No time to wallow for ASU

JONESBORO -- Arkansas State opened the season against a highly-ranked opponent in an unfavorable environment.

ASU's next opponent is also ranked, though not nearly as high, but Coach Blake Anderson is banking on a much more favorable atmosphere.

Two days after a 55-6 season-opening blowout loss at No. 8 Southern California, Anderson complimented his team's effort, but was critical of mistakes that included four turnovers and made the score at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum more lopsided than any ASU game in over a decade.

The mistakes made can't be overlooked, Anderson said, but considering what's up next -- No. 24 Missouri is coming to town -- the second-year coach said he expects his players' minds focused on what's coming rather than what's behind.

"We've got to learn from the mistakes we made," Anderson said Monday. "But know that there is a huge challenge coming to our place this week, yeah, you've got to move forward. You can't be lingering in the past."

Missouri (1-0), the two-time defending SEC East champion, is one of the most accomplished teams to play ASU in Jonesboro. The Tigers will be just the second standing SEC member to travel here, and at No. 24, the highest-ranked FBS team to play at Centennial Bank Stadium.

ASU has had other highly anticipated home games. Ole Miss, with Eli Manning at quarterback, beat ASU 25-17 in 2001. No. 25 Memphis, with Wynne's DeAngelo Williams leading the way, beat ASU 47-35 in 2004, and there was TCU's visit to Jonesboro in 1999, when future NFL superstar LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 269 yards and four touchdowns in the Horned Frogs' 24-21 victory.

Missouri does not have individual stars the caliber of Manning, Williams and Tomlinson, but the Tigers' prestige is more about recent accomplishment -- a 24-5 record since the beginning of 2013 as well as 13 consecutive road victories, 11 of those coming in SEC play, dating back to a victory at Tennessee in 2012.

The presence of that kind of an opponent can sharpen focus, but there is something else happening Saturday that could feasibly provide ASU with an emotional boost.

The expanded west-side of Centennial Bank Stadium that includes a 40,000-square foot press box with luxury suites will open Saturday night, a $25.9 million project kicked off by a $5 million donation made to ASU last August. ASU Athletic Director Terry Mohajir said they've sold a school-record 9,600 season tickets. Mohajir said 10,000-12,000 tickets remain for Saturday.

The highest reported attendance for an ASU home game was 31,243 on Dec. 1, 2012, for a 45-0 victory over Middle Tennessee in what turned out to be Gus Malzahn's last home game before he left to become head coach at Auburn.

"I hope it's an all-time high, I hope it's standing-room only," Anderson said of the attendance. "I hope it's that way, I dream of it being that way, I expect it to be that way. We're going to show up and play hard for 60 minutes against a great opponent regardless if it's empty or full, but I think we're moving in that direction and that's exactly what I expect -- to break every attendance record in school history."

Anderson said he knows the Red Wolves need a better overall showing to play with Missouri.

ASU gained 401 yards against USC, but took 86 plays to do it and committed four turnovers. Quarterback Fredi Knighten turned in the least efficient performance of his 14 career starts, completing 8 of 23 passes for 86 yards and he threw 2 interceptions. Anderson substituted backup James Tabary in the third quarter and the redshirt freshman finished 7 of 11 passes for 95 yards.

Anderson said Tabary's performance was "encouraging," but said support remains behind Knighten, last year's Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the year.

"Fredi is our guy," Anderson said. "We're not into rotating quarterbacks. That's not our plan. But, also, the pressure is on Fredi to play within the framework of what Fredi's asked to do, and correct the mistakes he's made this week."

Offensive coordinator Walt Bell said he expects Knighten to do so.

"He's one of those kids that bounces back really well," Bell said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play one of his best games of the year next week."

Knighten will likely have to against a Missouri defense that lost four starting defensive linemen, but still impresses ASU coaches. Missouri beat Southeast Missouri State 34-3 on Saturday, holding the FCS opponent to 201 yards and linebacker Kentrell Brothers collected 16 tackles.

"They're going to be talented, there are going to be some matchups that are not real good in our favor," Anderson said. "We've got to fatigue them, and get them breathing hard and minimize some of the issues that we've got."

Sports on 09/08/2015