MONROE, La. — When not much else was working for Arkansas State on Saturday, it allowed Fredi Knighten to let loose.
The senior quarterback threw four touchdowns in the first half, another in the second to tie a school record and Money Hunter’s third-quarter interception return for a touchdown carried ASU to a 59-21 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday at Malone Stadium.
ASU and Louisiana-Monroe, which lost its eighth consecutive game, were tied 14-14 in the second quarter before Knighten threw touchdown passes on three consecutive drives. Knighten first connected with Tres Houston from 50 yards out, then Chris Murray for 53 yards on a play-action and then Knighten found Houston again from 17 yards out to go up 35-21 at halftime.
J.D. Houston added a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter, then Money Hunter’s 29-yard interception return put it out of reach. It was one of four interceptions for ASU on the day of quarterback Earnest Carrington, who relieved starter Garrett Smith in the second quarter because of an unspecified injury.
The victory kept ASU (7-3, 6-0 Sun Belt) unbeaten in the Sun Belt Conference with two games remaining in the regular season.
Knighten finished 15 of 30 passing for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns, much of the production coming from big first-half plays.
See Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.