JONESBORO -- Arkansas State Coach Blake Anderson vowed to give his inexperienced quarterback some help Saturday night.
Michael Gordon was more than willing to help out.
ASU's senior running back churned out a career-high 221 yards on 26 carries and scored 3 touchdowns while helping ASU outlast Idaho 49-35 in a homecoming victory at Centennial Bank Stadium.
In his third start in place of injured starter Fredi Knighten, freshman James Tabary wasn't asked to do nearly as much as he was when he threw three interceptions last week in a loss at Toledo.
Tabary completed 16 of 25 passes for 188 yards and 1 touchdown Saturday while watching Gordon and fellow running backs Johnston White and Warren Wand do the heavy lifting. Tabary's one mistake was an interception on a screen pass that Chris Edwards returned 20 yards for a touchdown that gave Idaho a 14-7 lead.
The Red Wolves (2-3, 1-0 Sun Belt) didn't stay down long. Gordon busted up the middle for a 59-yard run on the next drive, and the Red Wolves were content to stay on the ground and take advantage of one of college football's worst run defenses.
Gordon, who scored five touchdowns in last year's victory over Idaho, scored on runs 59, 15, 10 Saturday. Wand scored on a 50-yard run in which he started to the right, then cut back across the field in the first quarter. White scored twice on 2-yard runs, and ASU had a season-high 333 yards rushing against the Vandals (1-4, 0-2), who gave up an average of 314.0 yards through their first four games.
ASU's dedication to the run was never more evident than on two drives that set standards for ball control under Anderson.
Leading 21-14 in the second quarter, ASU started a drive on its own 9. The Red Wolves marched 91 yards in 16 plays, with the last eight coming on the ground. Gordon capped the drive with a 16-yard run for a 28-14 lead.
ASU added a 10-yard touchdown run by Gordon to go up 35-14, then ASU put together another lengthy drive, this one covering 75 yards in 12 plays and lasting 6:28. It was ASU's longest by time under Anderson.
Idaho never got within two touchdowns after the 16-play touchdown drive, and ASU held the Vandals to 338 yards of offense.
Starting quarterback Matt Linehan suited up but didn't play because of an ankle injury. Freshman Jake Luton made his first start, completing 24 of 42 passes for 166 yard with 3 interceptions and 3 rushing touchdowns.
ASU made it hard for Luton to get the ball to Idaho's best offensive player.
Receiver Dezmon Epps entered Saturday leading the FBS in receiving yards per game (154.7). Epps caught 2 passes on Idaho's opening drive, which ended on a 1-yard Elijhaa Penny touchdown run, but finished with 9 catches for 64 yards.
Sports on 10/04/2015