2006 Arkansas State Indians Season, Game Recaps, Scores and Reviews
Nov. 25
UL Lafayette 28 ... Arkansas State 13
In a brilliant battle of runners with Arkansas State's Reggie
Arnold rushing for 156 yards and UL Lafayette's Tyrell Fenroy tearing off 178,
the Ragin' Cajuns broke away in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard Jerry Babb run
and Fenroy's third short score of the game. ASU got up 10-7 in the second
quarter on a 15-yard Levi Dejohnette catch, but could only managed two Josh
Arauco field goals the rest of the way. Player of the game ... UL Lafayette RB Tyrell Fenroy ran 26
times for 178 yards and three touchdowns Stat Leaders: UL Lafayette - Passing: Jerry
Babb, 10-18, 107 yds, 1 INT Rushing: Tyrell Fenroy, 26-178, 3 TD Receiving:
Michael Desormeaux, 4-34 Arkansas State - Passing: Corey Leonard, 13-30,
132 yds, 1 TD Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 18-156 Receiving: Levi
Dejohnette, 3-43, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... ASU had
things set up nicely to go to a bowl needing a home win over UL Lafayette to get
to seven wins and a spot somewhere. With not enough overall defense and
struggling production from the passing game, ASU is likely done for the year
with a young team that should come back to be one of the favorites for the 2007
title. In Reggie Arnold, the offense has a great back to revolve around. Now QB
Corey Leonard has to become an efficient passer.
Nov. 18
Arkansas State 33 ... Troy 26
Arkansas State scored 13 points in the final 12 minutes
winning the game on a one-yard Curtis Wilkerson touchdown run with :17 to play
after the defense came up with a safety on a Josh Williams tackle with just
under four minutes to play. Corey Leonard threw two touchdown passes in the
first half, including a 62-yard play to David Johnson, but Troy stayed even
throughout helped by a 53-yard Mykeal Terry touchdown catch and two short Kenny
Cattouse scoring runs. Player of the game ... Arkansas State S Tyrell Johnson made
nine tackles Stat Leaders: Troy - Passing: Omar Haugabook,
19-30, 267 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Kenny Cattouse, 19-107, 2 TD Receiving:
Mykeal Terry, 6-140, 1 TD Arkansas State - Passing: Corey Leonard, 13-26,
188 yds, 2 TD Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 19-90 Receiving: Kevin
Jones, 4-47, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... While
Arkansas State might be out of the Sun Belt title hunt, it's bowl eligible after
the win over Troy and has a chance to knock some 6-6 team out of a bowl slot by
beating UL Lafayette next week. The running game controlled the tempo and the
action with the time of possession in its favor. Helped by an efficient day from
QB Corey Leonard and no turnovers, while the defense came up with three
takeaways, ASU turned its season from good to great with the late win.
Nov. 11
Middle Tennessee 38 ... Arkansas State 10
A 88-yard Brandon Robinson interception return for a touchdown
and short touchdown runs from Desmond Gee and Demarco McNair helped Middle
Tennessee pull away in the second half to a 31-3 lead. Arkansas State moved the
ball well all game long, but only managed a 14-yard Levi Dejohnette touchdown
late in the fourth quarter. McNair scored again on the first play following the
unsuccessful onside kick attempt with a 48-yard run. Player of the game ... Middle Tennessee RB Eugene Gross
ran 15 times for 79 yards and a touchdown Stat Leaders: Middle Tennessee- Passing:
Clint Marks, 11-14, 134 yds Rushing: DeMarco McNair, 9-98, 2 TD. Receiving:
Desmond Gee, 2-46 Arkansas State - Passing: Corey Leonard,
14-35, 146 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 20-115 Receiving:
Levi Dejohnette, 3-38, 1 TD Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Arkansas State got its running game back on track
against a good Middle Tennessee defense with Reggie Arnold coming up with his
strongest game in the last few weeks, but Corey Leonard was awful throwing the
ball once the game started to get out of hand. The Indians are on a three game
losing streak finishing up with two road games, and to have a shot at Troy and
UL Lafayette, the ground game has to be even more effective and there has to be
a few more big plays from Leonard.
