Preview: Arkansas State (1-3) at UL-Monroe (3-2)
Posted October 13, 2009
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FACTS & STATS: Site: Malone Stadium (30,427) -- Monroe, Louisiana. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: ASU 1-1, ULM 2-0. Away Record: ASU 0-2, ULM 1-2. Neutral Record: ASU 0-0, ULM 0-0. Conference Record: ASU 0-1, ULM 2-0. Series Record: Arkansas State leads, 17-13.
GAME NOTES: The UL-Monroe Warhawks will try to continue their winning ways when they host the Arkansas State Red Wolves Tuesday night in a Sun Belt Conference tussle at Malone Stadium.
Since opening the year with a convincing, 61-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State, the Red Wolves have struggled, losing three straight games, including a tough, 24-21 setback to Iowa on the road on October 3rd. Arkansas State, which is 0-2 away from home this season, has posted a meager 2-13 mark as the visitor since the beginning of the 2007 campaign.
As for the Warhawks, they march into this battle riding a two-game winning streak. The most recent victory, a 48-35 decision over Florida International, gave ULM three wins on the year and pushed the team's league ledger to 2-0. Since 2001 the Warhawks have collected just two winning seasons in Sun Belt action and the most recent came in 2007 when the team finished 4-3 in league play.
Arkansas State leads the all-time series by a 17-13 margin and have won five of the last seven contests. However, the last two matchups at Malone Stadium have gone in favor of the Warhawks.
The Red Wolves have used a heavy dose of their ground game to punish opponents this season, as the team is churning out 162.8 rushing ypg. Out of the 15 touchdowns scored by this unit, 11 have come via the run. Reggie Arnold has done most of the damage out of the backfield, as the tailback is pacing the team with 283 yards and seven touchdowns on 5.9 yards per tote. Don Jones and Derek Lawson have also chipped in on the year, combining for 250 yards and two scores on the ground. With the success of the rushing attack, quarterback Corey Leonard has been relegated to just managing the games, instead of trying to win matchups with his arm. After four games, the signal-caller has completed 56.4 percent of his throws for 720 yards, and has four touchdowns against one interception. In the team's recent loss to Iowa, the Red Wolves only managed 296 total yards, including just 80 rushing yards on 3.2 yards per attempt. Arnold was unable to do much against the tough Big Ten opponent, rushing for just 42 yards on 10 carries. As for Leonard, he tossed two touchdowns in the setback, completing 22-of-40 passes for 216 yards with two interceptions.
The Red Wolves have not been overpowering defensively, but the team has enjoyed success in some areas. Arkansas State heads into this contest surrendering 372.5 total ypg, and that has led to 23.0 ppg. However, the team has done a nice job against the run, holding teams to just 106.0 yards per matchup on a mere 3.4 yards per attempt. The defense however, has endured problems defending the pass, as teams are torching the Red Wolves for 266.5 passing ypg and out of the 11 touchdowns permitted by this defense, nine have come via the pass. The Red Wolves have also had trouble making big plays, as the squad goes into Tuesday games with just seven takeaways and seven sacks. In the loss to Iowa, Arkansas State was punished for 420 total yards, but the majority of the problems for the defense once again came against the pass, as the Hawkeyes burned the Red Wolves for 296 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Just like their counterpart, the Warhawks have used a run-first approach this season and head into this conference matchup averaging a hefty 208.6 ypg on the ground. However, ULM is a tad more balanced and is currently producing 418.6 total yards per contest and that has translated to an impressive 33.4 ppg. Frank Goodin has been a monster out of the backfield for ULM, as the tailback is leading the squad with 461 rushing yards and eight scores on 5.6 yards per attempt. Quarterback Trey Revell has chipped in with 185 yards and three touchdowns, but he has been even better with his arm. After five games, the signal-caller has thrown for 1,041 yards and seven scores against four interceptions. The Warhawks were clicking on all cylinders in their recent win over FIU, as the team churned out 577 total yards, including 304 yards on the ground. Goodin led the way with 163 yards and three touchdowns in the win, while Revell added 59 rushing yards and one score on the ground. Revell was just as important when in the pocket, as the quarterback finished the game with 273 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-35 efficiency. Darrell McNeal was busy throughout the contest, hauling in six receptions for 108 yards and two scores, and is now leading all receivers in receptions (22), yards (321) and touchdowns (four).
Unfortunately the defense has been a let-down for UL-Monroe this season, as the unit is being pounded for 31.4 ppg. The Warhawks are only allowing 106.2 ypg on the ground, but out of the 19 touchdowns allowed by this unit, 11 have come via the run. The real trouble for this squad has come against the pass, as ULM heads into this game surrendering a whopping 268.2 ypg through the air. A bright spot for this unit has been its ability to make big plays when it matters most, as the Warhawks have collected 10 takeaways, while also recording 11 sacks. Although the Warhawks were victorious in their last contest, the team still allowed 391 total yards, and once again the defense was torched by the pass, as FIU finished with 314 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Despite the poor effort, UL-Monroe still forced two turnovers in the win, and also limited the Golden Panthers to just 8-of-17 on third down attempts.
Both teams rely on the run, so expect the Red Wolves and Warhawks to pound the rock. The Warhawks are a more balanced team and since Arkansas State has struggled on the road, expect UL-Monroe to grab the win.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: UL-Monroe 38, Arkansas State 31
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