Sun Belt Conference Weekly News and Notes (Complete PDF)
2014 Sun Belt Conference Media Guide
2014 Sun Belt Conference Composite Schedule
2014 Sun Belt Conference Standings
Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette Add to Win Streaks
Sun Belt newcomer Georgia Southern continues to impress as the Eagles took advantage of a nationally televised game for the second time this season in beating Troy 42-10 on ESPNU. Those that tuned in saw Georgia Southern advance its win streak to six games, remain undefeated in Sun Belt play, and amass 421 yards rushing to maintain the top team rushing average in the nation and post its fifth game with 400 or more yards rushing.
Georgia Southern goes back on the road for two straight weekends with a conference game at Texas State on Saturday, Nov. 8th, followed by its final non-conference game at Navy Nov. 15th.
While Georgia Southern remains undefeated in league play and carries the best overall record in the conference, it is important to note that UL Lafayette is also undefeated and is technically tied with the Eagles due to their unblemished win percentages. The Cajuns still have four Sun Belt tilts on their schedule including three road games. None of the Cajuns upcoming opponents maintain an overall winning record however.
UL Lafayette is part of a pack of teams that hold 5-3 overall records. In addition to the Cajuns, Arkansas State, South Alabama, and Texas State all stand with the same record. While it is known that the Cajuns have a perfect conference record, Arkansas State and Texas State follow closely as each has a 3-1 record in league play. South Alabama sits at 4-2 in the league, but both of its losses have come to the two teams that sit in first place in the conference standings.
Only five non-conference games remain on the regular season schedule in the conference. Navy appears twice on the schedule as Georgia Southern visits Annapolis and the Midshipmen visit South Alabama. The Jaguars are the only team that has more than one non-conference game remaining, in addition to Navy they will visit South Carolina on Nov. 22.
Upcoming Schedule
November 8
* Georgia State at Troy - 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
* South Alabama at Arkansas State - 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
* UL Monroe at Appalachian State - 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
* Georgia Southern at Texas State - 3 p.m. (ESPN3)
Idaho at San Diego State - 5:30 p.m. (Root Sports)
* UL Lafayette at New Mexico State - 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
November 15
* Appalachian State at Arkansas State - 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Georgia Southern at Navy - 2:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Net)
* Troy at Idaho - 4 p.m. (ESPN3)
* UL Lafayette at UL Monroe - 6 p.m. (Sun Belt/ESPN3)
* Texas State at South Alabama - TBA (ESPN3)
All times Central (CT) and subject to change
* denotes Sun Belt Conference game
Recent Results
November 1
Texas A&M 21, UL Monroe 16 (SEC Network)
* Appalachian State 44, Georgia State 0 (ESPN3)
* Texas State 37, New Mexico State 29 (ESPN3)
* UL Lafayette 19, South Alabama 9 (Sun Belt/ESPN3)
* Arkansas State 44, Idaho 28 (ESPN3)
October 30
* Georgia Southern 42, Troy 10 (ESPNU)
October 25
* Georgia Southern 69, Georgia State 31 (ESPN3)
* Texas State 22, UL Monroe 18 (ESPN3)
October 24
* South Alabama 27, Troy 13 (ESPNU)
Sun Belt Players of the Week - As selected by a media voting panel
Offensive Player of the Week
Marcus Cox (Appalachian State, RB, So.)
In a driving snowstorm, Doak Walker Award candidate Marcus Cox rushed a career-high 250 yards and three touchdowns in Appalachian State’s 44-0 win over Georgia State … Cox averaged 8.6 yards per rush, including runs of 19, 39 and 76 yards … scored on touchdown runs of 1, 6 and 6 yards … his 250 rushing yards was the sixth-highest total in Appalachian State history (third among running backs) … the 250 rushing yards were the most by a Mountaineer since DeAndre Presley ran for 264 yards in an NCAA Division I FCS playoff win over Western Illinois in 2010 and the most by an App State running back since Ritchie Melchor rushed for 267 yards against Chattanooga in 1989 … the 250 rushing yards is the third-highest single-game total in the Sun Belt this season … three touchdown runs are tied for the fourth-most in a Sun Belt game this season … led an Appalachian State rushing attack that totaled 469 yards, the Mountaineers’ highest single-game rushing total since they amassed 572 yards against Lenoir-Rhyne in 1975.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (Arkansas State, DE, r-Fr.)
Redshirt freshman defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones recorded a career-high eight tackles, five tackles for loss that tied the most by a Sun Belt Conference player this season, a school-record tying four sacks and one pass break-up in Arkansas State’s 44-28 road victory over Idaho. His five tackles for loss were the third most in the nation this season, while his four sacks tied the third most in the country this year and tied the third most in Sun Belt Conference history. Jones was a part of A-State’s defense that had eight turnovers gained, including four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Jones’ eight tackles were the third most on the team and the most among the Red Wolves’ defensive linemen.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Terrence Franks (Texas State, RB, Sr.)
