Expect these players to star after injuries wrecked their 2011 seasons

Courtesy: By Mike Huguenin | Yahoo! Sports 

Football is a violent game, which is just another way of saying players get hurt. But some injuries hurt more than others – and not necessarily in a literal sense.

A backup defensive tackle is lost for the season? Teams generally can overcome that. But it’s a different situation entirely when a team potentially loses its starting quarterback (Missouri and James Franklin) or definitely loses a starting safety (Arizona and Adam Hall), especially when it happens during spring practice. (It’s the second year in a row Hall, a ferocious hitter, suffered a torn ACL in Arizona’s spring game.)

Injuries of that magnitude send coaching staffs scrambling to find fill-in players. Sometimes, those fill-in players do a great job; other times, coaches count the days until the injured starter returns.

Here’s a look at 11 players who missed at least 75 percent of the 2011 season because of injuries but are expected back in the fall.

All of these guys should contend for all-league honors, and a few could be All-Americans. Assuming, of course, they remain healthy.

By no means is this an all-inclusive list. And the players are listed alphabetically.

Arkansas TB Knile Davis
The injury: Ankle, missed season The buzz: Davis burst on the scene in a big way in the second half of the 2010 season, rushing for 1,028 yards and 12 TDs in the final seven games. But he suffered a broken ankle during fall camp last year and missed the season. He remained a part of the team, though, serving as a captain and going on all the road trips. Davis was limited during spring practice but is expected to be 100 percent this fall. Davis (6 feet/226 pounds) is a physical runner with speed. Arkansas had a mediocre rushing offense last season (137.4 ypg, 81st nationally), but a healthy Davis will add an extra dimension to the Hogs’ offense this season.
LSU G Josh Dworaczyk
The injury: Knee, missed season The buzz: Dworaczyk was an honors candidate heading into the 2011 season. He had started in each of the previous two seasons and was the Tigers’ most experienced lineman. He missed 2011 spring practice after having knee surgery, then reinjured the knee during fall camp and missed the season. He was granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA and should slide nicely into the starting guard job vacated by Will Blackwell, who was a senior last season. Dworaczyk graduated with a general studies degree in May 2011 and is planning to graduate with a degree in sports administration in December.
Kansas State T Manase Foketi
The injury: Leg, missed 11 games The buzz: Foketi started all 13 games at left tackle in 2010 after transferring in from junior college, then started the first two last season before being injured against Kent State. He is expected to start at one of the vacant tackle spots this season. Foketi is considered an excellent run blocker; he’s a road-grader deluxe and likely would move inside to play guard in the NFL.
Tennessee WR Justin Hunter
The injury: Knee, missed 9 games The buzz: Hunter had seven TD receptions as a true freshman in 2010 (on just 16 overall catches) and was off to a great start last season (17 catches) before suffering a torn ACL on Tennessee’s first possession in Game 3. A return to full health by Hunter would give the Vols one of the best receiving duos in the nation, as he and Da’Rick Rogers would form a physical and fast duo. Hunter is 6-4 and was one of the nation’s top jumpers (long, high and triple) while in high school.
Pittsburgh G Chris Jacobson
The injury: Knee, missed 10 games The buzz: Jacobson started all 13 games at guard in 2010, then moved to center and was primed for a big season before he was injured in Game 3. He was granted a sixth season of eligibility and should fit nicely into Pitt’s revamped line this fall. Pitt’s new coach is Paul Chryst, who had been offensive coordinator at Wisconsin, Chryst, above all, values a punishing ground attack, and that fits Jacobson. He did not participate in any contact drills during the spring but still is expected to start at guard this fall.
West Virginia G Josh Jenkins
The injury: Knee, missed season The buzz: Jenkins was a starter in 2009 and ’10, but suffered a knee injury in the 2011 spring game and missed the season. His return this season will give WVU perhaps the best interior line in the Big 12. Jenkins had a good spring, and a WVU line that was maligned the past few seasons should be a team strength this fall.
Penn State DE Pete Massaro and LB Michael Mauti
The injury: Massaro: Knee, missed season. Mauti: Knee, missed 9 games The buzz: Both are fifth-year seniors and both have had injury-marred (injury-ravaged?) careers. Massaro redshirted as a true freshman in 2008, then tore his right ACL in the 2009 spring game and missed the season. He returned and was a starter in 2010, flashing some big-play ability. Massaro then tore his left ACL during 2011 spring practice and had to sit out the season. At one time considered a future All-American, Mauti was a key reserve as a true freshman in 2008. But he tore his right ACL during fall camp in 2009 and had to miss the season. He returned in 2010 and became a starter, battling through some nagging injuries to make 67 tackles. He started the first four games last season before suffering a torn left ACL and missing the rest of the season. Neither was 100 percent in the spring, but both expect to be starters this fall for a defense that again is going to have to carry the team.
Boston College DT Kaleb Ramsey
The injury: Back, missed 11 games The buzz: Ramsey led all BC defensive linemen with 39 tackles in 2010, then was expected to be a bright spot in the front seven last season. But he injured his back in the opener against Northwestern and didn’t play again. He will be the emotional and physical leader of what should be a stout BC defensive front this fall. For all the offensive issues the Eagles had last season, the defense remained a bright spot and should be so again this season.
Stanford LB Shayne Skov
The injury: Knee, missed 10 games The buzz: Skov earned some preseason All-America recognition last season following his magnificent performance in the Orange Bowl following the 2010 season (12 tackles, with four tackles for loss, three sacks and a pass breakup in a rout of Virginia Tech). But the Mohawk-wearing Skov suffered a knee injury in Game 3 last fall and missed the rest of the season. Coach David Shaw said Skov is on schedule with his rehab and should be ready for Game 1 this season. Skov and Chase Thomas should be one of the best linebacker duos in the nation.
Nevada WR Brandon Wimberly
The injury: Shot in abdomen, missed season The buzz: Wimberly was shot in June 2011, leading to serious damage to his colon and intestines; he spent a bit less than a week in intensive care, and at one time, it was thought his football career was over. But his rehab went exceedingly well and he had a great spring for the Wolf Pack, which is moving into the Mountain West this fall. Wimberly, the WAC’s freshman of the year in 2009, is a big guy (6-3/210) who can run and possesses big-play ability
Others to watch
South Carolina CB Akeem Auguste (foot), Missouri OT Elvis Fisher (knee), Oregon State CB Brandon Hardin (shoulder), Colorado OT Jack Harris (broken leg), Arizona State LB Brandon Magee (Achilles), Oregon State OT Michael Philipp (knee), Idaho LB Robert Siavii (knee), Toledo FS Mark Singer (shoulder), Mississippi State G Tobias Smith (knee), Washington State QB Jeff Tuel (collarbone, shoulder) and Ohio State DE Nathan Williams (knee).

