BLACKSBURG, Va. (9/17/2011)
— The
Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-2) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead against Virginia
Tech, but the 13th-ranked Hokies (3-0) responded with 23 first-half
points and went on to defeat ASU 26-7 Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium.
The Red Wolves found the end zone on their first possession, using
a 51-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Aplin to wide receiver Taylor Stockemer on
their first play from scrimmage to set up the touchdown. Stockemer's catch gave ASU a first down at
the Hokie eight, and two plays later, Aplin scrambled in from five yards out to
put the Red Wolves on the board.
Placekicker Brian Davis added the extra point for the 7-0 A-State
advantage just over three minutes into the game.
Virginia Tech began at the Hokie 16 on their next possession and
needed just three plays to set up a first-and-goal at the ASU seven, but the
Arkansas State defense denied the Hokies the goal line from there. The Red Wolves kept Virginia Tech out of the
end zone on four consecutive plays to give ASU possession at the Arkansas State
one, but on the second play of the drive, Aplin was flagged for intentional
grounding in the end zone, with the penalty awarding Virginia Tech a safety.
Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas completed a 49-yard touchdown pass
to split end D.J. Coles on the ensuing possession to give the Hokies a 9-7
advantage. Thomas added a four-yard
touchdown pass later in the opening quarter and tailback David Wilson scored on
a three-yard run with 5:14 remaining in the half to give Virginia Tech a 23-7
lead at the break.
Virginia Tech tacked on a 31-yard field goal from placekicker Cody
Journell to increase its lead to 26-7 with 9:49 remaining in the third. The field goal would prove to be the only
score of the second half as the defense ASU limited the Hokies to just 147
yards in the second half.
Aplin completed 16-of-36 passes for 205 yards and added 29 rushing
yards and a touchdown to lead ASU with 234 yards of total offense. Six of Aplin's passes went to wide receiver
Dwayne Frampton, who totaled 59 receiving yards. Wideout Josh Jarboe added four catches for 38
yards and Stockemer logged three catches for a team-high 77 yards.
Linebacker Nathan Herrold and safety Kelcie McCray led the A-State
defense with 10 tackles each, with each making five solo stops. Eight players notched tackles behind the line
of scrimmage, led by linebacker Najel Byrd with two tackles-for-loss. Cornerbacks Darryl Feemster and Darron Edwards
both intercepted passes in the game for the Red Wolves.
Arkansas State will return to action Sept. 24 when it hosts
Central Arkansas in a 7:00 p.m. game at ASU Stadium.
