Sun Belt races tighten down stretch

Louisiana-Monroe and Troy are in the driver’s seat to play in the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.

In battles of divisional leaders, Louisiana-Monroe dealt Georgia Southern its first conference loss in a 44-25 rout Saturday and left the Warhawks as the sole leader in the Western Division. Georgia Southern fell to second in the East behind Troy, which defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 26-16.

Louisiana-Lafayette’s loss is pertinent to Arkansas State University (5-4, 2-3) since the Red Wolves would need Louisiana-Monroe (5-4, 3-2) and

the Ragin’ Cajuns (4-5, 2-3) to stumble in order to qualify as the West’s representative in the championship game on Dec. 1.

That scenario hinges on if ASU wins its three remaining Sun Belt games.

“It feels good to be on the winning side of things,” said ASU Coach Blake Anderson after Saturday’s 38-14 victory over South Alabama. “We’ve been through a lot in the last month. We’re really pleased with how the guys have responded. We had a great week of work, very positive in the face of adversity. We found a way to get a good team win.”

Louisiana-Lafayette’s loss sent the Ragin’ Cajuns Red Wolves into a tie for second place along with the Red Wolves behind the hot Warhawks, winners of their last three.

The Warhawks have two road games — at South Alabama on Saturday and at ASU on Nov. 17 — as the West could be decided in Jonesboro or Nov. 24, when the Warhawks face the Ragin’ Cajuns in Monroe.

If Louisiana-Monroe wins all three games, it will repre- sent the West.

If the Warhawks lose at South Alabama (2-7, 1-4), the Red Wolves could move into a tie for first place with a victory Saturday at Coastal Carolina.

“It’s one step at a time,” said ASU senior wide receiver Justin McInnis. “We’re not focused on the last game. We’re focused on the next game, now. We know we can only control what we can control, which is winning

each game one by one.”

Whoever wins the Eastern Division between Troy (5-0), Georgia Southern (4-1) and Appalachian State (4-1) will have the edge on hosting the inaugural Sun Belt title game which will be played at whichever division champion has the best conference winning percentage.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MITCHELL PE MASILUN South Alabama quarterback Evan Orth (right) gets spun around by Arkansas State defensive back Michael Johnson during Saturday’s game at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves won 38-14. For more photos, go to arkansasonline.com/galleries.