2012 ASU Spring Game (Photos)

 

 

Bobby Petrino Fired at Arkansas

Courtesy:  Yahoo.com, By KURT VOIGT | The Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE,Ark.(AP) Bobby Petrino talked time and again about winning a national championship atArkansas. From the day he was hired in 2007, Petrino never wavered in that goal or belief.

Petrino won’t have that chance now, felled by scandal, and he blamed no one but himself for being fired.

”The simplest response I have is: I’m sorry,” he said. ”These two words seem very inadequate. But that is my heart.”

Athletic director Jeff Long dumped Petrino on Tuesday and laid out a stunning laundry list of misdeeds against the man he hired away from the Atlanta Falcons four years ago.

He ripped Petrino for hiring his mistress and for intentionally misleading him about the secret relationship that was laid bare following their April 1 motorcycle ride together that ended in a crash. He said Petrino missed multiple chances over the past 10 days to come clean about an affair that had crossed the line from infidelity into workplace favoritism.

”He made the decision, a conscious decision, to mislead the public on Tuesday, and in doing so negatively and adversely affected the reputation of the University of Arkansas and our football program,” Long said, choking up as he discussed telling players that their coach was gone. ”In short, coach Petrino engaged in a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior designed to deceive me and members of the athletic staff, both before and after the motorcycle accident.”

The 51-year-old Petrino, a married father of four, maintained an inappropriate relationship with 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell for a ”significant” amount of time and at one point gave her $20,000, Long said.

