? Arkansas State has never scored a touchdown against today?s opponent.
The Indians had better find a way to put the football in the end zone if they want to stand even a scant chance of beating Florida Atlantic when they meet for just the third time.
In their only two meetings Arkansas State has been outscored 29-3 by Florida Atlantic, but, oddly, has split the series and is 1-1 against the Owls. ASU defeated FAU in the now-infamous 3-0 thriller in which neither team scored in regulation. Eric Neihouse managed to boot a game-winning field goal in overtime.
Last year was a much different outcome, though.
Florida Atlantic smothered Arkansas State again, this time not letting the Indians score at all in a 29-0 beatdown. ASU managed just 104 yards total offense, including a unbelievable six yards rushing on 26 attempts.
Since then, Florida Atlantic has been a football team on the rise, or at least the cusp of achieving its preaseason goals. The Owls finished the 2006 schedule with a 5-7 record overall but were third in the Sun Belt at 4-3.
This year, FAU is 4-4 and in the heat of the SBC race at 1-1, but has stumbled three times in its last four games, including a crucial 33-30 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe two weeks ago. After a week off, the Owls should be salivating to take a bite out of the Indians.
Three of Florida Atlantic?s losses have come against BCS conference opponents, including Oklahoma State, South Florida and Kentucky. The Owls do own a 42-39 victory over Big Ten member Minnesota but the Gophers are 1-9 this year and at the bottom of their league at 0-6.
FAU should present Arkansas State with some difficulties offensively.
The Owls are led by quarterback Rusty Smith, a sophomore who is blowing up the league with his passing ability. Smith leads the Sun Belt with 272 yards a game passing and 17 touchdown tosses. He ranks second in passing efficiency, completing 61 percent of his 308 attempts while throwing just five interceptions.
Arkansas State, although loaded with experience in its secondary, hasn?t lived up to expectations defending the pass. The Indians are second in the SBC, allowing 202 yards a game through the air, but have given up 18 touchdown passes while making 12 interceptions. The 18 touchdowns are tied for next-to-last in the Sun Belt.
This is not the same secondary that ranked No. 32 in the nation last year against the pass.
Part of Arkansas State?s problems have been its inability to put pressure on opponent?s quarterbacks while another part is inexperience at linebacker.
ASU is tied with FAU for last in the league in quarterback sacks with only eight. That?s not much pressure, and that?s too much time for so many of the passing teams Arkansas State has faced to find an open receiver.
Except for senior Koby McKinnon, who leads Arkansas State with 79 tackles, the Indians? linebackers are solid but young and just haven?t adjusted fast enough to the quick reads and decisions that passing teams have made. And, many times, the Indians have been forced into nickel coverage with five defensive backs, which has sometimes left the middle of the field wide open.
For Arkansas State, there are two keys to victory: Stop Smith, a 6-foot-5 pro-style quarterback, from throwing the ball all over the place, and establish a rushing game.
Smith loves throwing to tight end Jason Harmon, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore who led the Owls in receptions last year and is doing it again this season. Harmon, described as an athletic, wide-receiver type of tight end by ASU coach Steve Roberts, has 40 catches for 538 yards and three TDs. Another receiver to be concerned with is redshirt sophomore Cortez Gent, who has 38 receptions for a team-high 564 yards and a team-high five TDs.
The return of quarterback Corey Leonard from an undisclosed injury should invigorate ASU. Leonard?s ability to run, pass or pass on the run make him one of the most dangerous players in the Sun Belt.
But even with Leonard back in the saddle for ASU, tailback Reggie Arnold must show the Owls the Indians have a rushing attack nothing like last year?s dismal performance. Hampered by an ankle injury, Arnold managed just 35 yards on 11 carries in last year?s defeat.
This year Arnold has been bothered by a similar injury, but he is now running and feeling the best he has since incurring the setback. Arnold has 840 yards this season after surpassing the 100-yard mark last week against Florida International with 120. He is easily on his way to bettering his freshman season of over 1,000 yards that earned him All-American honors.
Against a defensive line that has taken some hits ? Florida Atlantic defensive tackle Josh Pinnick and defensive end Josh Savidge have missed the past four games with injuries ? Arkansas State must establish a ground game to burn time off the clock and keep Smith from passing at will. FAU is allowing nearly 200 yards a game on the ground.
But there is something about South Florida, Lockhart Stadium and the geography that makes this a very, very difficult road game for Arkansas State. Add to that the Indians haven?t won on the road this year and are 8-27 in road games since Roberts became coach.
ASU hasn?t proven to be much of a road team in the past. There?s no reason to think it will start today.
