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ASU makes plays at end, wins in OT

Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten follows the blocks of J.D. McKissic (23) and Alan Wright (69) in the first quarter of a 21-14 overtime victory Saturday in Jonesboro.
Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten follows the blocks of J.D. McKissic (23) and Alan Wright (69) in the first quarter of a 21-14 overtime victory Saturday in Jonesboro.

JONESBORO — Fredi Knighten was applauded by his Arkansas State coaches for his ability to avoid making big mistakes in the season’s first three games.

The junior quarterback made three of them Saturday night — two fumbles and an interception — but still rallied to throw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dijon Paschal in overtime as ASU escaped with an improbable 21-14 victory over Utah State at Centennial Bank Stadium.

“Wow,” ASU Coach Blake Anderson said. “Unbelievable. Really proud of the guys for how they continue to play. Played hard. It was as ugly as we could possibly play at times.”

Anderson’s emotions weren’t brought on specifically by Knighten’s erratic play, but it played a part. After committing one turnover through the first three games, Knighten lost two fumbles, including one in the final minute that put Utah State at midfield, and threw an interception.

Knighten’s last flub looked to end ASU’s chance at a victory in front of an announced crowd of 29,029. With less than a minute left, he dropped back for a pass and the ball slipped from his right hand. Utah State linebacker LT Filiaga fell on it at the ASU 38, and the game only reached overtime when cornerback Artez Brown busted through the line to get both hands on Nick Diaz’s 38-yard field goal attempt from the right hash as time expired.

“In football, bad things happen and good things happen. You just have to move on to the next play,” said Knighten, who was 19 of 33 for 190 yards and was sacked 4 times. “There’s no room for turnovers. Can’t happen in the game. Lucky enough our defense is damn good and they stoned them.”

ASU’s offensive shortcomings were widespread Saturday night. Utah State (2-2) held a 413-316 advantage in yards, forced four turnovers and ASU was held to 7 of 17 on third downs.

“We are a disaster waiting to happen at times,” Anderson said.

The Red Wolves (2-2), who broke out red helmets for the first time in more than three decades, will get to spend the off week before hosting Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 4 savoring a victory thanks to a defense that didn’t allow the Aggies to answer any turnover with a score and backup running back Johnston White’s 100 yards on 18 carries and 1 touchdown.

White’s touchdown came with 4:58 left and capped a 10-play, 66-yard drive. White, starting his second game in place of injured Michael Gordon, began the drive with a 12-yard run and capped it with a 4-yard run up the middle that tied the game at 14-14.

“It was a big moment,” White said. “We had to score.”

ASU got the ball back with another chance to score, but Knighten’s fumble gave Utah State a chance. Brown’s blocked field goal gave ASU new life and served as a bit of redemption for the senior cornerback. Brown let Utah State’s Hunter Sharp sprint past him on a fly route in the first quarter for an 81-yard touchdown catch from Darell Garretson and a 7-0 lead.

Garretson also connected with Ronald Butler on a slant for a 41-yard score to put Utah State up 14-7 in the third quarter. Garretson started in place of Chuckie Keeton, who Utah State touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate before he injured his knee last week. Garretson, who was 6-1 as a starter while Keeton was injured last year, completed 27 of 46 passes for 268 yards but led only two scoring drives.

“There were several times we should have decided the game, we should have put the game into check and we didn’t,” Utah State Coach Matt Wells said. “Hats off to a good team, hats off to a well-coached team, hats off to a talented team. They made plays at the end and we didn’t.”

Garretson and Utah State looked to have all the momentum heading into halftime. The Aggies’ lead was 7-0, but the Red Wolves’ seven drives ended with four punts and three turnovers and 138 total yards.

“As bad as we played, we could have been down by four scores,” Anderson said. “Very easily that could have been out of reach by halftime.”

ASU still had a chance thanks to a defense that kept turning away Utah State. After Butler’s touchdown catch made it 14-7 with 3:43 left, ASU held Utah State to 55 total yards in the final five possessions before overtime, forcing four consecutive punts, and then Brown blocked the field goal to force overtime.

ASUs’s defense had to come up one more time after Paschal’s touchdown in overtime. JoJo Natson, who was held to 50 total yards, carried for 1 yard and Garretson threw an incomplete pass and a 7-yard pass to Natson, who was stopped by Brown.

After a false start, Utah State’s 11th penalty, Garretson’s final pass intended to Butler was broken up by Charleston Girley, causing ASU’s sideline to spill out onto the field.

“Our defense is unbelievable,” Knighten said. “I know know if you guys can see out there, but we’re going to be in a lot of games because those guys can flat out play.”

Sports on 09/21/2014

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