Long would not disclose details of the payment, or when the money changed hands, but said both parties confirmed the ”gift.” Kevin Trainor, a spokesman for Long, said the money came from Petrino, not university funds.

Petrino issued a lengthy apology and said he was focused on trying to make amends to his family.

”All I have been able to think about is the number of people I’ve let down by making selfish decisions,” he said. ”I chose to engage in an improper relationship. I also made several poor decisions following the end of that relationship and in the aftermath of the accident. I accept full responsibility for what has happened.”

Dorrell, a former Razorbacks volleyball player, worked for the Razorbacks Foundation before she was hired by Petrino on March 28, four days before the accident on a rural road 20 miles outsideFayetteville. Long said she was one of three finalists out of 159 applicants and got the job after an unusually short time frame.

Petrino never disclosed his conflict of interest in hiring Dorrell or the payment and she clearly had an unfair advantage over the other candidates, Long said.

”Coach Petrino abused his authority when over the past few weeks he made a staff decision and personal choices that benefited himself and jeopardized the integrity of the football program,” Long said.

Petrino has builtArkansasinto a national power over four seasons, including a 21-5 record the past two years, and he was in the middle of a seven-year contract under which his salary averaged $3.53 million per year. A clause gave Long the right to suspend or fire the coach for conduct that ”negatively or adversely affects the reputation of the (university’s) athletics programs in any way.”

Long said Petrino was fired ”with cause” – meaning he will not receive the $18 million buyout detailed in the contract – and there were no discussions about ways to keep Petrino atArkansas. Long met with Petrino on Tuesday morning to inform him there were grounds for termination and that the coach was ”concerned” about that. Long sent Petrino a letter that afternoon to formally notify him he had been fired.

”I chose to do it in writing because that’s the terms of his contract,” he said.

Long declined to comment when asked about Dorrell’s job status. She was hired as the student-athlete development coordinator forArkansasfootball, paid $55,735 annually to organize on-campus recruiting visits for the team and assist with initial eligibility for each incoming player

She was ”at one point” engaged to Josh Morgan, the athletic department’s director of swimming and diving operations, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details have not been disclosed. The person said Morgan was still employed at the university.

Petrino finishes his tenure atArkansaswith a 34-17 record in four seasons, leading the Razorbacks to a No. 5 final ranking last season and a Cotton Bowl win overKansasState. With quarterback Tyler Wilson, running back Knile Davis and others coming back, there is talk of Arkansas challenging the two powerhouses in the SEC West, national champion Alabama and national runner-up LSU.

And maybe the Hogs will. But they won’t do it with Petrino.

The beginning of the end came on April 1, which Petrino at first described as a Sunday spent with his wife at an area lake.

Instead, he and Dorrell went for an evening ride and skidded off the road in an accident that left him with four broken ribs, a cracked vertebra in his neck and abrasions on his face. The avid motorcycle rider said the sun and wind caused him to lose control.

What he failed to mention, at a news conference two days later and to Long for two more days, was the presence of Dorrell other than a vague reference to ”a lady” who had flagged down a passing motorist. That changed when the state police released the accident report. Petrino, tipped off by the state trooper who usually provides security for him during the season, informed Long 20 minutes before the report was released, and he admitted to what he called a previous inappropriate relationship with Dorrell. Long put him on paid leave.

It didn’t get any better for Petrino. Audio of the 911 call reporting the accident revealed he and Dorrell didn’t want to police called following the crash, and a subsequent police report showed he asked if he was required to give the name of the passenger during the accident.

Petrino was forthcoming about Dorrell’s name and presence with investigators, but only after misleading both Long and the public during his news conference. The school even released a statement from Petrino’s family the day after the accident that said ”no other individuals” were involved.

The deception and the way Dorrell was hired were too much for Long.

”Our expectations of character and integrity in our employees can be no less than what we expect of our students,” Long said. ”No single individual is bigger than the team, the Razorback football program of theUniversityofArkansas.”

The coach’s tenure with the Razorbacks began under a cloud of second-guessing following his abrupt departure fromAtlanta13 games into the 2007 season.