Nov. 4
Auburn 27 ... Arkansas State 0
Courtney Taylor caught a 13-yard touchdown pass and John
Vaughn hit two field goals in the first half on the way to a 13-0 lead, and then
Carl Stewart pounded in two touchdown runs in the third quarter. ASU only gained
86 yards in the first three quarters before the the Tigers emptied their bench.
Auburn rolled up 300 yards, but turned it over four times preventing it from
being a bigger blowout. Player of the game ... Auburn QB Brandon Cox completed
12 of 21 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Stat Leaders: Auburn- Passing: Brandon
Cox, 12-21, 251 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Ben Tate, 11-93. Receiving:
Courtney Taylor, 4-116, 1 TD Arkansas State - Passing: Corey Leonard,
9-17, 61 yds
Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 11-37 Receiving:
Kevin Jones, 4-34 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Arkansas State was never going to have a shot
against Auburn, without nearly enough offense to make it interesting, but the
defense did a decent job of keeping things from getting out of hand with four
forced turnovers. Now the Indians have to find a way to get the offense going
after getting shut out over the last two weeks. The Sun Belt title is still a
possibility, but the attack has to find the switch to turn on against Middle
Tennessee next week. Can there be some sort of a passing game? Probably not, so
Reggie Arnold has to roll after gaining just 72 yards over the last two weeks.
Oct. 28
Florida Atlantic 29 ... Arkansas State 0
Corey Small picked off three passes returning one for a score
as part of a Florida Atlantic defense that held Arkansas State to 104 yards of
total offense and a mere six rushing yards. The offense took advantage of the
good field position with three short scoring drives and capped it off with a
22-yard interception return for a score from Small in the final few minutes.
Warley Leroy hit two field goals, B.J. Manley tore off a 35-yard run, and Aaron
Sanchez caught a three-yard touchdown pass. Player of the game ... Florida Atlantic DB Corey Small
led the Owls with seven tackles and picked off three passes taking one for a
score Stat Leaders: Florida Atlantic- Passing:
Sean Clayton, 9-19, 91 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Charles Pierre, 24-122 Receiving:
Avery Holley, 3-46 Arkansas State - Passing: Corey Leonard,
7-16, 55 yds, 3 INT
Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 11-35 Receiving: Levi
Dejohnette, 4-73 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... As
Florida Atlantic showed, when you take away the Arkansas State running game, you
take away Arkansas State. Corey Leonard and Travis Hewitt were awful throwing
five interceptions in the stunning blowout loss to the Owls, and now things get
worse with Auburn coming up next. If the running game can't get on track after
the certain-loss to the Tigers, it'll be an ugly end to the year with a nasty
finishing kick. Could it really be possible the defending Sun Belt champs can
close out with a five-game losing streak? Yup.
Oct. 21
Arkansas State 29 ... North Texas 10
ASU broke open a close game with three one-yard Reggie Arnold
touchdown runs in the second half as part of a 22-point run. North Texas got up
in the first half on a 42-yard Denis Hopovac field goal and a 24-yard David
Collins touchdown catch, while the Indians got a 31-yard Kevin Jones scoring
grab. The Mean Green offense slowed down and the defense couldn't handle the ASU
ground game that rumbled for 279 yards. Player of the game ...
Arkansas State RB
Reggie Arnold ran 25 times for 121 yards and three touchdowns Stat Leaders: Arkansas State- Passing: Corey Leonard,
11-19, 187 yds, 1 TD Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 25-121, 3 TD Receiving: Kevin Jones,
3-84 North Texas - Passing: Daniel Meager, 11-16, 103 yds, 1 TD,
1 INT
Rushing: Jamario Thomas, 21-119, Receiving: Joel Nwigwe, 5-52 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Arkansas State is on a nice roll and looking every bit as
strong as it was in last year's Sun Belt title season. Corey Leonard had a nice
day throwing the ball and Reggie Arnold was excellent keeping the ground game
going, but the real key was the ability to keep the chains moving. The offense
converted 11 of 15 third down chances and had the ball for 33:28. Now comes a
nasty stretch of four road games in the final five.
