LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said preparing for a Tuesday night game can be a bit disorienting.
“At this point, I don’t even know what day it is,” Lashlee said Sunday.
Ten days between games can do that to a college football coach, but Lashlee said he and the Red Wolves (4-3, 3-1) clearly understand the stakes tonight when they travel to Lafayette, La., for a nationally televised (ESPN2) Sun Belt Conference game against Louisiana-Lafayette (4-2, 2-1).
A victory would move ASU into second place in the conference standings, enhancing the Red Wolves’ bowl prospects.
“Without question, this week is big for bowl pecking order,” Lashlee said, “and with Western Kentucky getting beat it’s really opened the door up.”
First-place Louisina-Monroe, which knocked off Western Kentucky in overtime Saturday, is scheduled to play ASU in Jonesboro on Nov. 8.
“We know if we win out, we control our own destiny now,” Lashlee said.
Tonight’s 7 p.m. kickoff will give ASU a chance to see if it can display an expanded vertical passing game it showed in the second half of its 36-29 victory over South Alabama 10 days ago.
Quarterback Ryan Aplin threw for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns on 12 of 12 passing in the second half, with senior receivers Taylor Stockemer and Josh Jarboe figuring prominently in ASU’s ability to get the ball down field. Aplin was 5 of 10 for 43 yards in the first half.
“He was very disappointed, but he was able to put it behind him and come out and have a phenomenal second half,” ASU Coach Gus Malzahn said. “That’s a sign of a veteran quarterback. That’s a sign of a championship quarterback.”
ASU’s second-half success signaled the re-emergence of Stockemer from injury and Jarboe, who had been held in check with Stockemer out.
“The fact that Stock is healthier, everybody saw that he’s back,” Malzahn said. “Josh made some big-time plays after being quiet for a little bit. So I’m very encouraged moving forward in the passing game.”
A productive passing attack would come in handy against Louisiana-Lafayette, which is allowing 292.5 passing yards per game to rank last in the Sun Belt and 112th of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Opponents are averaging 39.3 attempts against the Ragin’ Cajuns, and they rank sixth in the nine-team conference in allowing 7.4 yards per attempt.
But ASU’s coaching staff said opponents have not necessarily been picking on a weak secondary. Rather, they are throwing so often because the Cajuns are allowing 129.7 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry.
“They’ve got some play makers on both sides of the ball, but they’re very talented up front,” Malzahn said. “That’ll present a big challenge.”
In six games, Louisiana-Lafayette has allowed nine touchdown passes, which is tied for fewest in the Sun Belt, has intercepted seven passes and has allowed only nine completions longer than 20 yards
Senior free safety Rodney Gillis and cornerback Jemarlous Moten each have three of the Cajuns’ seven interceptions.
“You may get them every now and then,” Lashlee said. “But they’re playing the odds that they’re going to force you into negative plays and force turnovers. They’re a high-risk, high-reward type defense.”
That’s where the presence of Jarboe and Stockemer looms large.
“They’re both deep threats,” Aplin said. “It’s another weapon to the group of receivers we have. Anytime you have that, it’s tough to game plan for this offense.”
No matter how many days a team has.
TODAY’S GAME All times Central Arkansas St. at La.-Lafayette, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES North Texas at Middle Tenn., 2:30 p.m.
Troy at Florida Atlantic, 4 p.m.
W. Kentucky at Fla. International, 6 p.m.
South Alabama at La.-Monroe, 6 p.m.
Up next ARKANSAS STATE AT LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE WHEN 7 p.m. Central today WHERE Cajun Field, Lafayette, La.
RECORDS ASU: 4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt Conference; Louisiana-Lafayette: 4-2, 2-1 COACHES Gus Malzahn (4-3 in first season at Arkansas State and overall); Mark Hudspeth (13-6 in second season at Louisiana-Lafayette and 79-27 overall in nine seasons) TV ESPN2 RADIO KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro; KKSP-FM, 93.3, in Bryant/Little Rock INTERNET astateredwolves.com; ragincajuns.com
Sports, Pages 15 on 10/23/2012