Petrino left farewell notes in the lockers of theAtlantaplayers rather than telling them of his resignation in person. He was introduced later that night as the new coach of the Razorbacks, carrying with him a vagabond image after holding 15 jobs for 11 different programs/organizations in 24 seasons. He infamously met withAuburnofficials in 2003 to talk about taking the Tigers’ head coaching job while Tommy Tuberville still had it.

Yet he was welcomed inArkansasand took the school to its first BCS bowl game following the 2010 season, losing in the Sugar Bowl toOhioState. He improved his win total in every year.Arkansaswas 5-7 his first season in 2008, 8-5 the second before finishing 10-3 and 11-2 during his last two seasons.

In his statement, Petrino said he and his staff had leftArkansasin better shape and wished for its success.

”As a result of my personal mistakes, we will not get to finish our goal of building a championship program,” he said. ”My sole focus at this point is trying to repair the damage I’ve done to my family. They did not ask for any of this and deserve better. I am committed to being a better husband, father and human being as a result of this and will work each and every day to prove that to my family, friends and others.

”I love football. I love coaching. I of course hope I can find my way back to the profession I love. In the meantime, I will do everything I can to heal the wounds I have created.”

Assistant head coach Taver Johnson will continue to lead the program through spring practice, which ends with the school’s spring game on April 21. Long said he has asked the rest of the staff, including offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, Petrino’s brother, to remain at least through then.

 

Arkansas coach Petrino put on leave after crash

Courtesy:  Yahoo.com, By KURT VOIGT, AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE,Ark.(AP)—Bobby Petrino has improved every step of the way atArkansas—not just his team’s performance but his image.

The coach’s revelation Thursday of an inappropriate relationship and his attempt to cover it up now threatens to derail all the progress Petrino has made in four seasons.

Arkansasis expected to return to spring practice Friday afternoon, led by a pair of Heisman Trophy hopefuls in quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis.

The team will do so without Petrino, who was put on administrative leave Thursday night after athletic director Jeff Long learned Petrino had failed to disclose he had been riding with a female employee half his age when his motorcycle skidded off the road over the weekend.

Petrino said he had been concerned about protecting his family and keeping an “inappropriate relationship from becoming public.”

It was as stunning admission for a highly successful coach who prides himself on complete control and intense privacy in his personal life. Petrino will now await his fate while Long conducts a review.

Whether his uncertain status affects the Razorbacks remains to be seen.

“I will fully cooperate with the university throughout this process and my hope is to repair my relationships with my family, my athletic director, the Razorback Nation and remain the head coach of the Razorbacks,” he said in a statement issued by the university.

Long announced the decision to put Petrino on leave at a late-night news conference, one that was reminiscent of when the former Atlanta Falcons coach was hired by the Razorbacks on Dec. 11, 2007. Long said he had no timeline in determining Petrino’s future with the Razorbacks.

“I’m at the beginning of the review. I don’t know what I’m going to find,”Long said. “I am disappointed that coach Petrino did not share with me, when he had the opportunity to, the full extent of the accident and who was involved.”

Petrino just completed his fourth season with the Razorbacks, who have developed into a national contender under his watch—improving their win total each season. He’s 34-17 in four seasons at the school, 21-5 over the last two, and the Hogs finished last season ranked No. 5 after losing only to national championAlabamaand runner-up LSU.

He came toFayettevilleafter a 13-game stint with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 season. He endured plenty of criticism on his way out ofAtlanta, from fans and former players alike, for leaving at midseason.

Before that he was atLouisville, guiding the Cardinals to a 41-9 record from 2003-07. When he left to take the NFL job, there were plenty of people who felt he departed in a less than admirable way and had been constantly eyeing other jobs while he was there.

He infamously met withAuburnofficials in 2003 to talk about taking the Tigers’ head coaching job while Tommy Tuberville still had it.

But Petrino was greeted as a savior byArkansasfans and has given them no reason not to admire and trust him since.

Until now.

Long said he didn’t hear about the passenger—25-year-old Jessica Dorrell, a formerArkansasvolleyball player and current football program employee—until Petrino called him Thursday afternoon, minutes before a police report was released disclosing her presence at the accident.

Assistant head coach and linebackers coach Taver Johnson has been put in charge of the program in Petrino’s absence. The formerOhioStateassistant coach was hired in January.