Oct. 14
Arkansas State 26 ... Memphis 23
Patrick Higgins caught a 53-yard jump ball touchdown pass with
no time left on the clock to stun Memphis. Higgins also caught a 26-yard scoring
strike in the first half, to go along with a 16-yard Brandon Thompkins scoring
run and two Josh Arauco field goals. Memphis battled in the see-saw game getting
a 37-yard touchdown play from Joe Doss with just 6:40 to play, but couldn't run
out the clock giving it to ASU on its own 27 with 1:32 to play. A 15-yard
facemask penalty on a sack and a five-yard Curtis Wilson run set up the final,
dramatic play. Player of the game ...
Arkansas State WR
Patrick Higgins caught just two passes for 79 yards, but both went for
touchdowns, including the game-winner on the final play from 53 yards out. Stat Leaders: Arkansas State- Passing: Corey Leonard,
12-of-23, 219 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing: Curtis Wilkerson, 23-116 Receiving: Kevin Jones, 3-73 Memphis - Passing: Martin Hankins, 12-27, 178 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Joseph Doss, 18-69 Receiving: Ryan Scott, 3-28 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Arkansas State didn't just beat Memphis because of
a fluky final play; it was able to win by rolling up 435 yards of total
offense and getting just enough defense to keep the Tigers from getting any sort
of consistency. Corey Leonard was fantastic on third downs, and Curtis Wilkerson
came up with a shocking game with Reggie Arnold getting bottled up. This might
have been one of the biggest wins in the program's history considering the drama
and the bigger name team it bat, and now the momentum has to carry over into Sun
Belt play. ASU might be the favorite now.
Oct. 7
Arkansas State 10 ... UL Monroe 6
In a tough, defensive battle, Arkansas State got a ten-yard
Corey Leonard touchdown run with two minutes to play. ULM was able to get down
to the ASU 29, but stalled after a fourth down pass fell incomplete. The
Warhawks got an eight-yard Calvin Dawson touchdown run early in the second
quarter, but only finished with 223 yards of total offense. ASU kicked off the
scoring with a 24-yard Josh Arauco field goal. Player of the game ... Arkansas State LB Devrett Wade
made 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and broke up a pass Stat Leaders: Arkansas State- Passing:
Corey Leonard, 13-26, 130 yds, 2 INT Rushing: Corey Leonard, 7-48, 1 TD Receiving:
Cedric Wilkerson, 5-47 UL Monroe - Passing: Kinsmon Lancaster,
9-13, 48 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Calvin Dawson, 16-71, 1 TD Receiving:
Marty Humphrey, 3-48 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Arkansas State didn't play a perfect game against UL
Monroe, but the defense did a great job and the offense came up with the late
drive it absolutely needed to have to get the win and go 2-0 in Sun Belt play.
The passing game, eventually, has to be more effective and there has to be far
more overall pop to the attack to beat teams like Middle Tennessee and Troy, but
after the Memphis game, the defense should be able to keep North Texas and
Florida Atlantic in check. As long as there aren't a lot of turnovers, a 4-0 Sun
Belt start is more than likely.
Sept. 30
Arkansas State 31 ... FIU 6
The Arkansas State defense forced four FIU turnovers and got
out to a 21-0 lead before the Golden Panthers finally god into the end zone on a
five-yard Amon Ned run. Travis Hewitt ran for two scores for the Indians and
Corey Leonard added a seven-yard dash. FIU's Josh Padrick threw three
interceptions while the running game was held to nine yards. Player of the game ... Arkansas State RB Reggie Arnold
ran 23 times for 142 yards Stat Leaders: FIU- Passing: Josh Padrick,
18-35, 177 yds, 3 INT Rushing: Amod Ned, 12-38, 1 TD. Receiving:
Chandler Williams, 7-72 Arkansas State - Passing: Travis Hewitt,
6-17, 68 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 23-142 Receiving:
Chris Miller, 2-29 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
The ASU defense came up with a fantastic
performance against FIU making all the big plays needed to never let it be a
game. With good pressure into the backfield, FIU QB Josh Padrick made several
mistakes which the ASU defensive backfield capitalized on. Corey Leonard played
better than Travis Hewitt and might get even more time next week against UL
Monroe.
