JONESBORO, Ark. (9/20/08) ? Arkansas State junior quarterback Corey Leonard rolled up a career-high 366 yards of total offense, leading the Red Wolves to a 31-14 victory over Middle Tennessee State in ASU's Sun Belt Conference opener Saturday night before a crowd of 24,256 at ASU Stadium.
The Arkansas State defense did its part as well, keeping the Blue Raiders off the scoreboard for the better part of three quarters, intercepting two passes and recording six tackles behind the line of scrimmage for 30 yards of loss.
Arkansas State led 17-0 at the half, extended its lead to 24-0 on the first possession of the second half, and snuffed out any Middle Tennessee momentum gained when the Blue Raiders scored by answering MTSU's first touchdown with the Red Wolves fourth trip to the end zone.
“That was a big-time win and a lot of fun,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts. “I am very proud of our players for the way we started off that game. Middle Tennessee, defensively was determined to overload the box. They were determined to make us make throwing plays and to stop the run. I am very, very pleased with the way we threw and caught the football.”
Arkansas State used a 7-play, 57-yard drive to go up 7-0 late in the first quarter, capitalizing on two big completions from Leonard to Norman to set up the score. Leonard and Norman hooked up for 26 yards and a first down at the MTSU 27, then connected for 11 more and another set of downs at the Blue Raider 17. Two plays later, Leonard found Reggie Arnold alone on the right sideline and the junior tailback went 17 yards untouched for the score.
Placekicker Josh Arauco added the extra point to give ASU a 7-0 lead with 3:26 remaining in the opening quarter.
Arauco added three points more with 8:30 remaining in the second quarter when he booted through a 35-yard field goal to cap an 81-yard ASU drive, and the Red Wolves still weren't finished for the half.
Taking possession at their own 33 with 50 seconds remaining in second quarter, Arkansas State found the end zone again just 14 seconds later when Leonard hit senior tight end David Johnson with a 14-yard touchdown strike to stretch the ASU lead to 17-0 with 36 seconds remaining in the half. The play was set up by a 53-yard completion from Leonard to Norman on the first play of the drive.
The Red Wolves carried their momentum over past the break, scoring on the first possession of the second half to stretch the Arkansas State lead to 24-0. ASU moved 74 yards on 11 plays to open the third quarter, completing the drive when Leonard connected with Johnson for their second touchdown of the night, this time from two yards out at the 8:35 mark.
“It was great to come out in the second half and take the ball down the field and go up by 24,” said Roberts. “It was gut-wrenching from that point forward and I am real proud of the way our football team played tonight.”
Middle Tennessee got on the board late in the third quarter when Blue Raider tailback Phillip Tanner scored from two yards out to end a nine-play 76-yard drive. Kicker Alan Gendreau added the extra point to cut the Arkansas State lead to 24-7 with 2:19 remaining in the quarter, but ASU answered the score with an 88-yard drive to extend the Red Wolves lead to 31-7.
Starting at the ASU 12, Leonard completed three passes on the drive, added 37 yards on the ground, and freshman tailback Derek Lawson ended the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. Arauco put through his fourth extra point of the night to make it 31-7 with 12:34 to play.
The Blue Raiders scored again on their next possession, driving 80 yards in seven plays to cut the Red Wolves advantage to 31-14 with just over nine minutes to play, but the Arkansas State defense stopped Middle Tennessee on downs at the ASU 42 on the Blue Raiders next possession, and Arkansas State ran out the clock to seal the win.
In addition to the career night from Leonard and Norman, ASU got 90 yards from senior wide receiver Kevin Jones and 49 yards and a pair of touchdowns from Johnson. Lawson added 57 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Junior cornerback Daylan Walker led the ASU defense with nine tackles and an interception, junior defensive end Alex Carrington added a pair of quarterback sacks and six tackles, and senior cornerback Dominique Williams had four tackles and an interceptions.
Arkansas State will be on the road next week when the Red Wolves travel to Memphis to take on the Memphis Tigers. Kickoff at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.