Long’s investigation could lead, based on conduct clauses in Petrino’s contract, to a suspension or firing. While this case does not appear to involve any possible NCAA violations, Jim Tressel’s firing atOhioStatelast year showed that even a coach who won a national championship can lose his job for lying to his boss.

“I hope to have a resolution soon,” Long said. “I certainly don’t have all the answers here tonight, as we meet. But again, I have an obligation and responsibility to obtain the information and then act appropriately on that information.”

The 51-year-old Petrino, who is married with four children, didn’t mention he had a passenger during a news conference on Tuesday, two days after Sunday’s accident, and a school statement that day quoted Petrino’s family as saying “no other individuals” were involved. Petrino said then that he had spent Sunday with his wife, Becky, at a lake and was going for an evening ride. His only mention of Dorrell was vague, and without identification.

“When I came out of the ditch, there was a lady there that had flagged down a car,” Petrino said Tuesday, nursing four broken ribs and wearing a neck brace to support a cracked neck vertebra. “The guy that was in the passenger’s seat said, `Get in, we’ll just take you right to the hospital instead of waiting,’and so I got in the car and they headed towardFayetteville.”

In Thursday’s statement, Petrino apologized and acknowledged that he had kept quiet about Dorrell.

“I have been in constant pain, medicated and the circumstances involving the wreck have come out in bits and pieces. That said, I certainly had a concern about Jessica Dorrell’s name being revealed,” he said. “In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details. Today, I’ve acknowledged this previous inappropriate relationship with my family and those within the athletic department administration.”

Dorrell, who did not return a call seeking comment, was hired March 28 by Petrino as the student-athlete development coordinator after serving as a fundraiser with the Razorback Foundation. She is in charge of organizing the recruiting process for the football team, including initial eligibility for each incoming player.

Long said he had not decided whether to suspend Dorrell.

Petrino signed a new seven-year contract in December 2010 after completing his third regular season atArkansas. The contract, which was for an average of $3.53 million annually.

The police report said Petrino was riding with Dorrell when he lost control of his motorcycle. Dorrell said in the report that she wasn’t sure what caused the accident, during which Petrino was unable to maneuver a turn and laid the motorcycle down on its left side while sliding off a rural, two-lane road about 20 miles southeast of Fayetteville.

Petrino said in the report that wind and sun caused the accident. The police report said Petrino and Dorrell were taken by a passer-by to an intersection in southeastFayetteville, where a state police officer took Petrino to the hospital.

The police report said Dorrell wasn’t taken to a hospital, and that she was dropped off at her vehicle, which was parked at the intersection. State police spokesman Bill Sadler said Petrino didn’t try to hide Dorrell’s part in the accident when questioned on Tuesday.

“Coach Petrino was as cooperative as anybody that we could ever hope to encounter following the traffic crash,” Sadler said.

Petrino, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, was hospitalized but had since returned to practice.

Arkansashas high expectations for next season, led by first-team All-Southeastern Conference quarterback Wilson. Also,Davis’ return after missing all of last season with an ankle injury has only added to the high hopes.

How Petrino’s misstep affects those hopes has yet to be seen. The next move is Long’s.

ASU Pro Day (Photos)

Red Wolves Knock Off Top-Seed MTSU; Advance to Sun Belt Semifinals

Courtesy: ArkansasState

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (3/4/12) – After back-to-back three pointers by junior guards Trey Finn and Marcus Hooten, which gave the Arkansas State basketball team the lead with 2:18 left in the first half, the Red Wolves only trailed once the rest of the game, knocking off top-seeded Middle Tennessee, 64-61 in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Sunday.

Arkansas State (14-19) now will face No. 5 seed North Texas on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Summit Arena in the semifinals of the tournament. The win by the Red Wolves ties the biggest upset in Sun Belt Tournament history.

Middle Tennessee missed five free throws in the final minutes of the game, including three by Sun Belt Player of the Year LaRon Dendy, which would have given the Blue Raiders the lead. Conversely, Hooten and senior forward Malcoln Kirkland each knocked down free throws in the final 20-seconds to maintain the Red Wolves lead.