Terrence Franks had the play of the game on Saturday, blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown to give Texas State a 30-14 lead at the time. Franks’ blocked punt was the first time a Bobcat has blocked a punt since Joplo Bartu did it in 2011.It was the first time a blocked punt had been returned for a touchdown since Morris Brothers did it in 2005.
Around the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt sets win record vs. Non-Conference Foes
The Sun Belt Conference’s 21 non-conference wins in the 2013 season eclipsed the previous record mark of 19 set in 2012. Additionally, of note for the league’s non-conference win total was that the Sun Belt fared well against its peer opponents in the non-AQ BCS ranks during the 2013 season. The Sun Belt finished the year a combined 8-1 against members of Conference-USA (4-1), the Mid-American Conference (3-0) and the Mountain West Conference (1-0). The Sun Belt also had the best overall non-conference win percentage when comparing the four non-AQ conferences.
Sun Belt Membership
The Sun Belt Conference will contest the 2014 football season with 11 members – Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Idaho, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe, New Mexico State, South Alabama, Texas State and Troy. UALR and UT Arlington compete as non-football playing members. The Sun Belt will have four new members in the league this year as Appalachian State and Georgia Southern were added as all-sports members and Idaho and New Mexico State were added as football playing members. Both Appalachian State and Georgia Southern bring with them highly successful football programs and each team will begin the process of transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) immediately. The 2014 Sun Belt football season will mark the debut of both in the league schedule and standings. Additionally, both the Mountaineers and Eagles will be able to compete for the league championship in football for the 2014 season. Both teams will first be eligible to compete in a spot for a postseason bowl game come the 2015 season. Idaho and New Mexico State are familiar partners of the Sun Belt Conference, having been football members from the league’s inaugural year of football in 2001 through the 2004 season. Both members played an integral part of forming the Sun Belt Conference for football and now add strength to the league. Both teams will be immediately eligible to compete for the Sun Belt football championship and also for a spot in postseason bowl games.
Sun Belt Undefeated in 2013 Bowl Games
The 2013 football season saw two teams take home bowl championship trophies, as UL Lafayette won its third consecutive R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and Arkansas State won its second consecutive GoDaddy Bowl. The Red Wolves won their second consecutive GoDaddy Bowl by defeating Ball State 23-20. The previous season the Red Wolves defeated Kent State in the annual bowl game played in Mobile. The Red Wolves have made three consecutive appearances in the game, having lost to Northern Illinois in their first appearance. The Ragin’ Cajuns closed the 2013 football season with a 9-4 record that included a share of the 2013 Sun Belt Conference title and a 24-21 win over Tulane in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Preseason Awards Candidates
Paul Hornung Award Watch List - Rashon Ceaser, UL Monroe, J.D. McKissic, Arkansas State; Lou Groza Award Watch List - Maxwell Johnson, New Mexico State; Ray Guy Award Watch List - Austin Rehkow, Idaho Justin Manton, UL Monroe; Rimington Award Watch List-Bryce Giddens, Arkansas State, Mike Marboe, Idaho, Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, New Mexico State; John Mackey Award Watch List- Darion Griswold, Arkansas State; Wes Saxton, South Alabama; Jim Thorpe Award Watch List - Sterling Young, Arkansas State, Rocky Hayes, Arkansas State; Biletnikoff Award Watch List -Rashon Ceaser, UL Monroe, Wes Saxton, South Alabama, Shaverez Smith, South Alabama, Jamal Robinson, UL Lafayette; Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List - Justin Hamilton, UL Lafayette,Gerrand Johnson, UL Monroe, Qushaun Lee, Arkansas State, Mykhael Quave, UL Lafayette, Daniel Quave, UL Lafayette, Tyler Roberts, Troy, Dominique Tovell, UL Lafayette, David Mayo, Texas State, Davey O’Brien Watch List - Terrance Broadway, UL Lafayette; Dick Butkus Award Watch List - Michael Orakpo, Texas State; Doak Walker Award Watch List - Marcus Cox, Appalachian State, Michael Gordon, Arkansas State, Alonzo Harris, UL Lafayette, Robert Lowe, Texas State; Maxwell Award Watch List - Qushaun Lee, Arkansas State; All-State Sugar Bowl Manning Award Watch List - Terrance Broadway, UL Lafayette.
Sun Belt Bowl Games
The Sun Belt Conference maintains primary bowl tie-ins with the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the GoDaddy Bowl and the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. A team from the Sun Belt Conference has played in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl since its inception in 2001. The SBC has won five consecutive R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl games and seven out of the last eight. The GoDaddy bowl matches teams from the Sun Belt Conference and Mid-American Conference. Arkansas State has helped lead the Sun Belt to two consecutive wins in the GoDaddy Bowl. The Camellia Bowl will match-up the Sun Belt Conference against the Mid-American Conference beginning in December. The game will be played yearly at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.
