Arkansas State Red Wolves

Offense Falls Short in Season Finale

Game Report Posted: November 15, 2014 02:13  

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- The Arkansas State offense has been less than spectacular for most of 2013, but it was hard to not lend blame to that side of the Red Wolves' ball Saturday at Western Kentucky.

Despite the ASU defense holding WKU to just 205 total yards, a 2-for-9 performance on 3rd down and collecting eight sacks on the day, the offense still only managed to score two touchdowns and had the clock run out on it inside the 5-yard line, as Arkansas State fell in its regular season finale, 16-15, at L.T. Stadium.

The Red Wolves' defense forced five punts Saturday, but the offense also left itself with punting situations on five occasions. Twice in the first half alone the ASU offense responded to the defense forcing WKU to punt with a 3-and-out of its own.

They did it again in the third quarter after the defense held the fresh lead that the offense had just grabbed, failing to capitalize on an opportunity to grow the lead.

That would prove to be costly, as Western Kentucky finally got into the endzone to take a one-point, 16-15 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Arkansas State offense answered the way it had all game long -- with its fifth 3-and-out of the afternoon.

The defense made one final stand and gave the offense the ball back trailing by just one points with 1:56 left on the clock and all 3 timeouts.

Senior QB Phillip Butterfield aired a 3rd-down 40-yard pass to get the ball across the 50, then converted a 4th-down 33-yard pass to Julian Jones to put the Red Wolves inside the 10-yard line with 1:19 left.

But Arkansas State couldn't seal the deal on its ninth win of the regular season, instead taking a 10-yard penalty on first down to push themselves out of the red zone, then with no timeouts left, watching the time run out as Butterfield threw a 15-yard pass and David Oku rushed for 4 yards and 6 yards (I dont see how the math works that that didn't score, but wtvr).

Six different players recorded sacks for the Red Wolves, Chris Stone and ROLB Qushaun Lee with two each.

The Red Wolves now await their Bowl Game fate as they finish the regular season 8-4, 5-2 Sun Belt. WKU finishes 7-5, 4-3 Sun Belt.

Butterfield Leads Red Wolves Past Texas State

November 16, 2013

Game Report Posted: November 02, 2014 07:58  

JONESBORO, Ark. -- He may not have started it, but he certainly finished it.

Arkansas State senior quarterback Phillip Butterfield, relegated to the bench for most of this season, entered Saturday's game in the second quarter and led the Red Wolves to points on four of five possessions, helping ASU hold off Texas State for a 27-21 win at home.

Starting sophomore quarterback Fred Knighten led Arkansas State (7-3, 4-1 Sun Belt) to a touchdown on the game's opening possession to give the Red Wolves an early 7-0 lead but went ice cold after that, failing to lead the offense to points on three straight drives carrying into the second quarter, forcing the change under center.

With the exact same amount of pass attempts (13) as Knighten, Butterfield threw for five completions, 101 more yards and one more TD than his counterpart. The veteran finished the game 10-for-13 for 169 yards and two touchdowns, all but ensuring he'll get the starting nod in the regular season's second-to-last game and his career home finale on Senior Night versus Georgia State.

The defense struggled once again against a no-huddle offense and mobile quarterback. The Bobcats didn't blow out or light up the Red Wolves, but the combination of no-huddle and quarterback mobility has hampered ASU and Mark Rivera-coached teams for years, and it has continued this season.

The win also officially made the Red Wolves bowl eligible with their seventh win, considering one win this season was against an FCS team.

ASU Defense Beats Browning, ULM in the Rain

November 9, 2013

Game Report Posted: October 19, 2014 09:02  

MONROE, La. -- Browning just kept passing, and while his aerial attack and superior scrambling ability usually causes problems for opponents, the Red Wolves defense stifled him and the Warhawks all day long.

And good thing too, because the offense wasn't much help. ASU was outgained offensively by ULM despite the defense holding Browning to under 200 yds passing and the Warhawks to less than 100 rushing yards as a team. ASU was 3-10 on third down and 0-1 on fourth down, and starting QB Fred Knighten went a paltry 10-23 with no TDs and had a fumble

Hayes, defense aid in Sun Belt blowout of ULL

October 23, 2013

Game Report Posted: July 29, 2014 11:02  

JONESBORO, Ark. -- If it wasn't for a 27-yard pass at the very end of the game, the Ragin' Cajuns would've had less than 100 total offensive yards.

