JONESBORO — Neely Sullivent and Arkansas State had a surprise in store for a North Texas team already under siege Saturday night.
Sullivent, Arkansas State’s holder on field goals and extra-point attempts, ran 14 yards for a second-quarter touchdown on a fake field-goal attempt that jump-started the Red Wolves to a 37-14 rout.
But the victory, Arkansas State’s fifth in row, yielded a feat rarer than a fake field goal - bowl eligibility for ASU.
The Red Wolves (6-2, 4-0 Sun Belt), off to their best start in 25 years, locked up bowl eligibility for the second time in two decades in front a homecoming crowd of 19,761 at ASU Stadium.
The game’s outcome was never really in doubt as ASU jumped to a 31-0 halftime lead. Sweating over the right time to dupe the Mean Green (3-6, 2-3) proved about the only drama for ASU. The Red Wolves offense piled up 540 yards, while the defense held the Mean Green to 283 yards. ASU outgained North Texas 365-82 in the first half and led 31-0 - the largest deficit faced by the Mean Green this season.
Arkansas State Coach Hugh Freeze, known for his love of trick plays, had the play called on an earlier field goal try, but cautioned Sullivent to bail on the call if he didn’t get the right look from the North Texas line.
“I don’t like disasters,” Freeze said. “So I spent a lot of time with Neely going ‘If there in this look, get out of it.’ ”
Sullivent, a sophomore, was a quarterback at Bauxite before coming to ASU.
“That was the quickest four seconds of my life,” Sullivent said. “I haven’t done that since high school, and it just took me back to the good old days.”
Even with bowl eligibility in hand for either the New Orleans Bowl or GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Freeze wasn’t crowing about it as a major milestone for his program.
“We’re just not going to talk about it,” Freeze said.
“Just because we have six wins doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed to play in any bowl. ... I just want us to take care of us.”
Running back Frankie Jackson started the onslaught, scoring on a 4-yard run to make it 7-0 with 10:43 to play in the first quarter.
Arkansas State’s defense handicapped the Mean Green early, too.
Defensive end Justin Roberson came free on Thompson’s screen pass to receiver Chris Bynes and knocked Thompson, a sophomore, flat. Thompson stayed on his knees for five minutes after taking off his helmet.
“We want them to hit them early and often,” said ASU linebacker Demario Davis, who had a game-high 12 combined tackles and sacked Andrew McNulty, Thompson’s replacement, for a 9-yard loss.
“We want them to know early it’s going to be a physical game.”
McNulty, a freshman who had attempted 25 passes entering the game, didn’t fare much better than Thompson against an Arkansas State pass rush that had four sacks and six tackles for loss.
McNulty threw for 136 yards on 14 of 26 passing and a late touchdown, while Dunbar rushed for 90 yards on 21 carries for North Texas.
The only serious threat for the Mean Green resulted in Dunbar’s 2-yard touchdown run to pull within 31-7 at the 8:20 mark in the third quarter.
“You’ve got to watch your eyes a lot,” ASU defensive lineman Brandon Joiner said.“Dunbar likes to cut back when he hits the hole, so when he does that we had a lot of guys swarming. That’s a strength of our defense.”
Aplin was keyed in from the start, completing his first seven passes en route to 332 yards on 28 of 42 passing to nine receivers and 3 touchdowns. Josh Jarboe had a game-high 96 yards receiving on 7 catches, followed by Dwayne Frampton’s 77 yards and 1 touchdown on 6 catches.
ASU’s emphasis entering the night, Freeze said, was giving Aplin sound progressions in the pocket, focusing on quick slants, bubble screens and 4-yard outs to find a rhythm and avoiding dangerous down field throws into tight coverage.
“He felt real comfortable with the plan,” Freeze said. “I made sure of that, and went over it time and time again with him. If he did not feel comfortable with a progression, I got rid of it.”
ASU players are cautiously embracing the possibility of making a postseason appearance.
“We’ll keep the same mentality until the last game of the season,” senior running back Derek Lawson said. “Even if we have a conference championship and bowl wrapped up, we’re going to stay levelheaded. That way we can focus on each play and what we need to do.” WESTERN KENTUCKY 31, LOUISIANA-MONROE 28, OT
MONROE, La. - Jesse Roy kicked a 24-yard field goal in overtime and Western Kentucky held on for a victory over Louisiana-Monroe after the teams scored a combined 22 points in the final minute of regulation.
The Warhawks scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, starting with Kolton Browning’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Colby Harper with 4:49 remaining. Browning scored on a 6-yard run with one minute left for a 21-20 Louisiana-Monroe lead.
The Hilltoppers (4-4, 4-1 Sun Belt Conference) answered 22 seconds later on a 4-yard touchdown run by Bobby Rainey, set up by John Evans’ 79-yard kickoff return. Kawaun Jakes connected with Boe Brand for the two-point conversion to make up for a blocked kick on Western Kentucky’s first touchdown.
The Warhawks quickly covered 77 yards, with Browning hitting Anthony McCall for a 7-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left, forcing overtime.
Louisiana-Monroe (2-6, 1-3) had the first possession in overtime, but Browning was intercepted at the goal line by Derrius Brooks. Jakes was 13 of 22 for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception.
Browning finished 29 of 59 for 365 yards - all season highs - as Louisiana-Monroe outgained Western Kentucky 456 to 283 in total offense.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 45, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 20
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Freshman Alonzo Harris rushed for a career high 189 yards and two touchdowns as Louisiana-Lafayette beat Middle Tennessee.
Quarterback Blaine Gautier added two scores for the Ragin’ Cajuns (7-2, 5-1), who were coming off a 42-23 loss to Western Kentucky that snapped their six-game winning streak.
Gautier ran 80 yards for a touchdown, giving Louisiana-Lafayette a 28-0 lead early in the third quarter, and passed for another touchdown, a 39-yarder to Javone Lawson just 3:03 later.
Harris, who had 33 carries, scored both touchdowns from 4 yards out, the first with 2:15 to go before halftime and then with 5:43 remaining for a 45-14 Ragin’ Cajuns lead.
The Blue Raiders (2-5, 1-3) were led by Logan Kilgore, who passed for 239 yards and one touchdown. One of his two interceptions was returned 55 yards for a score by Devon Lewis-Buchanan.
Sports, Pages 27 on 10/30/2011