JONESBORO (11-15-2007) ? Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Thompkins with two seconds remaining, giving the Indians (5-6, 3-4) a 31-27 victory over the Mean Green of North Texas (1-9, 1-5) Thursday night at Indian Stadium.

The Indians overcame a 10-point deficit in the final 7:08 to claim the Sun Belt Conference win, getting 305 passing yards and two touchdowns from Leonard on the night.  With the game-winner to Thompkins, Leonard completed his 16th scoring pass of the year to set a new Arkansas State record for touchdowns in a single season. 

“We had a dramatic win, and a great win,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts.  “I am very proud of our football team for fighting through that game.  With fourteen seconds to go I called Corey over and told him he had two options...throw the ball out of bounds or in the end zone.  Those were the two things he could do.  I told him to make sure he didn't use fourteen seconds and he used twelve of them.  It was great to get a win.”

Arkansas State finished the night with 480 yards of total offense despite having just 93 yards with 3:10 to play before halftime. 

Offensive struggles and kicking game breakdowns hurt Arkansas State in the first half as North Texas jumped out to a 21-0 lead.  The Mean Green went 65 yards in 10 plays on its initial drive, getting a 4-yard touchdown run from running back Jamario Thomas to complete the drive.  Thomas Moreland added the first of three first-half extra points to give North Texas a 7-0 lead with 9:44 remaining in the first.

North Texas put together an 88-yard touchdown drive that started late in the first quarter and ended on the first play of the second quarter when running back Micah Mosley scored on a 2-yard run.

The Mean Green made it 21-0 when Thomas scored on a 4-yard run up the middle following a blocked punt.  North Texas safety Aaron Weathers blocked the kick by ASU punter Brett Shrable at the Indian 29, and defensive back Chris Neal returned the block to the Arkansas State four to set up the score.

Arkansas State answered with a 5-play, 64-yard drive that used up 1:28 on the clock.  ASU quarterback Corey Leonard completed passes of 13 and 16 yards on the drive, setting up a 30-yard touchdown run by freshman tailback Preston Brown.  Placekicker Josh Arauco added the extra point to cut the North Texas lead to 21-7 with 1:37 remaining in the half.

Arkansas State outgained North Texas 202 yards to 187 in the first half, with 109 of those coming in the final 3:10 of the half.  ASU's offensive momentum continued into the second half as the Tribe put 10 points on the board in the third quarter to cut the North Texas lead to 21-17. 

The Indians went 67 yards on seven plays to open the second half, capping the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run by tailback Reggie Arnold.  A 32-yard field goal from Arauco late in the quarter cut the Mean Green lead to 21-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

North Texas answered with a 61-yard drive that resulted in a 28-yard field goal by Moreland that stretched the Mean Green lead back to a touchdown at 24-17. 

An interception of a Leonard pass by North Texas linebacker Craig Robertson on the next Indian possession set up another Moreland field goal that extended the Mean Green lead back to two possessions.

Robertson picked off the tipped pass at the ASU 40, and North Texas drove to the Indian 20 before Moreland made it 27-17 with a 37-yard field goal with 7:08 remaining.

Arkansas State responded with a 61-yard drive that resulted in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to J.T. Jordan, cutting the deficit back to a field goal at 27-24 with 5:15 to play.

North Texas burned 3:57 on the clock and drove to the ASU nine before Moreland missed from 26 yards out to put the ball back in the Indians' hands.

Leonard finished the game with 357 yards of total offense.  Arnold added 75 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and Brown tallied 48 rushing yards and a score on six carries.  Senior wideout Levi Dejohnette finished with 108 yards on nine catches and Thompkins topped the century mark as well with 107 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.  Safety Khayyam Burns and linebacker Ben Owens led the Indian defense with 13 tackles each, with safety Tyrell Johnson adding 12 stops on the night.

Arkansas State wraps up the season Nov. 24 in Hattiesburg, Miss. against Southern Miss.