense early this year, scoring on its first drive five of its seven games played. The Indians scored on their first possession in their first five games, but had the streak snapped last game against UL Lafayette and was unable to score on its first possession against the Blue Raiders.
CALL IT A COMEBACK: ASU posted its biggest comeback victory in school history Sept. 27 against Memphis, erasing a 31-6 halftime deficit by scoring 29 unanswered second-half points to claim the 35-31 win. ASU's next closest rallies came from 21 points down (vs. Lamar, 1989, and Southern Illinois, 1992).
FAN SUPPORT: The crowd of 27,774 on hand for the Memphis game (Sept. 27) was the third largest in Indian Stadium history. Seven of the top 14 crowds in Indian Stadium history have been played since 2002, head coach Steve Roberts first year at ASU.
ASU PLAYS IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWD: The crowd of 102,368 in attendance at Neyland Stadium for the Tennessee-ASU game Sept. 22 was the largest to ever watch an Indians' football game. The previous largest crowd was 91,611 when the Indians played at Louisiana State in 2004.
HOME OPENERS: ASU improved to 5-1 in home openers played at Indian Stadium under sixth-year head coach Steve Roberts with its victory over SMU on Sept. 15. The Indians are now 23-11 all-time in home openers at Indian Stadium, which opened in 1974.
ROBERTS IN CLOSE GAMES: Sixth-year skipper Steve Roberts has seen numerous close games during his tenure with the Indians, holding a 16-7 record in games decided by eight points or less (33 percent of all his games). Roberts' teams have been especially successful recently in games decided by just one score, holding an 14-4 record in its last 18 games that ended under those circumstances. Following is his record in close games:
Margin Roberts record
1 point 1-0
2 points 1-0
3 points 4-3
4 points 4-1
5 points 0-1
6 points 2-0
7 points 3-1
8 points 1-1
SBC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: The Indians have had four players named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week at least once this season. Most recently, Corey Leonard was named the offensive player of the week for the third time this season on Oct. 14. ASU has now had a player named the league's offensive, defensive or special teams player of the week a combined six times. Tyrell Johnson (Sr., S) was named the defensive player of the week Sept. 3, while Brandon Thompkins (So., WR/KR) and Kevin Jones (Jr., WR/PR) were both named the special teams player of the week earlier this year.
TONEY CONTINUES CLIMB: With three kickoff returns for 61 yards against Texas, senior Darren Toney moved into sole possession of second place at ASU for the most kickoff returns in a career (66). While Toney didn't have any returns the last four games, he still needs just eight more returns for first place. Toney now has 1,321 career kickoff return yards as well, leaving him 183 shy of the second most return yards in ASU history.
STRINGING IT TOGETHER: ASU has had two scoring drives that went at least 93 yards, including a 97-yard drive against SMU, and nine that covered at least three quarters of the football field. ASU had seven drives that covered at least 75 yards, including a long of 84 yards, for all of last season.
multiple weapons: ASU completed at least one pass to eight different players in three games this season, including last week's outing against Louisiana-Lafayette. ASU has completed a pass to at least seven players in five of its seven games.
FIVE-YEAR IMPROVEMENT: During sixth-year head coach Steve Roberts' first five seasons at Arkansas State the football program saw its win total increase by almost 100 percent over the previous five years. ASU posted 26 wins over Roberts' first five years, 11 more than it recorded the five years prior to Roberts. In fact, ASU's 26 wins over those five years are the most for a five-year span since it collected 33 victories from 1986-90.
a good HOMECOMING: Arkansas State won its fifth consecutive homecoming game with its 52-21 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, bringing its record to 53-26-1 all-time in homecoming games.
TEAM CAPTAINS: ASU's senior class will alternate throughout the year as team captains. The team will vote on permanent captains at the end of the year.
SBC Preseason awards: The 2007 preseason accolades continued to pile up for Arkansas State football players Tyrell Johnson (Sr., S), Matt Mandich (Jr., OL) and Koby McKinnon (Sr., LB) as all three were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team and Johnson was tabbed the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced at the conference's annual media days.
ASU Predicted to Finish Third in 2007 SBC Race: The Arkansas State football team was picked to finish third in the 2007 Sun Belt Conference race according to the league's preseason poll of its eight head coaches, announced by the conference office.
ASU received one first-place vote and 43 points, finishing just one point behind second-place Middle Tennessee in the voting. Defending New Orleans Bowl champion Troy received five of the eight first place votes and 59 points to finish first in the poll.
TV TIME: ASU's six regular-season televised games for 2007 are the most in school history, just ahead of the 2005 season when the Indians were on television four times during the regular season.
17 AND UNDER: Arkansas State holds a 14-2 record under head coach Steve Roberts when holding its opponents to 17 points or less. However, ASU is 11-30 over the last five seasons when allowing 17 or more points. The Indians have won their last 11 consecutive games when holding their opponent to 17 or fewer points and has won 26 straight games when holding their opponents to 10 or fewer points.
ASU ADDS DEEP SNAPPER ADAM GASTON: Included among the 105 players reporting for ASU's fall camp was one additional scholarship player in deep snapper Adam Gaston. The 5-9, 215-pound Gaston was a three-year varsity letterman for the Oak Grove High School (Hattiesburg, Miss.) football team, where he earned first team all-district honors as a senior. He helped lead Oak Grove to a 34-7 record in three years.