Come 2015, the Cure Bowl will feature a team from the Sun Belt Conference against the American Athletic Conference. The game will be played yearly at the newly renovated Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., the weekend before the Christmas holiday. The Cure Bowl is the first of its kind to combine the passions of college football with the goal of supporting breast cancer research.
The Sun Belt Conference will also be part of the rotation for the newly created Bahamas Bowl and Miami Beach Bowl.
With the 2014-15 year marking the debut of the College Football Playoff (CFP) the Sun Belt continues to find itself among the 10 premier college football conferences and the new system is guaranteed universal access based on performance – there are no automatic qualifiers for the playoff system. Additionally, the CFP will mean that a spot among the premier bowl games of college football will be guaranteed to the highest-ranked champion from the “Group of Five” conferences: the Sun Belt Conference, American Athletic Conference, Mountain West Conference, Mid-American Conference and Conference USA.
Georgia State’s Ruiz Named John Mackey Tight End of Week
Georgia State tight end Joel Ruiz was named John Mackey Tight End of the Week after his season opening performance in the Panthers’ 38-37 win over Abilene Christian. Ruiz, a junior from Kingsland, Ga., had a career-best game with seven receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
A-State’s Greve Added to Rimington Trophy?Watch List
Arkansas State senior center Tyler Greve has been added to the 2014 Rimington Trophy Watch List. Greve joins 55 other players across the nation on the watch list for the award presented annually to the nation’s premier college center. Greve is the fourth A-State player ever named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List.
Five Sun Belt Punters Named 2014 Ray Guy Award Candidates
The Augusta Sports Council recently announced the nominees for the 2014 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter. Among the nominees were five Sun Belt punters - Luke Ferguson of Arkansas State, Austin Rehkow of Idaho, Daniel Cadona of UL Lafayette, Will Johnson of Texas State and Justin Manton of UL Monroe.
Sun Belt Bowl Game Winning Percentage
Over the last five years the Sun Belt Conference ranks second out of the 10 FBS conferences in postseason bowl game winning percentage. In fact, the Sun Belt Conference ranks ahead of noted leagues – the ACC, Pac-12 and the Big Ten.
|
Conference |
Winning % |
|
SEC |
0.625 |
|
Sun Belt |
0.571 |
|
Mountain West |
0.538 |
|
C-USA |
0.536 |
|
Big 12 |
0.513 |
|
Pac-12 |
0.500 |
|
ACC |
0.439 |
|
American |
0.400 |
|
Big Ten |
0.385 |
|
MAC |
0.346 |
All-Time Sun Belt Standings for Current Members (Sorted by Winning Percentage)
|
School |
Wins |
Losses |
Percentage |
Years in Sun Belt |
|
Georgia Southern |
6 |
0 |
1.000 |
1 |
|
Troy |
50 |
29 |
0.633 |
11 |
|
Arkansas State |
50 |
40 |
0.556 |
14 |
|
UL Lafayette |
53 |
44 |
0.546 |
14 |
|
New Mexico State |
16 |
15 |
0.516 |
6 |
|
Texas State |
5 |
5 |
0.500 |
2 |
|
Appalachian State |
2 |
2 |
0.500 |
1 |
|
UL Monroe |
48 |
49 |
0.495 |
14 |
|
South Alabama |
9 |
12 |
0.429 |
2 |
|
Idaho |
8 |
24 |
0.250 |
6 |
|
Georgia State |
0 |
13 |
0.000 |
2 |
UL Lafayette Football Honored for Academic Performance
The UL Lafayette football team was recognized recently for having the highest grade point averages in the Sun Belt Conference last school year. This year’s Sun Belt Team Academic Award will be presented to the Cajuns as they had the highest average GPA of all Sun Belt football teams. The academic award is calculated by totaling individual GPAs of team members, then dividing by the total number of student-athletes on that particular team. All GPAs are based on the previous school year and include the total GPA for the year (not the average of semesters).
Georgia Southern’s Frye Named a Candidate for Senior CLASS Award
Georgia Southern offensive tackle Garrett Frye has been selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS Senior and have notable achievements in the four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
Georgia Southern University’s Male Student-Athlete for both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years as well as earning first-team All-America honors, Frye was a 2013 CoSIDA/Capital One Division I Academic All-District selection. He owns a 3.77 cumulative grade point average in the Exercise Science curriculum.
