JONESBORO — Montana State played tougher than previous FCS opponents Arkansas State has welcomed to Centennial Bank Stadium, but kicker Luke Ferguson and a seasoned defense made sure Coach Blake Anderson’s debut didn’t turn disastrous Saturday night.
A year after a four-touchdown blowout in the season opener, ASU scored on its third play Saturday but sputtered afterward while watching several key players miss parts of the second half because of injuries. It wasn’t until Rocky Hayes and Qushaun Lee came up with interceptions that turned into touchdowns that the Red Wolves pulled away for a 37-10 victory in front of an announced crowd of 26,143.
“A lot closer than we wanted it to be for a lot longer than we wanted it to be,” Anderson said. “Stayed positive and found a way to get out front. Amazing night. Dream come true.”
There were times Saturday night could have taken a different turn for the Red Wolves (1-0), who won their eighth consecutive game over an FCS opponent. But it didn’t look anything like the previous seven, which were won by an average of 53.7 points, including last year’s 62-11 rout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Quarterback Fredi Knighten piled up 368 total yards — 219 passing, 104 rushing and 45 receiving — in his first career start with one touchdown pass and no turnovers, but he was without starting running back Michael Gordon (bruised ribs) for three quarters and wide receiver J.D. McKissic (bruised thigh) for part of the second half after both left with injuries.
Gordon scored on a 42-yard run to put ASU ahead 7-0, but he carried only five other times as four key offensive players missed at least part of the game. Center Tyler Greve had several ailments and tight end Kenneth Rains injured a knee. Lee’s bruised ribs kept him out for part of the third quarter, safety Money Hunter left with a possible concussion and nickel back Frankie Jackson was ejected for targeting on the opening kickoff of the third quarter.
“We’ve got some tough guys,” Knighten said. “Some guys went down with injuries, some guys stepped in and knew exactly what they’re supposed to. When you’ve got guys like that, your team is a lot better.”
The peak of ASU’s attrition came in the third quarter, after Luke Daly’s 34-yard field goal cut ASU’s lead to 13-10 with 10:21 left.
Anderson insisted he felt prepared for the situation, considering how many firstyear players he worked with the top units during fall camp. Without Gordon, redshirt freshman Johnston White carried 12 times for 48 yards and 1 touchdown, while true freshman Terrance Hollingsworth scored his first touchdown and 12 true freshmen played.
“Didn’t really think about it,” Anderson said of all the fresh faces. “We know that’s part of what our team has to be. The faster they grow up, the better we’re going to be.”
Montana State (0-1), ranked No. 18 in the FCS by The Sports Network, had the ball once in the third quarter trailing 13-10 but went three and out, had to punt and Ferguson, who was 3 of 3 on field goals, made a 41-yard field goal to go up 16-10.
On the following drive, Knighten’s 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darion Griswold gave ASU some breathing room. “This is our second half,” safety Sterling Young said of the halftime message. “We’re getting ready to drown them and run them out of the building.”
Montana State was held to 54 total yards over seven possessions after pulling to within 13-10, while punting five times and turning it over two other times. For the game, ASU held it to 228 yards of offense and 2 of 18 on third down. Hayes’ interception led to Hollingsworth’s touchdown that made it 30-10, and Lee’s turned into White’s 1-yard run that made it 37-10.
The Bobcats’ touchdown came off a gift, when McKissic muffed a punt and set them up at the Red Wolves’ 7. Four players later, Anthony Knight’s 1-yard run tied the game at 7-7 and ASU spent two more quarters trying to find a rhythm.
ASU didn’t completely click until the third quarter, when Knighten passed into the right flat to Tres Houston, who passed it back to Knighten, who then ran 45 yards around the left side. On the next play, Knighten rolled to his right and found Griswold in the end zone to make it 23-10.
“We were right there,” Bobcats Coach Rob Ash said. “We had a chance to get going and that sparked them. They got the ball in the right guy’s hands.”
Sports on 08/31/2014