Central Arkansas (2-1, 2-1) v Arkansas State (0-3, 0-0)

Saturday, September 24th, 6:00 PM CST at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro

You Can Watch This Game On: ESPN 3

The Odds: 81.5% ESPN FPI

After an opening drive fumble, two punts and an interception inside the Red Wolves territory, Coach Blake Anderson was forced to put the Chad Voytik Era on hiatus. With Arkansas State down 17-0 to the Utah State Aggies, out trotted sophomore quarterback Justice Hansen. The Aggies would score another TD, but Hansen and the Red Wolves followed it up with a 20-3 run before finally submitting. During the scoring spree, Hansen found success throwing downfield, hooking up with Dijon Paschal, Kendall Sanders, Blake Mack, Chris Murray and Cameron Echols-Luper for 277 yards and one TD against one interception. By the end of the evening, the game was lost, but the season might have been saved.

The Difference One Half Can Make

Before the start of the third quarter against Utah State, the Red Wolves played 10 consecutive quarters of uncompetitive football, with nothing clearly to blame but everything: puzzlingly bad defense, ineffective offense, poor special teams play, uninspired play calling, lack of discipline, you name it. Arkansas State fans weren’t expecting much from the 11th quarter when suddenly Justice Hansen led the offense to a crisp, 10-play march down the field that was capped by a Warren Wand 4-yard score.

The turnaround involved more than just the offense. Blaise Taylor recorded the Red Wolves first INT of the season, and Ja’Von Roland-Jones and Jake Swalley joined Chris Odom in sacking QB Kent Meyer. The team was exciting again, as made evident by my own beer-fueled parade of corny, all-cap Dad tweets:

HOLY SHIT ARE YOU KIDDING! DO I HAVE ANY GREY POUPON? NOPE. I HAVE DIJON! — A-State Fan Rules 4 Mayor (@AStateFanRules) September 17, 2016

CALL JA'VON ROLAND-JONES "THE BAG BOY" BECAUSE HE'S HERE TO SACK! — A-State Fan Rules 4 Mayor (@AStateFanRules) September 17, 2016

WARREN WAND IS AMERICA'S SPIRIT ANIMAL https://t.co/HTLUHRDKah — A-State Fan Rules 4 Mayor (@AStateFanRules) September 17, 2016

GIVE BLAISE A BANJO BECAUSE HE'S HERE TO PICK! — A-State Fan Rules 4 Mayor (@AStateFanRules) September 17, 2016

But it’s not like we still don’t have a big pile of problems

As exciting as was the second half of last week’s game, the problems have not completely evaporated with the discovery of the team’s talented wide receivers. To start, the Red Wolves are an undisciplined mess who were flagged with 8 motion penalties on Friday night and four personal fouls. One false start was assessed on the opponent’s one yard line, which also happened during the season opener versus Toledo. Unacceptable.

You know what else is unacceptable? Giving opponents cherry field position on every single punt. Red Wolves punting average has declined in yardage for three straight weeks.

Week 1: 41.0 yds

Week 2: 40.8 yds

Week 3: 35.4 yds

That Week One average includes Echols-Luper’s catastrophic 8-yard punt. Punter Damian Foncham, who has flashed some true talent, punted 7 times against Utah State and averaged 35 yards with a long of 39. That’s consistently mediocre booting that is putting way too much pressure on the defense.

Lastly, the defense is still puzzlingly ineffective, ranking 74th nationally for Red Zone D, 124th (!) for Total Defense and dead last for 3rd Down Conversion PCT. That’s crazy for a Joe Cauthen defense that lost so little and was so dangerous in 2015. The lack of success on third down is even more confounding considering how much talent the team has on the front line. It was refreshing to see the pick and the sacks Friday night. Hopefully, the defense can build on that momentum.

So, Anyway, The UCA Bears Are In Town

Oh yeah, we’re playing a game in Jonesboro this Saturday against in-state FCS program, UCA. This is significant in part because Arkansas State is the only FBS athletic program in Arkansas willing to play in-state competition. Why does A-State play in-state programs when it “has nothing to gain?” A little something called “sportsmanship.” Some “flagship” programs ought to look up the meaning.

When Last These Titans Met

You have to skip to the Hugh Freeze Era in 2011 for the last meeting between UCA and Arkansas State. Red Wolves legend Brian Davis set a Sun Belt record with six field goals and A-State came away with a 53-24 blowout.

This Is An Easy Win For Arkansas State, Right?

Nope! Listen, even if UCA head coach Steve Campbell didn’t smell the blood of an 0-3 Red Wolves team, the Bears still have plenty of upset talent. UCA when 7-2 in the Southland last year and are currently atop the conference standings today. Senior running back Antwon Wells is not above putting 100 yards on an opponent, and junior QB Hayden Hildbrand is a capable field general behind center. The Bears command a balanced attack, averaging 247 rushing yards and 251 yards passing per game while holding opponents to 19 points a contest. These guys are good.

How Does Arkansas State Collect the W?

1. Enough with the penalties already

Four personal fouls in one game is just dopey. The Red Wolves need to be focused and play clean.

2. Establish a rhythm for Hansen

Buster Faulkner wants to play fast, but what’s more important is to make Justice Hansen comfortable behind center. The Red Wolves not need to play fast to defeat UCA. Slow down and let the offense develop.

3. Work on the fundamentals

Yes, this is by no means a scrimmage, but now is the time to work on tackling, route-running, and special teams coverage – boring stuff that wins games.

4. Fix the punting

Honestly, I have no idea how to increase the yardage on punts except to say “kick it harder.”

5. Be Like Waylon

According to DC Joe Cauthen, Waylon Roberson is unblockable. Good. Good! Let everyone on the defensive line take note and follow Waylon’s lead.

6. Get up for this game

UCA will roll into Jonesboro believing they have a legit shot at delivering the first FCS upset to the Red Wolves since 2001. Red Wolves need to strike first and then strike often to sap the salt out of the Bears.

The Prediction! Out With It!

This season, I’ve made three predictions and have been wrong on all three. Why listen to me know? Still, I’m calling for a 63-17 drumming of UCA. And not because the Bears are without talent, but because the Red Wolves finally realize that they have talent.

Looking Ahead

Technically, the Red Wolves are off next weekend, but only because they have a rare Wednesday night dust-up at The Cent against Georgia Southern.