He was ranked among the top 10 high school long snappers in the nation according to several websites, including prokicker.com's No. 1 spot for its Ray Guy/ProKicker.com National Camp rankings. He was also ranked among the top 12 underclassmen deep snappers in the nation at the 4th annual National Kicking Competition hosted by Chris Sailer Kicking in Las Vegas in January of 2006. Gaston was a member of the Oak Grove High School swimming team.
ASU Football Radio Broadcasts to be Carried by KABF 88.3 FM in Little Rock: Arkansas State football fans in and around Central Arkansas will have no problems following the Tribe this season, as ASU Athletics and East Arkansas Broadcasters have announced that all ASU Football games this year will be carried on KABF 88.3 FM in Little Rock.
KABF is operated by the Arkansas Broadcasting Foundation and has a 100,000-watt signal. The station's signal reaches more than 70 miles on any side of the Capitol City, reaching Brinkley to the east, Fordyce to the south, Clarksville to the west and the Twin Lakes area to the north.
ARNOLD ON DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST: Reggie Arnold has been listed among the 51 candidates for the 2007 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top college running back. Arnold was named All-Sun Belt Conference, Sporting News Third Team Freshman All-America and Football Writers Association of America Scripps Freshman All-America after rushing for 1,076 yards and four touchdowns in 2006. The 2006 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year was twice named the league's Offensive Player of the Week and finished last year ranked third in the nation among all freshmen for rushing yards. Arnold has also been named Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference by 2007 football publications such as Athlon's, Phil Steele's and Lindy's.
McKINNON ON BUTKUS AWARD WATCH LIST: Koby McKinnon (Junction City, Ark.) has been named to the 2007 Butkus Award Watch List, announced Tuesday morning by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO). McKinnon, a 2007 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection, is one of 66 candidates for this year's award that also includes three players from the Sun Belt Conference. McKinnon has been named Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference by several football publications, including Athlon's, Sporting News, Phil Steele's, Lindy's and Street & Smith's magazines.
LEONARD ON DAVEY O'BRIEN WATCH LIST: Arkansas State sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard has been named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List as announced by the Davey O'Brien Foundation. The award is given by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to honor the nation's top quarterback based on performance on the field, in the classroom, and as a team player who displays leadership, character, and sportsmanship. Leonard started eight games, including the Tribe's final seven as a redshirt freshman in 2006, passing for 1,321 yards with eight touchdowns. He added 331 rushing yards on the season with a pair of touchdowns.
JOHNSON ON BRONKO NAGURSKI WATCH LIST: Safety Tyrell Johnson (Sr. Rison, Ark.) is one of just 49 players from across the nation to appear on the watch list for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The award is given annually to the best defensive player in college football by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Johnson was the only Sun Belt Conference player to appear on the watch list, which is compiled by the FWAA All-America committee, with input from schools and conferences from across the country.
O'NEAL DRAFTED & MAKES ROSTER: Former Arkansas State standout fullback Oren O'Neal (Stuttgart, Ark.) was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the first pick in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft on April 29, and has made the Raiders roster for the 2007 season. The Raiders made O'Neal the 175th overall pick and the third fullback taken in the draft. O'Neal became the 40th ASU player to ever be selected in the NFL draft and the first since Corey Williams was taken in the sixth round of the 2004 draft by the Green Bay Packers. Over 90 all-time Arkansas State players have signed pro contracts with a NFL franchise.
TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD: The Arkansas State football team has won the Sun Belt Conference Team Academic Award three of the past four years, including 2006-07.
AFCA AWARD: Prior to the start of the 2007 season, the American Football Coaches Association announced that the Arkansas State University football team was one of just 34 Division I-A football programs that graduated 70 percent or more of its student-athletes from their freshman classes of 2001-02.
THE WOLF NEW FLAGSHIP FOR ASU RADIO: The Arkansas State University Athletic Department, along with East Arkansas Broadcasters, announced July 6, 2007, that radio station KWHF 95.9 FM “The Wolf” will become the flagship station for ASU football for the 2007 season.
ROBERTS PARTICIPATES IN YOUTH FOOTBALL CLINIC: Arkansas State Head Football Coach Steve Roberts joined the head football coaches from all the Sun Belt Conference schools on July 22 in hosting a free youth football clinic as part of a recent $750,000 contribution by NCAA Football to Youth Football Initiatives in the city of New Orleans. The Sun Belt and Conference USA are working with NCAA Football and the New Orleans Recreation Department to provide two clinics. Roberts and fellow Sun Belt coaches participated July 22 at the Wilson Athletic Center at Tulane University, while Conference USA coaches will host July 30.
TURNING IT AROUND ON THE ROAD: Arkansas State won three road games in the same season, 2006, for the first time since 1989. The last time ASU posted a winning road record was 1987 (3-2-1) and the last time ASU won four or more road games was 1986. With back-to-back road victories over Florida International and Memphis, ASU won two consecutive road games in the same season for the first time since 1988.
A TIME TO BOND: When Head Coach Steve Roberts came to ASU, he brought a tradition with him which caught on in a hurry with the players. The night before each game, team members and coaches get together for milk and cookies. During this time, each player sits by and visits with at least three other players he has not visited with throughout the week in order to learn more about his teammates.
