GODADDY.COM BOWL

ASU’s defense bends, confounds Kent State

Interim Arkansas State coach John Thompson (center) celebrates the Red Wolves’ victory in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Sunday with Kyle Coleman (12) and others. Thompson now returns to his duties as defensive coordinator for new coach Bryan Harsin.
Interim Arkansas State coach John Thompson (center) celebrates the Red Wolves’ victory in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Sunday with Kyle Coleman (12) and others. Thompson now returns to his duties as defensive coordinator for new coach Bryan Harsin.

— Arkansas State’s seniors were the catalysts for back-to-back conference titles and had won 19 games in two seasons before Sunday night.

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Arkansas State’s Qushaun Lee (right) stops Kent State’s Spencer Keith (Pulaski Academy) in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Now ASU can scratch off a couple more milestones - a bowl victory and its first victory over a Top 25 opponent.

ASU accomplished both late Sunday night on the same patch of artificial turf that saw last season end in a bowl loss.

Qushaun Lee stopped Kent State quarterback Spencer Keith 3 yards short on a fourth-down run in the final minute as Arkansas State escaped the GoDaddy.com Bowl with a 17-13 victory over No. 25 Kent State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

The Red Wolves’ defense held an offense that averaged more than 34 points over 13 games to a season low points total, and ASU’s offense didn’t commit any turnovers against one of the best teams in the country at forcing them. The defense also held Kent State’s dynamic runners mostly in check as ASU capped a 10-3 season in front of an announced crowd of 37,913.

“Our defense, we got men over there. Grown men in every way,” ASU interim coach John Thompson said. “These guys right here made history. I don’t think we’re through with this thing. We’re rolling.”

ASU, which lost to Northern Illinois in last year’s Go-Daddy.com Bowl, won its first bowl game as an FBS member in its third try - it also lost in the 2005 New Orleans Bowl - and capped back-to-back 10-victory seasons for the first time.

ASU started slowly on offense but made headway on three consecutive midgame drives. Ryan Aplin completed 12 of 13 passes during that stretch to turn a 7-0 deficit into a 17-10 lead midway through the third quarter.

ASU’s defense’s gave up 141 yards rushing in the first half, 193 for the game, but the Red Wolves made it tough on the Golden Flashes in the red zone. Kent State (11-3) moved inside ASU’s 20 four times in the first three quarters. Once Nathan Herrold intercepted a tipped pass in the end zone, Dri Archer scored on a 16-yard run to go up 7-0 on another, and twice ASU held the Golden Flashes to field goals to preserve the lead.

ASU, which had 19 first downs and 285 total yards, punted on its first four possessions as David Oku struggled to find running lanes and Aplin was bothered by Kent State’s pass rush.

Trailing 7-0, ASU’s offense sped up as Aplin drove the Red Wolves 60 yards in nine plays, a drive that ended with Oku’s 10-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:40 left in the second quarter.

“They ran the hurry-up offense and were able to get big-chunk plays and got into a rhythm,” Kent State Coach Darrell Hazell said. “Against the hurry-up, you got to get the call in and get lined up.”

After another forced punt, Aplin drove ASU 88 yards in nine plays, ending with his 31-yard touchdown pass to J.D. McKissic, who finished with 11 catches for 113 yards, giving him 103 receptions for the season, an ASU record.

Aplin faked a throw to his left, then threw while running to his right to give ASU a 14-7 lead with 1:13 left before half.

“It was a frustrating game,” said Aplin, the school’s all time leader in total offense. “We found some things that were clicking and guys were making people miss.”

Aplin completed his final 11 passes of the first half and finished 13 of 18 for 137 yards in the first half. He finished 21 of 30 for 213 yards with 1 touchdown in his final game as ASU’s quarterback, a career that included 67 touchdowns passes, 31 rushing touchdowns, more than 12,000 yards of offense and 28 victories.

The Red Wolves earned the final one by winning the turnover battle and keeping Archer, who sustained a knee injury in the second quarter, and Trayion Durham from taking over - the key components to Kent State’s most successful season.

ASU didn’t commit any turnovers, a feat made more impressive considering Kent State entered Sunday with a plus-21 turnover margin, forcing 38 while committing only 17.

ASU’s defense didn’t have to contend with Archer in the second half, but ASU was there when Kent State tried to pound the middle with Durham, holding the 250-pound sophomore to 68 yards.

Archer finished 77 yards rushing, 44 of which came on one weaving burst that set up his touchdown, and 22 yards receiving on 4 catches.

Brian Davis’ 25-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half gave ASU a 17-10 lead, and after Freddy Cortez’s 26-yard field goal with 1:44 left in the third quarter made it 17-13, ASU forced three punts and the final turnover on downs.

“The defense saved us tonight,” Aplin said. “They made plays. I’m one of their biggest fans.”

ASU’s defense made two fourth-quarter stands, the first coming midway through the fourth quarter after Keith, a Pulaski Academy graduate playing his final college game, completed a third-and-9 pass to Tim Erjavec for 18 yards to keep a drive going. But three plays later his third-down pass was short of his receiver after ASU safety Tausean Holmes came through on a blitz.

ASU had to come up with one last stop after punting to give Kent State the ball at its 23 with 4:50 left, and it didn’t come easily.

Keith completed a 25-yard pass to Matthew Hurdle after being drilled by a blitzing Tausean Holmes. Keith was shaken up on the play and had to exit for one snap. He re-entered after a 2-yard run by Durham, then threw two incomplete passes. Then, on fourth down, Keith’s scramble was stopped by Lee along the ASU sideline 3 yards short of a first down.

“It was just all, just thinking of making that big play, making that big play just to win the game,” Lee said. “As the drive came, we kept saying, ‘We’re good, we’re good. We just need to make this play and win the game.’ And we did.”

Scoring summary

Kent State ...........0 10 3 0 - 13

Arkansas State ......0 14 3 0 - 17

SECOND QUARTER KENT - Archer 16 run (Cortez kick), 12:10 ASU - Oku 10 run (Davis kick), 5:40 ASU - McKissic 31 pass from Aplin (Davis kick), 1:13 KENT - FG Cortez 42, :19 THIRD QUARTER ASU - FG Davis 25, 8:35 KENT - FG Cortez 26, 1:44 Attendance - 37,913

Sports, Pages 13 on 01/07/2013

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