UL Lafayette’s Cadona Named Ray Guy National Punter of the Week
UL Lafayette punter Daniel Cadona was named the Ray Guy National Punter of the Week following his performance against Ole Miss on Sept. 13. Cadona, a native of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia averaged 51.1 yards on seven attempts for the Ragin’ Cajuns against the No. 14-ranked Rebels. Cadona, who recorded a net average of 48.7 yards, recorded punts of 50 yards or greater on his first six attempts and placed three inside the Ole Miss 20-yard line.
Sun Belt to Expand Live Event Distribution with ESPN3
The Sun Belt Conference and ESPN announced recently a content expansion within their agreement that will result in the exclusive distribution of up to an additional 50 Sun Belt events on ESPN3 - ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network.
“ESPN continues to live up to its billing as the ‘Worldwide Leader in Sports’ with the advances that it has made in digital content,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. “ESPN3 and WatchESPN have revolutionized how viewers consume sports – we are excited to be part of that and eager to display the Sun Belt to the 92 million homes that ESPN3 reaches.”
Fans will begin seeing the product of the expanded agreement this fall when a number of Sun Belt football games will be exclusively produced and distributed on ESPN3. The fall sports season will also feature the conference’s Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer, and Volleyball Championships on the network. A number of men’s and women’s regular-season basketball games will be available along with every contest from the 2015 Sun Belt Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. Baseball will be featured heavily in the spring with a run of regular-season games and up to seven matchups from the conference championship being made available. Several games from the 2015 Softball Championship will also be carried on ESPN3.
The deal that has been struck will also be instrumental in the future of airing more live events as the conference and ESPN will work jointly to develop a school production based model. This will result in Sun Belt members being able to deliver high quality productions that can be featured on ESPN3 throughout the year.
Sun Belt Conference Head Football Coaches Teleconference
Every Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:47 a.m. beginning August 25 to November 24
All times Central (CT) and subject to change
Contact John McElwain (mcelwain@sunbeltsports.org) for info
10:30 a.m. – Announcements – If Necessary
10:30 a.m. – Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State
10:37 a.m. – Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern
10:44 a.m. – Dennis Franchione, Texas State
10:51 a.m. – Larry Blakeney, Troy
10:58 a.m. – Paul Petrino, Idaho
11:05 a.m. – Doug Martin, New Mexico State
11:12 a.m. – Blake Anderson, Arkansas State
11:19 a.m. – Mark Hudspeth, UL Lafayette
11:26 a.m. – Todd Berry, UL Monroe
11:33 a.m. – Trent Miles, Georgia State
11:40 a.m. – Joey Jones, South Alabama
Sun Belt Conference Video Feed
Contact Travis Llewellyn (llewellyn@sunbeltsports.org) for info.
The Sun Belt Conference will provide a weekly video feed of head coach interviews and game highlights each Tuesday during the 2014 football season. The video feed will be made available exclusively through a digital download this season using the website https://sunbeltsports.egnyte.com/. New videos made available on this site will be uploaded on Tuesday of each week by 2 p.m. The videos will also be maintained and archived throughout the season. Members of the media may also find supplementary content on this site such as logos and photos. For login information please contact Travis Llewellyn (llewellyn@sunbeltsports.org) or John McElwain (mcelwain@sunbeltsports.org).
Team News and Notes
Appalachian State Mountaineers
Appalachian State earned its second-straight dominating victory with a 44-0 shutout win over Georgia State on Saturday. The win over Georgia State was Appalachian State’s first-ever home win in Sun Belt Conference play and its first-ever home win over an NCAA Division I FBS opponent. Appalachian State outgained Georgia State, 567-62, including a 469-8 advantage on the ground. App State also easily outdistanced GSU in first downs (26-6), possession time (38:40-21:20) and third/fourth down conversions (11-of-18 for App State, 3-of-13 for GSU). Appalachian State’s 469 rushing yards against Georgia State were the Mountaineers’ most since they ran for 572 yards in a 52-28 win over Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 18, 1975.
Georgia State’s 62 total yards were the fewest that Appalachian State has allowed since it surrendered just 39 yards in a 22-0 win over Gulford on Nov. 4, 1961. Georgia State’s eight rushing yards were the fewest that Appalachian State has allowed since it surrendered just five in a 55-21 win over North Carolina Central on Oct. 10, 2009.
Appalachian State’s 505-yard advantage in total yardage against Georgia State was its biggest since it outgained Georgia Southern, 712-171, in a 52-16 win on Oct. 24, 2009.
Over its past two games (including a 53-14 win at Troy on Oct. 18), Appalachian State has outscored its opponents 97-14 and compiled a total-yardage advantage of 1,078-370.
Appalachian State has amassed at least 500 yards of total offense in three-straight games (637 vs. Liberty on Oct. 11, 561 at Troy on Oct. 18 and 567 vs. GSU on Saturday).
Appalachian State has had two 100-yard rushers in three-straight games - Marcus Cox (111) and Terrence Upshaw (111) vs. Liberty on Oct. 11, Cox (123) and Ricky Fergerson (109) at Troy on Oct. 18 and Cox (250) and Fergerson (123) vs. Georgia State on Saturday.
