Arkansas State Shuts Down South Alabama’s Offense In A 17-7 Defensive Battle

Homecoming weekend is a special time for alumni to return and remember their glory days as underclassmen. On the 30th anniversary of the 1986 season when Larry Lacewell led the then Indians to the 1-AA national championship game, the old style was back in fashion Saturday night as the running game and defense did in the Jaguars on homecoming night 17-7 in front of an announced crowd of 22,277.

The blueprint, not only for homecoming but going forward into the remaining 6 conference games, appears to be a healthy dose of the now active run game to give young QB1 Justice Hansen time to develop a rhythm in the passing offense. On the other side of the ball, the fast and physical defense that was expected to shine this year has now made a second consecutive appearance in conference play.

The Sunday Morning Numbers:

60 yard fumble return for a TD by Chris Humes in the second quarter.

The first defensive touchdown of 2016 after registering 8 defensive TDs to lead the nation in 2015.

6 sacks by the defense including 3 by Chris Odom and 2 by Ja’von Rolland jones

148 yards allowed by the Red Wolves D until the last 2 USA possessions

33:29 total time of possession for the Red Wolf offense

2 avg yards per rush for the So Ala running game

+1 turnover margin after being -9 in the last 2 games

204 yds rushing for ASU led by Warren Wand’s 88 on 18 attempts

93 yds passing by Justice Hansen on 9-13 with 1 int.

76 yard pass from So Ala QB Dallas Davis to TE Gerald Everett

This late fourth quarter pass led to the only Jag touchdown and kept ASU from securing its first shutout since blanking MTSU 45-0 in 2012.

35 wins in the last 41 conference games for ASU