COLLEGE STATION, Texas (8/30/08) ? The first game of a new era provided what was arguably the biggest victory in the long history of Arkansas State University football.
Playing its first football game as the Red Wolves, Arkansas State left 78,691 Texas A&M fans at Kyle Field stunned, defeating the Aggies 18-14 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams. Texas A&M had won its last 20 home openers, and the loss was just the fourth defeat for the Aggies in their last 50 non-conference games at home.
Arkansas State got its only touchdown of the night when it needed it the most.
After penetrating the Texas A&M 30-yard line five times and coming away with three field goals and two turnovers, Arkansas State went on top to stay when junior quarterback Corey Leonard connected with senior wide receiver Kevin Jones from 15 yards out, giving the Red Wolves a 15-14 lead with 4:39 to play.
A missed two-point conversion attempt proved inconsequential when a Texas A&M turnover on its next possession led to junior Josh Arauco's fourth field goal of the night. Arauco's kick boosted the ASU lead to 18-14, and Arkansas State forced another turnover on the Aggies' final drive to seal the win.
“I can't tell you how proud I am of our players,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts. “Our offensive and defensive coaches did a great job with adjustments to dominate in the second half. The environment was awesome. I want our team to build on this win.”
“We played against adversity and came back,” said Leonard. “Kyle Field was everything we thought it would be. Tonight just worked out well for us.”
Junior tailback Reggie Arnold rushed 21 times for 145 yards on the night, Leonard added 86 yards on the ground to go along with 160 passing yards, and Arauco was a perfect 4-for-4 in the game. His four field goals were a career high.
Arkansas State scored on the game's first possession when the Red Wolves drove 60 yards to set up Arauco's first field goal. Arkansas State used a 19-yard completion from junior quarterback Corey Leonard to junior wideout Jahbari McLennan on third-and-six from the ASU 35 to keep the drive alive.
A two-yard keeper by Leonard on fourth-and-one at the Aggie 37 again kept the possession alive, and Leonard passed complete for 15 yards to Jones on the next play to set up Arauco's field goal. Arauco's kick wrapped up the 13-play drive and put the Red Wolves on top 3-0 with 8:45 remaining in the opening quarter.
Texas A&M answered with an 8-play drive that ended when junior tailback Mike Goodson scored from nine yards out to put the Aggies on the board. Senior Richie Bean added the extra point for the 7-3 A&M lead with 6:20 to play in the first period.
The Aggies made it 14-3 with 4:23 remaining in the half when Goodson scored again, this time from seven yards out to wrap up a 12-play, 77-yard drive.
Arkansas State took advantage of an interception by junior defensive back M.D. Jennings midway through the third quarter to cut the Texas A&M advantage to 14-6.
Jennings picked off a pass from A&M quarterback Stephen McGee at the ASU 41 to give the Red Wolves possession of the ball and ASU marched 47 yards on nine plays to set up Arauco's second field goal of the night. Arauco connected from 28 yards out on the kick to cut the deficit to 14-8 with 5:28 remaining in the third.
Junior safety Marcus Brown forced a fumble by Texas A&M wide receiver Howard Morrow on the Aggies' next drive, and the ball was recovered by ASU defensive end Jeremy Gibson to set up the Red Wolf offense at the Aggie 47.
Arkansas State moved 39 yards on the possession, with 32 of those yards coming on a run from Leonard to the Texas A&M 15, and Arauco completed the possession with his third field goal of the night. Arauco's kick was good from 29 yards out, trimming the Texas A&M lead to 14-9 with 14 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Texas A&M went three-and-out on its next possession and Bean missed wide on a 27-yard field goal attempt the next time the Aggies had the ball, setting the stage for ASU's game-winning drive.
Taking over at the ASU 20 with 9:30 remaining, Leonard directed the Red Wolves 80 yards in 10 plays on a drive that consumed 4:51 seconds on the clock. Arnold rushed for 44 yards on the drive and Leonard hooked up with McLennan for 15 yards and a first down at the A&M 21 on fourth-and-13 from the Aggie 36 to keep the possession going.
Senior defensive back Dominique Williams led Arkansas State with nine tackles on the night, junior defensive back Daylan Walker added seven, senior linebacker Ben Owens also had seven to go along with a fumble recovery and the game-clinching interception, and junior defensive back Evan Van Dolah had six stops.
Arkansas State will be back in action Sept. 6 when they host Texas Southern in the Red Wolves' home opener. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at ASU Stadium.