Appalachian State has recorded two shutouts in a season for the first time since 1998, when it blanked VMI (51-0) and Eastern Kentucky (19-0) in back-to-back weeks (Nov. 7 and 14).
Appalachian State is 20-1 in its last 21 home games played in the month of November.
Arkansas State Red Wolves
A-State’s five victories matches its second most ever (2006, 2012, 2014) through eight games since joining the FBS in 1992 . . . The Red Wolves hold a 23-4 Sun Belt Conference record since 2011 . . . A-State has won 11 of its last 12 games in the month of November . . . With its 44-28 victory over Idaho, A-State improved to 12-2 over its last 14 conference road games . . . The Red Wolves hold a 33-14 record over the last four seasons (2011-14) . . . The A-State offense has recorded at least 300 yards total offense in every game this season and over 400 five times, including its last four games . . . The Red Wolves have posted at least 30 points in a game four times this season, including the last three in a row . . . A-State’s defense recorded a season-high four interceptions against Idaho, giving it 10 on the season and at least one in six of eight games . . . The Red Wolves recorded a season-high eight turnovers gained against Idaho, which also included four fumble recoveries to give them eight on the year . . . Among the four fumble recoveries was a 93-yard TD return by junior cornerback Rocky Hayes, which was the longest fumble return in school history . . . Junior running back Michael Gordon recorded five rushing touchdowns against Idaho, which tied the Sun Belt Conference record and were the third most in school history for a single game . . . Gordon has rushed for over 100 yards in four consecutive games, which is the third longest streak in school history . . . Junior quarterback Fredi Knighten has recorded at least 200 yards total offense in seven of eight games this season and over 300 in five, including the last four in a row . . . Redshirt freshman defensive end Ja’Von Jones posted a Sun Belt Conference season-high five tackles for loss against Idaho and picked up four sacks, which tied the most in school history and tied the second most in Sun Belt history . . . A-State wrapped up a three-game road swing at Idaho, posting a 2-1 record in those three games . . . Three of A-State’s final four regular-season games are at home, where it holds a 3-0 record this season.
Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia Southern goes back on the road for two straight weekends with a conference game at Texas State on Saturday, November 8th, followed by its final non-conference game at Navy November 15th. The Eagles and Bobcats kick off at 3 p.m. local time, 4 p.m. Eastern time, with the contest available on ESPN3. This is the first Sun Belt Conference meeting between Pittsburg State alumni Dennis Franchione (’73) and Wille Fritz (’83).
Eagle Coach Willie Fritz has faced Texas State two times previously with a 2-0 mark against the Bobcats. His 2010 Sam Houston State team took a 31-29 win at Bobcat Stadium in the final game of his first season in Huntsville. In 2011, Franchione returned to the sidelines of Texas State in its final year as an FCS program, but suffered a 36-14 loss at the hands of Fritz and the Bearkats.
Georgia Southern defeated Troy last Thursday night 42-10 to remain undefeated in the Sun Belt and is off to its best conference start since 2004. The Eagles continue to add to their win column in league play as the first team in their inaugural year in Sun Belt history to start 4-0 and extended that mark to 6-0.
With the win Thursday night in front of a national audience, Georgia Southern became the 10th team in FBS to post seven wins in 2014 and after this weekend’s action, is one of 17 teams with that minimum win total. The seven wins also assure the Eagles of a .500 or better record in their first season in FBS.
The Eagles ran for 421 yards to maintain the top team rushing average in the nation and post their fifth game with 400 or more yards rushing. Sophomore quarterback Kevin Ellison ran for a career-best three touchdowns and 99 yards and redshirt freshman L.A. Ramsby had two rushing TDs and 55 yards. Favian Upshaw had the final score in the victory with a career-best 96 yards on the ground on seven attempts.
Ellison got the Eagles on the board early with the fastest score this year as Rayquan Sam recovered a fumble on the Trojans’ kickoff return to put Georgia Southern on the Troy 17-yard line. He scored back-to-back TDs with another with 3:51 left in the first quarter to cap a 15-play drive. Matt Breida added 72 yards to the Eagles’ rushing total.
While the Eagle offense put together some impressive numbers, the defense did more than its fair share as well. Through three quarters, Georgia Southern had allowed only 83 yards of total offense, 154 for the game, and kept the Trojans on the short side of the possession time at 21:17 to the Eagles’ 38:43. The Trojans punted six times and were without a touchdown until the final 1:18 of the game.
Georgia State Panthers
Georgia State faces the second of three straight road games as the Panthers travel to Troy for a 3 p.m. ET game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala.
Quarterback Nick Arbuckle leads the Sun Belt in passing yards (279.9 ypg) and touchdown passes (16). Arbuckle is also second in the league in pass efficiency and total offense (280.0).
