ASU Coach Blake Anderson, Red Wolves trying to shift focus to La.- Lafayette.
JONESBORO — Blake Anderson thought it while watching it unfold from the sideline Thursday night, and it was reaffirmed while watching film over the weekend.
The second half that Andersen’s Arkansas State football team put together in a 4027 victory over Appalachian State to take sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference standings was the height of his two seasons as the Red Wolves’ coach.
Rallying from a 21- 17 deficit, ASU scored on five consecutive possessions to start the second half and forced four consecutive Appalachian State punts. The Red Wolves also outgained the Mountaineers 392- 160 after halftime, didn’t commit a turnover and were penalized once for 5 yards.
It was, Anderson said, “probably the most complete football half since we’ve been here.”
It’s not new to ASU ( 6- 3, 5- 0 Sun Belt) during a fivegame winning streak, but the level the Red Wolves reached Thursday was what Anderson said he hopes can be used as a springboard through its final three games of the season, starting with a 2 p. m. game at Louisiana- Monroe ( 1- 8, 0- 5) on Saturday.
“Not turning the ball over, running the ball, stopping the run,” Anderson said. “All those things are great to learn from, that’s what we talked about last night, and just trying to carry the momentum moving forward and just trying to keep getting better.
“We’ve made significant strides in the area of making good decisions over the last few weeks.”
The biggest strides Thursday, Anderson said, was with regard to turnovers and penalties. ASU has lost 20 turnovers this season, which is the most in the Sun Belt and ranks 113th nationally — even after not committing a turnover last week. The Red Wolves’ 67 penalties are the second most
in the league and rank 100th nationally.
But ASU has gone 18 consecutive possessions without a turnover and didn’t have a 15- yard penalty Thursday.
“I feel really blessed where we’re at,” said Anderson, referencing ASU’s conference record despite the turnovers and penalties.
ASU quarterback Fredi Knighten did his part Thursday. The senior from Little Rock threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in an Oct. 31 victory over Georgia State. But for the first since last season’s victory over
South Alabama and for just the fourth time in 19 career starts, Knighten didn’t have a turnover Thursday. It was also just the second time in Anderson’s 22 games as ASU head coach in which the team didn’t have any turnovers.
“That’s all that we’ve talked about since we’ve been here,” ASU offensive coordinator Walt Bell said. “You don’t turn the ball over, you create turnovers, you’re going to win football games, period. … The quarterback has to be smart with the football, everybody else has to take care of the football and we’ll win a lot of games that way.”
ASU will try to win a seventh game for the fifth consecutive season Saturday against a team that has been experiencing more than its share of penalties and turnovers.
Louisiana- Monroe has lost seven consecutive games, including Saturday’s 51- 14 loss at Troy during which quarterback Garrett Smith was intercepted twice, backup Earnest Carrington threw another interception and the Ragin’ Cajuns also lost three fumbles. Louisiana- Monroe’s 19 turnovers are second most in the Sun Belt to ASU, but 13 have come in conference games. The Warhawks have also given up an average of 261.6 rushing yards per game to Sun Belt teams.
Those statistics would suggest that ASU’s recent formula — a stout run game, combined with a defense that forces turnovers — could provide for an easy ASU victory. But like he did after Thursday’s victory, Anderson cautioned Monday that the final three weeks of the regular season won’t be easy, even if ASU’s remaining opponents have struggled.
“Really, their focus is to wreck your season and that you’re going to have a target on your back the rest of the season,” Anderson said he told his players. “There’s going to be people trying to knock you off. You’ve earned it, but with that comes responsibility.”