Sept. 23
SMU 55 ... Arkansas State 9
Justin Willis and Justin Kennedy hooked up for three touchdown
passes in the first half and WR Zack Sledge connected with Bobby Chase for a
75-yard score on the way to a 38-6 lead. Arkansas State answered the first
Kennedy score with a 69-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Higgins, but the
extra point was blocked and SMU went on a 34-pount run broken up by a Josh
Arauco field goal late in the third quarter. SMU outgained ASU 226 yards to 69
on the ground. Player of the game ... SMU QB Justin Willis completed
15 of 24 passes for 151 yards and four touchdowns with an interception Stat Leaders: SMU- Passing: Justin
Willis, 15-24, 151 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing: James Mapps, 14-132, 1 TD. Receiving:
Ryan Kennedy, 3-40, 3 TD Arkansas State - Passing: Corey Leonard,
6-14, 110 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 16-88 Receiving: Gary
Vincent, 3-37 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
The offense has yet to do much of anything. Getting
stuffed by Oklahoma State is one thing, but to only crank out 262 yards against
SMU should send up warning flags going into the Sun Belt season. The ground game
isn't close to being at the level it was at last season, while the quarterback
combination of Corey Leonard and Travis Hewitt aren't doing nearly enough for
the passing attack. It would help if the defense could come up with an early
stop or two. The linebacking corps is way too good to be run over for 7.3 yards
per carry like SMU got.
Sept. 9
Oklahoma State 35 ... Arkansas State 7
It took Oklahoma State QB Bobby Reid about a quarter to settle
down, and then he was outstanding running for a 13-yard touchdown and throwing
for two scores on the way to 35 unanswered points. Reid's first touchdown pass
of the game went the wrong way as Khyyam Burns returned an interception 51 yards
for an ASU touchdown. The Cowboy defense held ASU to 188 yards of total offense. Player of the game ... Oklahoma State QB Bobby Reid
completed 11 of 18 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns with three
interceptions, and he ran seven times for 45 yards and a touchdown Stat Leaders: Arkansas State- Passing:
Travis Hewitt, 4-13, 47 yds, 1 INT Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 18-51. Receiving:
Patrick Higgins, 1-15 Oklahoma State - Passing: Bobby Reid,
11-18, 167 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Mike Hamilton, 17-73, 1 TD. Receiving: Adarius
Bowman, 3-78 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... Arkansas
State needs its running game to win. Reggie Arnold ran well against Army, and
ASU won. He was kept under wraps against Oklahoma State, and ASU lost. The
Indian passing game isn't close to being anything more than serviceable with no
go-to-receiver and shaky play from the quarterbacks. Travis Hewitt couldn't do
anything against the Cowboys, but Corey Leonard wasn't much better.
Sept. 2
Arkansas State 14 ... Army 6
Arkansas State outgained Army 319 yards to 164 limiting the
Black Knights to two Austin Miller field goals. The Indians got a 17-yard
touchdown run from Reggie Arnold in the second quarter and a ten-yard scoring
dash from Travis Hewitt in the third. The score would've been ugly had ASU been
able to hang on to the ball getting plagued by three fumbles. Player of the game ... Arkansas State RB Reggie Arnold
ran 25 times for 140 yards and a touchdown. Stat Leaders: Army- Passing: David
Pevoto, 12-23, 95 yds, 2 INT Rushing: Wesley McMahand, 13-35. Receiving:
Jeremy Trimble, 6-60 Arkansas State - Passing: Travis Hewitt,
7-11, 75 yds
Rushing: Reggie Arnold, 25-140, 1 TD. Receiving:
Chris Miller, 4-21 Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Arkansas State didn't look like a team trying to
replace several key players. Army wasn't able to get anything going offensively
and wasn't close to stopping the ASU running game. Reggie Arnold is the next
great Indian back who should rip through the Sun Belt this year. To hang with
Oklahoma State and beat SMU over the next two weeks, there can't be three
turnovers and the O has to be better on third downs.
2006 Arkansas State Preview
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Further Analysis
After years of being the team on the verge of big things and never
getting over the hump, Arkansas State finally put it all
together last year getting the big wins it had to have and got to
the New Orleans Bowl as the Sun Belt champions.