In his first season at Georgia State, Arbuckle is nearing school records in season and career passing categories. With 191 completions, the junior college transfer from Pierce (Calif.) College has already surpassed that Georgia State season record (old record, 190 by Drew Little, 2010). Arbuckle needs just 102 yards passing to break the GSU season record of 2,573 yards, set last season by Ronnie Bell., and 167 yards of total offense to break Bell’s record total of 2,686 yards. With three touchdown passes, Arbuckle would break not only the Panther season record (18 by Little, 2010) but also the career mark (18 by Little, 2010-11 and Ronnie Bell, 2012-present).
Two Panthers are on midseason watch lists for major college football awards with receiver Donovan Harden up for the Bilketnikoff Award and tight end Joel Ruiz a candidate for the John Mackey Award.
Harden, who had school records with 11 receptions, 186 yards and four touchdown catches against Georgia Southern, leads the Panthers with 47 catches for 719 yards and six TDs. He is third in the Sun Belt in receiving yards (79.9 pg) and seventh in receptions (5.2 pg).
Ruiz is the Panthers’ third-leading receiver with 37 receptions for 464 yards and three touchdowns. He is second in the nation among tight ends in receptions (4.6) and receiving yards (58.0) per game.
If he can recover from injury, Georgia State linebacker Joseph Peterson will enjoy a homecoming this week. Peterson, the Panthers’ leading tackler and top defensive player, hails from Dothan, Ala., not far from the Troy campus. He was an all-state player at Dothan High School. Peterson, who missed the Panthers’ last game with an ankle injury, is Georgia State’s career tackling leader with 255, and this season, he ranks third in the Sun Belt with 10.9 tackles per game. Peterson is one of two Panthers from Alabama, along with freshman cornerback Antreal Allen from Auburn High School.
Idaho Vandals
Idaho takes a week off from Sun Belt action for its final non-conference game of the season at San Diego State. The Vandals and Aztecs have played four times with the series tied at 2-2. The first meeting was in 1996 and the most recent was 2009. The game is being televised by ROOT sports.
Marc Millan’s 18 tackles against Arkansas State was the most by a Vandal since 1998 when Ryan Skinner had 20 in the Vandals’ victory over Southern Mississippi in the Humanitarian Bowl. His five tackles for loss in the game are second-most in the NCAA this season with Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah and USC’s Josh Keyes tied for the best game this season at 5.5. His 18 total tackles are tied for 13th for a single game. David Mayo of Texas State and Zach Vigil of Utah State each have had 22.
Austin Rehkow’s average of 53 yards on four punts vs. Arkansas State ties for the 22nd best single game in the nation this year. He continues to lead the nation in punting average with 48.5 yards per kick. Arizona’s Drew Riggleman is second at 47.2.
Elijhaa Penny had his best game as a Vandal with 121 yards on 16 carries against Arkansas State. He added two more rushing touchdowns and leads the Sun Belt with nine. He’s ranked 25th nationally.
Joshua McCain retained his conference lead in receiving touchdowns (7), receiving yards (886), receiving yards per game (110.8) and receptions per game (7.4) after catching five passes for 82 yards last Saturday. Nationally, he is 10th in receptions per game and receiving yards per game, 11th in total receiving yards, and 17th in receiving touchdowns.
UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football team opens a two-game roadtrip on Saturday, Nov. 8, when it faces New Mexico State in a Sun Belt Conference contest at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M.
UL Lafayette (5-3, 4-0 Sun Belt) remained unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play after earning a hard fought 19-9 win over South Alabama last Saturday. Elijah McGuire gained 93 of his game-high 116 yards rushing in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a game-sealing 8-yard touchdown with 5:01 remaining. The sophomore added a game-high nine receptions for 90 yards as he accumulated 229 all-purpose yards.
Christian Ringo kept up his impressive SBC season for the Ragin’ Cajuns defense, recording five tackles with three for loss, two sacks and a key fourth-quarter fumble recovery inside the UL Lafayette 10-yard line to help preserve a 12-9 lead. As a unit, the Ragin’ Cajuns defense held USA to 66 yards on the ground - the fewest allowed in a single-game since allowing 54 to the Jaguars on Nov. 24, 2012.
Hunter Stover converted on all four field goal attempts for UL Lafayette, including a go-ahead 32-yard kick with 11:28 remaining to break a 9-9 deadlock.
After opening the season with a 2-0 mark, New Mexico State (2-7, 1-4 SBC) dropped its seventh consecutive game with a 37-29 setback to visiting Texas State on Saturday. The high-powered Aggies recorded a season-high 639 yards of total offense against the Bobcats, including season-high marks of 235 on the ground and 404 through the air, but committed a pair of turnovers and allowed the Bobcats to rush for 287 yards. Larry Rose III ran for 181 yards a touchdown for NM State while Tyler Rogers completed 36 of 52 passes for 404 yards and three scores.