Rocky Hayes with school-record 3 INTs in one game. Scored once, almost scored a second time in the 4th quarter, was tackled at the 1-yd line.

Phillip Butterfield's play causes considerations for potential change at QB, even with Knighten's success in this game

**It was raining... and it RAINED DOWN on the Ragin' Cajuns"

Offensive yards were 267-42 at halftime (28-0 score, only 1 INT turnover for ULL at that point)

Offense disappears again as Idaho gets first win

October 12, 2013

Game Report Posted: July 22, 2014 11:46  

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Coming off its second huge road upset over an SEC team this season, playing in front of home fans for the first time in a month, facing a winless Idaho team and with a bye week's worth of rest, things looked pretty good for Arkansas State on Saturday.

But it all ended up being pretty bad.

The combination of an offense that turned the ball over three times and a defense that couldn't seem to stop Idaho's methodical attack led to the Vandals' (1-6) first win of the year and the Red Wolves' (3-3) second straight loss at home in a 31-14 romp.

-- Idk what happened in the opening possession. Something like a 20yd penalty ended the possession on what would've been 1st down. Idk, makes no sense. But they didn't score is the point ***I just went over all the highlights. This had to be the first (and essentially 3rd, since I counted 2 others) interception thrown. So awesome. Opened the game AND ended the game on INTs. Perfect***

-- Idaho starts on their own 45 and marches down the field methodically in 2:16, scoring a TD. 3 plays 12+, 1 20+ (all passing)

-- We match it, tie the game at 7

INTO THE SECOND
-- 3 straight plays of 12+ (1 pass, 1 run, 1 pass), results in a FG

-- Offense scores to take a 14-10 lead

-- But IMMEDIATELY gives up a KR touchdown to fall behind 17-14
----- And adding insult to injury, I'm back on the field because the Offense, after getting it back following the KR TD, throws a pick on the 2nd play

-- Idaho starts on the 24 going in, and I hold them to a MISSED FG, still 17-14

-- 20 secs left for the offense but they run it out.

THIRD

-- Despite allowing 2 more 13+ plays(1 rush, 1 20+ pass), I force a punt

-- Offense 3 out

-- They're starting on their own 49. I allow another 14-yd pass, but get it back for the offense on an INT

-- Offense 3 out

-- They're starting on the 46 going in. Idaho starts a drive, gets back-to-back 12+ passes before the 4th quarter

FOURTH

-- *same drive continuing* I drop them for losses on back-to-back plays inside the 5, but they pass for a TD on 3rd down, 24-14 (still OVER 4 MINS left, plenty of time)

-- The offense had a pass take them RIGHT to the goal line, but then 2 straight runs for losses and 2 straight drops makes them go 4-out right at the goal line for ZERO points

-- At this point, for some FUCKING reason, I can't stop the run for the LIFE of me. 9 yd run, 3 yd option keep by the QB for the 1st down, then **39** yds, then a loss, then 4 yds, then ANOTHER 39 YD breakaway for a TD, 31-14.

-- Offense comes out and gets 2 12+ passes (1 20+), but the game OF COURSE ends on an interception. Awesome.

Total team effort in another SEC road win for ASU

September 28, 2013

Game Report Posted: July 22, 2014 10:07  

COLUMBIA, Mo. --

Tigers too much for Wolves

September 21, 2013

Game Report Posted: July 05, 2014 16:20  

MEMPHIS, Tenn. --

Constant spread and no-huddle offense by Memphis. Did what I could

It was a 23-21 game in the 4th quarter with 52 seconds left, I stopped them on 3rd and 6 and called a timeout thinking they'd punt and give my offense a chance (sim). But instead they went for it on 4th, passing to the sideline and barely getting the first down by a foot or so before falling out of bounds (pass was direct to the spot). Then they kneeled it out.

Offense didn't help much. First TD was after I forced an opening 3-out and Q. Lee blocked a punt and returned it for a TD.

