Appalachian State Mountaineers vs Ark State Red Wolves Preview
The Appalachian State Mountaineers return to the field tomorrow night to continue their push for the Sun Belt crown against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
This is the next big match for the Mountaineers. Arkansas State has been a kingmaker in the Sun Belt for the past few years. If you can beat them, you’re in pretty good shape. If they beat you then you’re not ready for prime time in this conference.
This is the next Georgia Southern on the schedule and the Mountaineers need to realize that.
Opponent: Arkansas State Red Wolves (5-3, 4-0 Sun Belt)
Date: November 5
Time: 7:30 PM
TV: ESPNU
Venue: Kidd-Brewer Stadium
A first look at Arkansas State and you might imagine a North Carolina Tar Heels clone. The head coach is former Larry Fedora offensive coordinator Blake Anderson. That would make you think that the Red Wolves must clearly rely on throwing the ball all over the field. That would bring memories of overlooked Troy who took App State to the limit just last week.
However you would be wrong. Either Anderson does not have the quarterback (injuries) he needs for such a system or he trusts his line and running backs more right now. The Red Wolves are a running team for the moment. Michael Gordon has six hundred yards rushing while his teammate Warren Wand has five hundred. A third back, Johnston White, has 350 and most of the rushing touchdowns with ten.
Senior quarterback Fredi Knighten has been dealing with a groin injury for much of the year. Last week’s game against Georgia State was the first time that he played a game with twenty passing attempts since the injury. The Mountaineers should be ready in case Anderson decides this is the game to take the training wheels off Knighten.
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As for the Mountaineers, they just need to play their game. Marcus Cox is approaching a thousand yards on the season. Arkansas State has been pretty stout against the run all year, so it is likely that Taylor Lamb will have to call upon Simms McElfresh and others to keep drives alive. Arkansas State gave up a large number of points to a light weight Georgia State team last week, so they could be susceptible to the big pass.
Since the game is in Boone, the Mountaineers should come away with the victory. But memories of Troy should not be far from their mind as they continue their Sun Belt Campaign.
Prediction: 35-20 Appalachian State