“I am extremely proud of our team, I was proud of them last night and I am certainly proud of them tonight,” said ASU head coach John Brady. “We beat a very good basketball team who throughout the course of the year has showed they are the best team in our league by what they have done. I have always thought that if you defended well and rebounded that you have a chance and we really defended well today. We guarded Middle Tennessee as well as anyone has.”

MTSU led by 11 when Dendy laid the ball in with 8:11 remaining in the first half, 22-11. But ASU made eight defensive stops holding the Blue Raiders without a field goal for 4:11 and used a 15-2 run to take a 31-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.

A-State then converted their first three shots of the second half to maintain its lead, but a three-pointer by Raymond Cintron gave the Blue Raiders the lead 39-38 with 15:53 left in the game. Just a 1:20 later, a layup from Peterson put ASU back on top 40-39, a lead which they maintained the rest of the game.

The Red Wolves led by eight when Finn hit a three-pointer with 8:53 remaining in the game to put A-State up 49-41. A layup by junior forward Brandon Peterson with 5:45 left to go, also put ASU up by eight 54-46.

The Blue Raiders chipped away at the lead getting within one when Marcos Knight converted a pair of free throws with 1:39 left and again when Dendy hit a layup with just 13-seconds remaining.

Finn led three ASU players in double-digit scoring with 16 points. Hooten added 15 and Peterson had 13. Peterson also led all players on the boards with eight. ASU outrebounded MTSU 39-28, and outscored them in the paint 28-26.

The Red Wolves shot 43.8% from the floor (21-46) and connected on 6-12 shots of their shots from three-point range. ASU also converted 16-21 of their free throw attempts. MTSU shot 43.1% (22-51) and were 6-13 from three-point range. However they only converted 11-22 attempts from the free throw line. Cintron led MTSU with 15 points.

2012 Arkansas State University Recruiting Class

Player	Position	HT/WT
Chris Humes	CB	5-11/190
Dezmond Stegall	QB	6-3/205
Rocky Hayes	CB	6-0/175
Tres Houston	CB	–
Darrius Rosser	DE	–
Austin Moreton	OG	6-3/305
Quintaz Struble	DT	6-2/235
Bryce Giddens	C	6-0/265
Jemar Clark	OT	6-6/280
Dexter Blackmon	DT	6-2/285
Warren Leapheart	WR	6-5/205
Todd Mays	RB	5-11/205
Derek Keaton	CB	5-11/165
John Gandy	DE	6-0/245
Ishmael Hayes	DE	6-6/245
Eddie Porter	MLB	6-3/235
Michael Flint	OG	6-4/303
Tevin Bryson	DT	6-4/285
Michael Gordon	RB	5-11/180
Fredi Knighten	QB	5-10/160
Devin Mondie	OT	6-6/300
Lawrence Cayou	DE	6-5/265
Quanterio Heath	OLB	6-2/200
Braelon Roberts	WR	6-5/185
Colton Jackson	OG	6-4/250
Marquis Walker	CB	6-0/170
DeKeathan Williams	RB	6-2/205
Kendrick Daniels	RB	5-7/150

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Pre-game and Game (photos)

 

 

Mardi Gras Parade and Pep Rally in Mobile (photos)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Wolves Fall to Northern Illinois in GoDaddy.com Bowl

 Courtesy: ArkansasState

MOBILE, Ala. — Arkansas State (10-3) jumped out to an early 13-0 lead in the 13^th-annual GoDaddy.com Bowl, but the Huskies of Northern Illinois (11-3) countered with 31 unanswered points and went on to defeat the Red Wolves 38-20 Sunday in front of an ASU-partisan crowd of 38,734 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.

The loss snapped a nine-game win streak for the Red Wolves and was ASU’s first setback since Sept. 17.

Junior wide receiver Taylor Stockemer put up career-best numbers to lead the Red Wolves’ offense, finishing with 11 catches for 185 yards and a touchdown.  Stockemer’s numbers also set a new school record for receptions and yardage in a post-season game.  Junior quarterback Ryan Aplin completed 30-of-58 passes for 353 yards and a touchdown, while senior defensive end Brandon Joiner recorded his 13^th sack of the season to tie the Sun Belt Conference single-season record.  Joiner finished with a team-high eight tackles, three tackles-for-loss and one pass breakup.