UL Lafayette leads the all-time series, 5-3, and has won two of last three meetings, including 49-35 victory in Lafayette in 2013. New Mexico State has won both meetings played in Las Cruces (2002, 2004).
UL Monroe Warhawks
ULM will begin the final third of its regular season schedule with a road contest at Appalachian State on Saturday... Kick-off in the first meeting all-time between the Warhawks and the Mountaineers is slated for 3:30 p.m. (ET).
This weekend’s trip will be ULM’s third trip all-time to the state of North Carolina... In 1966, the Warhawks traveled to Greenville where they claimed a 21-14 win over the Pirates (Sept. 24)... ULM made its second trip to N.C. last season when it defeated Wake Forest, 21-19, on Sept. 14, 2013... ULM earned a 17-10 win over the Demon Deacons in Monroe earlier this season and owns a 2-0 record all-time vs. WF... Against East Carolina, the Warhawks are 1-1, giving ULM a 3-1 record all-time against teams from the state of North Carolina.
The Warhawks opened the 2014 season with three of their first four games at home... ULM will close the regular season with three of its final four on the road... After the game at Appalachian State, the Warhawks host UL Lafayette (Nov. 15) before hitting the road for the final two games of the regular season (at New Mexico State, Nov. 22; at Georgia Southern, Nov. 29).
ULM wrapped up its 2014 non-conference slate on Nov. 1 at Texas A&M... The Warhawks upset-bid came up just short in a 21-16 loss to the Aggies... The contest against Texas A&M was the third road game against an SEC team this season.
In 2014, the Warhawks’ non-conference slate was comprised completely of teams from Power Five Conferences (ACC: Wake Forest; SEC: at LSU, at Kentucky, at Texas A&M)... ULM and UMass are the only two teams in FBS to have a non-conference slate filled with Power Five teams.
ULM trailed Texas A&M, 21-10, at the half, but the Warhawks battled back and climbed within five points (21-16) with 10:26 to play in the contest... The Warhawks were unable to score on their final two drives and the upset bid fell just short.
Texas A&M held a 193-170 advantage in total yards at the half, but the ULM offense continued to fight and the ULM defense rose to the occasion in the second half... The Warhawk offense totaled 177 yards of total offense in the second half en route to a total of 347 yards... The ULM defense limited the Aggies to just 50 yards of offense in the final 30 minutes... Through Texas A&M’s first four drives of the second half, the Aggies managed just 11 yards of offense.
New Mexico State Aggies
Despite a pair of career-highs, the New Mexico State University Aggies dropped their seventh straight game Saturday, falling to the Texas State Bobcats 37-29 at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
NM State running back Larry Rose III set a new career high in rushing yards, carrying the ball for 181 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown. Aggie quarterback Tyler Rogers went 36-for-52 for 404 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jerrel Brown had a season high 139 yards on seven receptions and one touchdown. NM State leading receiver Teldrick Morgan added 70 yards and one touchdown as well.
The Aggies (2-7, 1-4 Sun Belt Conference) chalked up 639 total yards of offense, with 235 on the ground and 404 through the air. Despite outpacing the Bobcats (5-3, 3-1 SBC) by 239 yards, a pair of Aggie turnovers and several missed opportunities on both ends of the field came back to hurt NM State in the end, especially in the second quarter.
NM State takes on UL Lafayette next Saturday at 6 p.m. for Homecoming at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
South Alabama Jaguars
The Jaguars saw their four-game win streak come to an end with a 19-9 defeat at the hands of UL Lafayette, their first defeat since starting Sun Belt Conference play against Georgia Southern on Sept. 20. It was also USA’s first loss in league play on the road this fall. … The Jags return to the road this weekend to take on Arkansas State in Jonesboro on Saturday, the second of two straight games against last season’s SBC co-champions. It marks a return to the site of their first-ever league road game; USA trailed by just one at the half, 14-13, before falling by a touchdown. … With the Ragin’ Cajuns outscoring the Jaguars 13-0 in the second half last time out, it was just the second time in program history that they have fallen when leading at the half — they are now 29-2 when leading at the break. The only other school to put together a second-half comeback against USA was A-State, which accomplished the feat on Nov. 2 a year ago in a 17-16 defeat of the Jags at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. … Coming into last week’s contest the Jags had rushed for more than 200 yards in four straight outings, but were limited to 66 yards on 35 carries by the ULL defense. They have won all 22 games in program history when gaining 200 or more yards on the ground, and have fallen in all but one of the eight contests when failing to reach triple figures in the category. … The Jaguars have scored more than 20 points in each of their five wins this fall but have failed to crack double figures in any of their three losses after posting nine against the Ragin’ Cajuns. Since the program’s inception in 2009, USA has a 29-4 mark when recording 30-plus points — the Jags are averaging 32.2 points in this fall’s victories — but have won only one of six outings with nine or fewer points. … WR Shavarez Smith posted his second 100-yard effort of the season against the Ragin’ Cajuns, finishing with eight catches for a game-high 116 yards; half that reception total was posted on USA’s first scoring drive, while his 58-yard reception came two plays before the Jaguars’ lone touchdown of the contest. The senior is averaging 64 yards per game on the year, but ranks fifth with more than 73 yards per outing in league contests, as all four of his 100-yard efforts have come against Sun Belt opponents on the road. … Senior Terrell Brigham had a game-best 10 stops against ULL, leading the squad in the category for the fourth time this fall while also becoming the third player in school history to record 200 career tackles. The safety also moved into the top 10 on USA’s season record list with 64 this year, as with eight stops he will surpass his totals from the last two years — Brigham was credited with 71 tackles two seasons ago and 65 during the 2013 campaign.
