Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Nebraska 42, Arkansas State 13

OFFENSE – D
HIGHLIGHTS: It was a rare off-day for a Ryan Aplin-led offense. Aplin himself finished 16 of 30 for just 138 yards, while the most output from the run game came from freshman Rocky Hayes, who gained 47 yards on six carries for an average of 7.8 yards. Hayes showed he can also be explosive against a Big 10 defense, but the running back was limited to three carries per half.

LOWLIGHTS: After recovering a ball that bounced off Ameer Abdullah on a punt at the Nebraska 15-yard line, the Red Wolves got a run for no gain from Hayes and two incomplete passes to Josh Jarboe before Brian Davis kicked a field goal. The Red Wolves were only able to convert six of 16 third downs and on the first drive of the game tried to convert on a fourth and 8, but Aplin threw an incomplete pass to J.D. McKissic. After going the first two weeks without giving up a sack, Aplin was under pressure from the Nebraska defense and was sacked three times. Freshman Fredi Knighten made his first pass attempt at ASU, however it came on a trick play that resulted in an interception, causing the Red Wolves turnovers on two straight drives.

DEFENSE – C
HIGHLIGHTS: The third quarter proved to be a showcase for the Red Wolves pass rush. In consecutive drives, ASU forced Taylor Martinez to fumble. The first was forced by Shervarius Jackson, and Qushaun Lee  recovered for the Red Wolves' only touchdown, cutting the Nebraska lead to 28-10. Later, senior Nathan Herrold appeared to sack Martinez for a 9-yard loss while forcing another fumble, but the replay showed Martinez lost the ball before being hit. Ryan Carrethers was credited with the recovery, the first of his career and Herrold was given credit for the forced fumble. Eddie Porter also forced a fumble and recovered, however it came late in the game when Nebraska was inside the ASU 10-yard line with 20 seconds left.

LOWLIGHTS: The Red Wolves defense gave up an opening drive touchdown for the third game in a row and aside from those turnovers, couldn’t put a stop to a downhill running Nebraska offense. Martinez only missed one of his 14 pass attempts, totaling 180 yards and two touchdowns and 77 yards on the ground for one touchdown. Ameer Abdullah was in control of the ground attack with 167 yards and two touchdowns. The Red Wolves couldn’t stop Nebraska on third down, as it was 10 of 13.

SPECIAL TEAMS — B-
HIGHLIGHTS: Davis was Mr. Reliable, making both of his field goal attempts from beyond the 30-yard line. Both punting units showed some improvement over the Memphis game, with ASU able to return a punt, albeit just one as Hayes made a 22-yard return in the third quarter. A miscue by Abdullah on a punt return, with the football bouncing off his foot, led to ASU recovering at the Cornhusker 15-yard line with 5:12 left in the third quarter.

LOWLIGHTS: There were no unnecessary turnovers to benefit the other team, but there were some costly penalties on the ASU punting team. Twice, procedural penalties forced the Red Wolves to re-punt after pinning Nebraska deep in its territory. The worst came after ASU downed a punt at the Nebraska 1. However, too many players in the backfield led to a re-kick, which Nebraska took to its 25.

OVERALL — C
WHAT WE LEARNED: Missing Taylor Stockemer, arguably the team’s best wide receiver for the second straight week because of an injury, is beginning to take its toll on ASU’s offense. The Red Wolves lacked a consistent downfield threat and could never string together a consistent drive. The defense needs to improve  its tackling, specifically in the backfield. An inability to keep the Cornhuskers behind the line of scrimmage led to Nebraska averaging 7.2 yards per play. Playing Football Championship Subdivision opponent Alcorn State should provide a needed respite for ASU before diving into conference play against Western Kentucky.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME
OFFENSE: Not much to boast about. Freshman J.D. McKissic led the depleted receiving corps with eight catches for 73 yards for an average of 9.1 yards per catch.

DEFENSE: The biggest moment for the Red Wolves came when Qushaun Lee recovered a Martinez fumble in the end zone for the only ASU touchdown. Lee led the team in tackles with 15, nine of which were unassisted.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Davis was 100 percent for the first time Saturday, hitting field goals of 31 and 32 yards.