It wasn't a perfect season with losses to UL Monroe and MTSU taking
the title fates out of its own hands, but ASU played well at home
and was more than competitive against teams like Missouri and
Oklahoma State.
Even with all that was accomplished in last year's breakout
campaign, there was still a sense that more could've been done.
There could've been a better performance in the blowout loss to
Army, and the offense could've been way more consistent after an
awful midseason stretch scoring 29 points in four games.
This year will see some growing pains in the backfield, but there
are more than enough good things to count on to keep ASU in the Sun
Belt title hunt all season long. As far as Sun Belt star power goes,
ASU has it with center Tanner Jenkins, fullback Oren O'Neal, safety
Tyrell Johnson and linebacker Josh Williams, who returns after being
suspended all of last year, all good enough to be considered among
the best in the nation at their respective positions.
Now for the problems. The great backfield has to be
replaced losing effective running backs Antonio Warren and Shermar
Bracey along with veteran starting quarterback Nick Noce. The corners
and defensive ends are suspect, and the kicking game is starting from
scratch looking for a steady field goal kicker. Even so, there's enough
time before the first Sun Belt game for everyone to get their feet wet,
and there's not a brutal game leading up the to the road trip to FIU
playing Army, Oklahoma State and at SMU that should impede the team's
overall development.
So now Arkansas State has to try to become the new North Texas and
be a yearly participant in the New Orleans Bowl. Head coach Steve
Roberts has the program on the right track and he has the talent to be
the best team in the league with a little bit of luck. ASU got a
taste of success last year with its first non-losing season since 1995,
and that could be just the beginning.
The Schedule: There
aren't any brutal, sure thing 55-0 blowout games until late against
Auburn, but it's not a good schedule for hopes of repeating as Sun
Belt champions with four road trips in the final five weeks closing
out at Troy and at UL Lafayette. There are only four true home games
with the Oklahoma State battle played in Little Rock, and ASU has to
take advantage of every one of them. Fortunately UL Monroe, North
Texas and MTSU have to come to Jonesboro.
Best
Offensive Player: Senior FB Oren O'Neal. Center Tanner Jenkins is
also in the mix and running back Chris Easley should put up the
numbers to be one of the team's offensive stars, but O'Neal is the
unsung cog that makes the machine go. He's an NFL-caliber blocker
with good hands and decent power running skills when he gets the
chance.
Best
Defensive Player: Junior LB Josh Williams. Tackling machine safety
Tyrell Johnson is also worthy of mention, but the 255-pound Williams
is a big-time talent and tone setter for a run defense that
desperately missed him last year when he was suspended for conduct
detrimental to the team.
Key
player to a successful season: Sophomore QB Travis Hewitt and
redshirt freshman Corey Leonard. Nick Noce might not have been the
best quarterback around, but he was effective and he often came
through last year when he absolutely had to. Hewitt has a little bit
of experience, but Leonard has more talent. One has to shine from
the get go.
The
season will be a success if ... Arkansas State wins the Sun Belt
title again. It'll be hard with the killer league road slate late,
but there's no turning down the expectations after last year. This
team should be able to beat anyone in the conference, but it needs
everything to come together early on to make it happen and there
can't be any home losses.
Key
game: November 18th at Troy. Assuming ASU can be perfect at home,
it has to beat Troy on the road to make the regular season finale at
UL Lafayette meaningful. An unbeaten Sun Belt record is possible
going into this showdown.
2005
Fun Stats:
- Second quarter scoring: Opponents 128 - Arkansas State 51
- Penalties: Arkansas State 121 for 911 yards - Opponents 93 for 733
yards
- Time of possession: Opponents 32:04 - Arkansas State 27:57
The Last Time Arkansas State…
…played in a bowl game…2005 (New Orleans Bowl vs. Southern Miss)
…missed a bowl game…2004
…pitched a shutout…2005 (Florida Atlantic)
…was shutout…2003 (Utah State)
…scored 50 points…2005 (Florida International)
…went undefeated…1975
…won a conference title…2005 (Sun Belt)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…never
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2005 (Antonio Warren)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…2000 (Robert Kilow)
…had a first-round draft choice…never
