LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State football Coach Gus Malzahn has consistently preached an offensive philosophy based on a power running game working at warp speed to set up the pass.

But heading into today’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala., the Red Wolves (7-3, 5-1 Sun Belt) appear to have instituted a slight variation over the past three weeks, and the results have been noticeable.

ASU has relied more on quarterback Ryan Aplin’s arm to stretch defenses early, opening up room for Red Wolves running backs to roam.

“Those guys can’t just pull up in the box,” Aplin said. “We’ve seen less zone coverage, and it gives guys chances to make plays 1-on-1 in space. They go handin-hand. If they pack it in, we spread it around. That opens up the box.”

ASU’s recent pass-first tendencies show up when breaking down first-quarter play selection in victories against Louisiana-Lafayette, North Texas and Louisiana-Monroe, when the Red Wolves have scored 132 points, a 44-point average.

Aplin is a combined 30 of 37 passing for 373 yards and has a passer rating of 183.6 in the first quarter, while ASU runners carried 26 times for 112 yards, meaning 40 percent of Aplin’s passing yardage in those three victories came in the opening quarter.

All of which concerns Troy Coach Larry Blakeney, whose Trojans (5-5. 3-3) allow 440.0 yards and 30.1 points per game.

“I’ve only seen a little bit of their current attack, but they aren’t afraid to formation you,” Blakeney said. “They get you in positions where they have an advantage to run the football, or play-action out of it.”

Aplin’s dual-threat ability and accuracy have lifted pressure on the conference’s top-ranked rushing attack at 212.8 yards per game.

Red Wolves running backs are averaging 37.3 yards rushing in the first quarter over the past three games, while Aplin is throwing for 124.3 and completing 81.8 percent of his passes.

Balance has been restored over the final three quarters, with ASU putting up 163.7 yards rushing and 5.4 yards per carry. Aplin mixes up his passes between swing plays and bubble screens and playaction throws to generate 186 yards through the air.

“The pass has been opening space up for us,” ASU running back Frankie Jackson said. “We don’t care how it happens. ... There are guys you have to cover in one-onone. That leaves us backs to make plays, and I don’t think linebackers are ready to handle us solo.”

Aplin isn’t being asked to shoulder as much of a burden rushing the football this season, but he is elusive, especially on designed runs where he pulls the ball back and breaks up the middle or when the pocket falls apart and it’s on him to pick up yardage with his feet.

“He’s got a very unique ability as far as play-action goes, and he does a great job with his feet,” Malzahn said. “He can pull the ball up quick, and that separates him from a lot of people.”

A 38-yard touchdown run against Louisiana-Monroe was a case in point. Aplin’s primary targets on the second-quarter play, J.D. McKissic and Taylor Stockemer, slipped and stumbled running their routes. The pocket dissolved, and Aplin broke up the middle, angled toward the sideline and dove into the end zone to put ASU in front 14-7.

“That’s just the longest run I’ve had in a while, but other than that there are just some things that are built in for me,” said Aplin, who has 294 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns on 78 carries. “If you get a man coverage, it’s hard for them to key on everyone. So when you have a hole, it’s a chance.”

Aplin said ASU’s recent reliance on the pass early in games has been a matter of circumstance rather than a concerted effort.

“You never want to be a team that makes it either one thing or the other.” Aplin said. “It depends on what you see and what adjustments we feel we have to make.”

Blakeney said he isn’t as confident the Trojans are in a position to make similar tweaks to slow down their opponent.

“We’re finding ourselves a little bit, but we still have problems defending, period, whether it’s run or pass,” Blakeney said. “The combination is giving us fits.”

Sports, Pages 19 on 11/17/2012