The Indians had better find a way to put the football in the end zone if they want to stand even a scant chance of beating Florida Atlantic when they meet for just the third time.
In their only two meetings Arkansas State has been outscored 29-3 by Florida Atlantic, but, oddly, has split the series and is 1-1 against the Owls. ASU defeated FAU in the now-infamous 3-0 thriller in which neither team scored in regulation. Eric Neihouse managed to boot a game-winning field goal in overtime.
Last year was a much different outcome, though.
Florida Atlantic smothered Arkansas State again, this time not letting the Indians score at all in a 29-0 beatdown. ASU managed just 104 yards total offense, including a unbelievable six yards rushing on 26 attempts.
Since then, Florida Atlantic has been a football team on the rise, or at least the cusp of achieving its preaseason goals. The Owls finished the 2006 schedule with a 5-7 record overall but were third in the Sun Belt at 4-3.
This year, FAU is 4-4 and in the heat of the SBC race at 1-1, but has stumbled three times in its last four games, including a crucial 33-30 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe two weeks ago. After a week off, the Owls should be salivating to take a bite out of the Indians.
Three of Florida Atlantic?s losses have come against BCS conference opponents, including Oklahoma State, South Florida and Kentucky. The Owls do own a 42-39 victory over Big Ten member Minnesota but the Gophers are 1-9 this year and at the bottom of their league at 0-6.
FAU should present Arkansas State with some difficulties offensively.
The Owls are led by quarterback Rusty Smith, a sophomore who is blowing up the league with his passing ability. Smith leads the Sun Belt with 272 yards a game passing and 17 touchdown tosses. He ranks second in passing efficiency, completing 61 percent of his 308 attempts while throwing just five interceptions.
Arkansas State, although loaded with experience in its secondary, hasn?t lived up to expectations defending the pass. The Indians are second in the SBC, allowing 202 yards a game through the air, but have given up 18 touchdown passes while making 12 interceptions. The 18 touchdowns are tied for next-to-last in the Sun Belt.
This is not the same secondary that ranked No. 32 in the nation last year against the pass.
Part of Arkansas State?s problems have been its inability to put pressure on opponent?s quarterbacks while another part is inexperience at linebacker.
ASU is tied with FAU for last in the league in quarterback sacks with only eight. That?s not much pressure, and that?s too much time for so many of the passing teams Arkansas State has faced to find an open receiver.
Except for senior Koby McKinnon, who leads Arkansas State with 79 tackles, the Indians? linebackers are solid but young and just haven?t adjusted fast enough to the quick reads and decisions that passing teams have made. And, many times, the Indians have been forced into nickel coverage with five defensive backs, which has sometimes left the middle of the field wide open.
For Arkansas State, there are two keys to victory: Stop Smith, a 6-foot-5 pro-style quarterback, from throwing the ball all over the place, and establish a rushing game.
Smith loves throwing to tight end Jason Harmon, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore who led the Owls in receptions last year and is doing it again this season. Harmon, described as an athletic, wide-receiver type of tight end by ASU coach Steve Roberts, has 40 catches for 538 yards and three TDs. Another receiver to be concerned with is redshirt sophomore Cortez Gent, who has 38 receptions for a team-high 564 yards and a team-high five TDs.
The return of quarterback Corey Leonard from an undisclosed injury should invigorate ASU. Leonard?s ability to run, pass or pass on the run make him one of the most dangerous players in the Sun Belt.
But even with Leonard back in the saddle for ASU, tailback Reggie Arnold must show the Owls the Indians have a rushing attack nothing like last year?s dismal performance. Hampered by an ankle injury, Arnold managed just 35 yards on 11 carries in last year?s defeat.
This year Arnold has been bothered by a similar injury, but he is now running and feeling the best he has since incurring the setback. Arnold has 840 yards this season after surpassing the 100-yard mark last week against Florida International with 120. He is easily on his way to bettering his freshman season of over 1,000 yards that earned him All-American honors.
Against a defensive line that has taken some hits ? Florida Atlantic defensive tackle Josh Pinnick and defensive end Josh Savidge have missed the past four games with injuries ? Arkansas State must establish a ground game to burn time off the clock and keep Smith from passing at will. FAU is allowing nearly 200 yards a game on the ground.
But there is something about South Florida, Lockhart Stadium and the geography that makes this a very, very difficult road game for Arkansas State. Add to that the Indians haven?t won on the road this year and are 8-27 in road games since Roberts became coach.
ASU hasn?t proven to be much of a road team in the past. There?s no reason to think it will start today.