Texas State Bobcats
Texas State enters the Georgia Southern game looking to improve its overall record to 6-3 for a second straight year and just the third time since 2005. Texas State also was 6-3 to open the 2009 campaign. The Bobcats enter the game having won four of their last five games with wins against Tulsa, Idaho ULM, and New Mexico State.
Texas State enters this week’s game against Georgia Southern game with a 2-2 record in home games this season. The Bobcats opened the season with a 65-0 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and also won a 35-30 victory against Idaho. Texas State’s two losses were a 34-10 loss against UL Lafayette and a 35-21 setback against Navy.
Texas State has a combined record of 13-9 in home games since 2011 and an all-time record of 112-80 in home games at Bobcat Stadium through its first four home games.
Texas State’s 37-29 victory at New Mexico State was its third straight win in road games this season and gives the Bobcats a 3-1 record in road games this season. Texas State also came from behind to win 22-18 at UL Monroe for its first Sun Belt Conference road win after joining the league in 2013 and defeated Tulsa 37-34 in triple overtime. The lone road loss this season was a 42-35 setback at Illinois on Sept. 20.
Texas State’s victory at New Mexico State also gives the Bobcats three road victories in a season for the first time since 2009 when the team was 3-2 in road contests. The only other time Texas State had three road wins in a season since 2005 was in 2008 when the Bobcats posted a 5-2 record in road contests.
Texas State ranks 18th nationally and third in the Sun Belt Conference with 24 sacks
One of the key factors in Texas State’s victory at New Mexico was a blocked punt by Terrence Franks, who returned it for a touchdown. It was the first blocked punt for Texas State since current Atlanta Falcon Joplo Bartu blocked a punt in 2011. His return for a touchdown marks the first time a Bobcat has returned a punt for a touchdown since Morris Brothers accomplished the feat in 2005.
David Mayo enters the Georgia Southern game leading the nation in tackles after averaging 15.3 tackles in the first eight games after a 17-tackle performance at New Mexico State, including a 2.5 tackle for losses. Mayo also is ranked sixth nationally in solo tackles with an average of 6.9 per game. He has recorded 15 tackles in five games this season and 10 or more tackles in every game this season and the last 11 games dating back to 2013.
Troy Trojans
Troy’s captains were - K.D. Edenfield (WR), Terrence Jones (OL), Wayland Coleman-Dancer (LB), Montres Kitchens (S) … Redshirt freshman Drew Thompson made his first career start at tight end … Junior quarterback Dontreal Pruitt had a career-long rush for 14 yards … Redshirt freshman Sam Lebbie made his first career start at middle linebacker in place of injured Mark Wilson … Senior Brandon Timmons made his first career start at defensive end in place of injured Tyler Roberts; Roberts’ streak of 13 consecutive starts was snapped … Sophomore Daniel Warren forced and recovered the first fumble of his career … Sophomore Mitchell Roland recovered the first fumble of his career … Junior Montres Kitchens tied a career-high with 11 tackles … Sophomore Daniel Warren had a career-high nine tackles … Andre Flakes had the first kickoff return of his career, for a gain of 23 yards … Troy head coach Larry Blakeney has 176 career victories in his 24 seasons at Troy; the other 10 head coaches in the Sun Belt have COMBINED for 123 victories at their current school … Troy has the highest all-time winning percentage in Sun Belt games in league history; 50-29, .633. Middle Tennessee is second with a .575 winning percentage … 50 Sun Belt victories for Troy since joining the league in 2004; Troy reached 50 SBC wins in just 76 games, which is the fastest in league history (MTSU, 87; ULL, 92) … 26 different players with an offensive touch this season; 11 players have a rush, four have attempted a pass and 21 have caught a pass … 21 different Trojans with at least one reception; the total leads the country