-- Right away I grabbed an INT on the next possesion on 3rd down to give it back to the offense
--- But 4 plays (1 first down) and out
- Long ass drive finally ended with a TD when the Memphis QB literally PLOWED his way to a 15 yd TD
-- So ASU offense responds with a 3-out
I force a punt
-- The only reason my offense got its 2nd 1st down of the ensuing drive was b/c of a 5-yd penalty on Memphis. And after that gift -- literally 4 straight inc passes to turn it over on downs
- Another LONG ASS drive and I give up a TD (just struggle with no-huddle and pass pass pass pass)
-- Offense goes 3-out and immediately gives it back
HALFTIME
-- Offense finally scores to take a 14-13 lead opening the 2nd half
I force a 3-out
-- Offense goes 5 plays and out
I force a 4-out
-- Offense goes 3-out
FOURTH
I face a short field (they start on THIS side of the 50) but keep them out of the endzone for a FG, 16-14
-- Offense goes 3-out AGAIN. And Memphis returns the kick for a TD, 23-14.
-- Oh GEE, now you're down by 2 scores in the 4th quarter, so **NOW** you'll score a TD?! Offense scores, 23-21.
--- I do my damndest to stop them on 3rd down, but the go for it on 4th and 6 or wtvr and make it, game over (see above)

Robinson lights up Red Wolves; ASU offense absent

September 14, 2013

Game Report Posted: July 02, 2014 13:32  

JONESBORO, Ark. -- It takes two to tango, they say.

Saturday it appeared as though the Arkansas State offense forgot it's dancing shoes, as it fell flat time and time again against visiting Troy in an eventual 23-13 defeat, the Red Wolves' first of the season.

"We're all part of the same team, no matter what side of the ball you play on, but it does get a bit frustrating when the guys do their job, only to see the other side give it right back or not do anything productive with it," said defensive coordinator Mark Rivera.

However dicey those words may seem, it was true for the most part.

The Arkansas State defense held quarterback Corey Robinson and the prolific Troy offense to a combined 4 for 11 on third and fourth down conversion attempts, forcing five punts and even grabbing a third-quarter interception courtesy of sophomore cornerback Artez Brown.

Troy Opening drive TD
3-out
Force a punt
Safety
Force another punt
3-out (that finished in the start of the 2nd q) and we trailed 9-0
2nd q
-I force a 3-out
-They get all the way to the 6 yd line for a 1st down. They rush for 5 to the 1 yd line and on 2nd down they fall short, 3rd down they lose a yard, so they kick a 19yd FG. 3 TRIES FROM 6 YDS OUT trailing 9-0 and they couldn't score a TD
- I fight off a Troy drive and sack Robinson on 4th. Even called a timeout to save them some time. They get the ball on the 30 w/ 40 secs left, game is 9-3. WHAT DO THEY DO?! **FUMBLE** on the FIRST play
- I force a 3-out, give the offense the ball back AGAIN before halftime with like 10 secs left.WHAT DO THEY DO?! **FUMBLE** AAAGGGAAIINNN on the VERY. FIRST. PLAY.
- SO now Troy has it on the 27 going in w/ 5 secs left. They've been running shotgun hurry up all game and dicing up my already shoddy pass defense, so this is dangerous. **BUT** -- I deflect Robinson's shot to the endzone.... but of COURSE - there's 1 second left on the clock after the slap away of the ball... so OOOOFFFF CCCOUUURRSSSEEE... Robinson takes that 1 second and tosses a TD pass to the other side for a 16-3 Halftime lead

3rd q
-Only muster a FG to start the second half, 16-6. They got to the 15 yd line but had a 10-yd penalty, rushed for 10 on 2 plays combined, then an inc pass to settle for a 27-yd FG
- Robinson started TEARING me up on the next drive. He went 5 for 6 for 58 yds including 4 straight completions, but then from the 21-yd line he threw a PICK.
- So what does the offense do with the turnover and momentum? 1 1st down then punt (5 plays)
- Force another punt to start the 4th
- Offense goes 3-out
- Now Robinson's running the option and he's burning me for a 22-yd TD run, 23-6.
- OH!! OH!!! Oh so now that it's a 3 posession game with just over 2 minutes left... **NOW** the offense scores a TD. Back-to-back 30+yard pass plays to J Hill (38 and 35, that's 73 yds! Almost 3/4 of the field in 2 plays!!)
- Then Troy just runs it out

Porter, defense saves the day for Arkansas State

September 7, 2013

Game Report Posted: July 02, 2014 11:07  

AUBURN, Ala. --