“We played a very good football team tonight,” said ASU interim head coach David Gunn.  “We knew going into the game of their scoring capability, and that we couldn’t afford to dig a hole for ourselves. We got off to a great start. A couple of those field goals could have been touchdowns and that could have been even better.”

“Our kids came ready to play and I am proud of them,” added Gunn.  “Many things have transpired over the last 30 days, but these young men have shown great resolve over that period of time and we are certainly pleased with the accomplishments that have taken place this year.”

The Red Wolves wasted no time in getting on the board, using a 32-yard field goal from Brian Davis to take a 3-0 lead on the game’s first possession. The field goal wrapped up an eight-play, 30 yard drive that was set up when freshman Andrew Tryon returned the opening kickoff 50 yards to the Husky 45.

A 36-yard field goal on the Red Wolves’ second possession made it 6-0 with 7:44 remaining in the opening quarter and less than three minutes later,ArkansasStatecashed in for the game’s first touchdown and a 13-0 advantage.  Aplin hooked up with wideout Stockemer for a 36-yard catch-and-run to the NIU two to set up the touchdown, then kept up the middle on the next play to reach the end zone.

Northern Illinois answered with an 11-play, 77-yard drive on its next possession, getting the score when quarterback Chandler Harnish passed complete to wide receiver Perez Ashford for a 9-yard touchdown.  The Huskies grabbed a 14-13 lead when backup quarterback Jordan Lynch wrapped up a 78-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 4:49 left in the half, and following an ASU turnover at its own 43, NIU made it 21-13 when tailback Jamal Womble scored from a yard out on the final play of the first half.

A 43-yard touchdown pass from Harnish to wide receiver Martel Moore early in the third extended the Huskies’ lead to 28-13, andNorthern Illinoismade it 31-13 with 13:34 remaining in the game when kicker Matthew Sims knocked through a 22-yard field goal.   

The Red Wolves cut the NIU advantage to 31-20 with 11:21 remaining when Stockemer out-jumped a pair of Husky defenders in the end zone to gather in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Aplin, but Northern Illinois prevented any further rally when defensive back Dechane Durante returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown with 8:19 to play to set the final at 38-20.

In addition to the offensive numbers put up by Aplin and Stockemer, wideouts Carlos McCants and Earl Lucas each posted five receptions and senior running back Derek Lawson led the Red Wolves on the ground with 32 yards.  Defensive backs Kelcie McCray and Don Jones joined Joiner with eight stops, with each registering a tackle-for-loss.  Tryon returned four kickoffs for 114 yards.

Wide receiver Martel Moore led NIU with eight catches for 224 yards and a touchdown, while Harnish completed 18-of-36 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

ARKANSAS STATE POSTGAME NOTES

vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS, JAN. 8, 2012

TEAM:

• ArkansasStateteam captains were seniors Tom Castilaw (C), Demario Davis (LB) and Kelcie McCray (C) and junior Ryan Aplin (QB).
• ArkansasStatehad its 9-game winning streak snapped, but still finished the season with a 10-3 record.
• The Red Wolves’ 10 victories tie the fourth most in school history.

OFFENSE:

• Jr. WR Taylor Stockemer broke the school record for receptions and receiving yards in a postseason game with personal career high totals for each.  Stockemer’s 11 receptions tied the third most in school history and his 185 receiving yards were the fifth most.
• Sr. WR Dwayne Frampton finished his ASU career with a catch in every game (25).
• Jr. QB Ryan Aplin broke the school record for completions, passing attempts and passing yards in a postseason game.
• ASU finished with over 300 yards of total offense for the 12th time this season.

DEFENSE:

• Sr. DE Brandon Joiner tied the Sun Belt Conference record for sacks in a season (13).  Joiner tied his career high for tackles (8).
• Jr. CB Chaz Scales recorded his career interception.
• ASU posted one interception to give it 19 on the year and tie the fourth most in Sun Belt history.
• The ASU defense posted a season-high 11 tackles for loss.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

• So. K Brian Davis tied the school record for field goals made in a postseason game.
• R-Fr. Andrew Tryon’s 50 yard kickoff return tied the school record for longest in a postseason game.

 

Next Page »