2013 Week 12

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.