Red Wolf Rewind: ASU 45, ULM 23
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The Arkansas State Red Wolves moved to 7-3 (5-1 Sun Belt) after a 45-23 victory over the ULM Warhawks.
Here is one final look at the game before the Red Wolves move on to Troy next week.
The Good News
There were several good things this week from the win all the way to the crowd, to the fact that the Arkansas State picked up back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since doing it in the 1986 and 1987 seasons.
"I'm very proud of our team," said head coach Gus Malzahn. "We beat a good football team at home. We've played well on the road the last few weeks, but we really haven't put together a good performance at home, so it feels good to get in and get that seventh victory."
Not only did the Red Wolves pick up their seventh win, they did it in front of a national television audience, and bowl representatives from the Liberty and New Orleans bowls.
The offense was clicking this week as they put up over 500 yards of offense.
Quarterback Ryan Aplin was 26 of 34 passing for 334 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also ran the ball eight times for 44 yards and a score. Running back David Oku touched the ball 22 times. He picked up 131 yards and three touchdowns, while wide receiver J.D. McKissic had 12 receptions for 102 yards.
Defensively, the Red Wolves stood up and slowed down a quality Warhawk offense.
Defensive back Sterling Young led the defense with 13 tackles, while Don Jones and Qushaun Lee amassed nine a piece. Linebacker Nathan Herrold also had a fumble recovery and an interception.
The Bad News
While the Red Wolves won the game handily, there are still a few things that didn't go their way in the game.
Aplin's interception before halftime as the team was driving is one of those things. Aplin told the media following the game that he took full responsibility for not throwing it to the open man on that play.
Although questionable at times, there were also some penalties on key defensive plays which could have killed several Warhawk drives. Other than this, things went pretty smoothly for the Red Wolves throughout the game.
Inside The Numbers
1: punt by Ryan Aplin. It went for 20 yards.
2: receptions a piece by Taylor Stockemer and Julian Jones.
3: sacks by the Red Wolf defense.
4: receptions for R.J. Flemming.
6: third down conversions by the Red Wolf offense.
7: touchdowns by the Red Wolf offense.
12: rushing touchdowns this season for David Oku. He leads the team.
22: first downs picked up by the Red Wolf offense.
34: rushing plays and passing plays by the Red Wolf offense.
45: points scored by the Red Wolf offense.
68: total plays ran by the Red Wolf offense.
80: total plays for the Red Wolf defense.
95: career receptions for Josh Jarboe.
102: receiving yards for J.D. McKissic.
132: rushing yards for David Oku.
200: rushing yards by all Red Wolf runners.
334: receiving yards by all Red Wolf receivers.
433: yards given up by the Red Wolf defense.
534: yards picked up by the Red Wolf offense.
30, 243: was the announced attendance at the game.
Did You Notice?
Qushuan Lee's big hit on ULM quarterback Cody Wells for the game's first sack?
Two times on the third drive of the game, J.D. McKissic caught three passes in a row?
Josh Jarboe and Taylor Stockemer both threw huge blocks on Ryan Aplin's touchdown run?
Aplin went under center on the first play of the fourth drive?
That play went 11 yards on a toss to Frankie Jackson?
Nathan Herrold's fumble recovery came after a forced fumble by Nick Nelms?
David Oku went over 100 yards as he scored his second touchdown?
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