Arkansas State piled up 605 yards of offense and its opportunistic defense forced four turnovers to stay unbeaten in the Sun Belt Conference with a 52-28 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday in Las Cruces, N.M.
Senior Fredi Knighten passed for 367 yards and 2 touchdowns — one that covered 75 yards to Dijon Paschal on ASU's second offensive play — and ran for another while Johnston White and Michael Gordon each added rushing touchdowns for the Red Wolves (8-3, 7-0), who clinched at least a share of the Sun Belt Conference title for the fourth time in the last five seasons with the victory.
ASU can wrap up an unbeaten Sun Belt season for just the second time in school history and win the conference title outright with a victory in its regular-season finale next week against Texas State.
Andrew Allen connected with Jordan Bergstrom on a 46-yard pass to put the Aggies (3-8, 3-4) up 7-0, but Knighten connected with Paschal on ASU's first drive, then added a 5-yard rushing touchdown. White's 18-yard run put ASU up 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.
ASU led 35-14 at halftime, then Knighten's 57-yard pass to Tres Houston made it 42-14.
The Red Wolves allowed 484 yards of offense, including 106 yards rushing by Larry Rose III, the Sun Belt's leading rusher. But ASU also forced four turnovers, including three interceptions, to increase its season total to 24 and reclaim the national lead.
Linebacker Quanterio Heath returned one fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown, ASU's seventh defensive touchdown, which is tied for the national lead.
Knighten completed 23 of 42 passes with one interception, while Houston caught 7 passes for 155 yards, a career high.
White had 84 yards rushing, while Gordon added 75 yards on the ground, and ASU gained 238 yards rushing.
Read Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.