LITTLE ROCK — Quarterback Ryan Aplin’s forearms were nicked up. Linebacker Nathan Herrold took a couple deep breaths. Nickel back Don Jones leaned back, ran his palms over his face and yawned.
In the immediate aftermath of last Saturday’s loss to Western Kentucky in Jonesboro, Arkansas State’s players talked about atoning for a second-half malaise on offense and a buckling on defense that allowed the Hilltoppers to reel off 26 consecutive points in a 26-13 victory.
There was one hitch
The Red Wolves had littletime to work on correcting those mistakes. ASU (2-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) plays at Florida International (1-4, 0-1) tonight in a game that will be broadcast nationally by ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m.
“We’ve tried to come in and prepare as much the same way we would on a normal week, but you have to squeeze everything into less days,” ASU senior cornerback Chaz Scales said.
The Red Wolves have gleaned corrections from game film, installed a full game plan in a condensed three-day week and boarded a flight Wednesday from Memphis for the 873-mile trip to Miami for a critical game between preseason favorites who are trying to stay on pace in the Sun Belt title race.
“It’s a big game, and both teams understand that with the situation we’re in,” ASU Coach Gus Malzahn said. “I’m not going to say it’s a mustwin, but it’s a crucial game.”
ASU cut out the bulk of its individual position drills, consolidating that into teamwide drills, such as walk-throughs that combined the cornerbacks, safeties and linebackers.
Malzahn dubbed it a “bigpicture approach” to preparations.
“You have to be strategic as far as your approach,” Malzahn said. “It was a very physical game last week and took a lot out of us. We’ve got to have our guys physically fresh before this game. We are traveling, which makes it even that much tougher.”
The Red Wolves’ conference schedule doesn’t offer any early confidence-builders, either.
The Red Wolves (2-3, 0-1) understand an 0-2 start would put a severe dent in their chances of repeating as Sun Belt champions. That puts extra weight on the game against Florida International, which returned all its defensive starters this season but lost starting quarterback Jake Medlock in a 28-21 loss to Louisville.
“We know this is a big game for us and it will help gives us some momentum back moving through conference,” ASU right tackle McKnight said.
It’s also an opportunity for ASU’s offense to get on track after being shut out by Western Kentucky, which limited the Red Wolves to 113 yards in the second half.
Florida International’s defense, which featured three preseason All-Sun Belt picks led by defensive end Tourek Williams, has been a disappointment. Coach Mario Cristobal’s team is allowing an average of 471.2 yards and 38.6 points a game, which ranks No. 112 in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Opponents also have thrown the ball well against the Golden Panthers, who rank No. 99 in passing yards allowed with an average of 276.6 and No. 97 in opposing quarterback rating at 142.6. Florida International also has been susceptible to big plays, allowing 81 plays to go for 10-plus yards, including 39 passes that have covered at least 20 yards.
“We haven’t had very many explosive plays as far as the run or the pass,” Malzhan said. “We’ve got to do a better job, and not having to consistently drive the ball down the field.”
ASU also has struggled in the red zone. It ranks 77th nationally, scoring 79.2 percent of time when inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Outside of a 56-0 rout of Alcorn State, when ASU scored touchdowns on 6 of 8 trips inside the 20, the Red Wolves have scored touchdowns 6 of 18 times they’ve made it inside the red zone.
Florida International is allowing opponents to score 92 percent of the time, which ranks 112th in the nation, and its 20 touchdowns allowed are only one better than lastplace Arkansas in the FBS.
“It would be nice to start making something happen down there,” ASU running back David Oku said. “We can’t keep putting our defense in a bind by not getting points or just settling for three.”
Sports, Pages 17 on 10/04/2012