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Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Who among my readers plays chess?

Well, I believe the ASU coaches and players were playing chess against Southern Miss during the Red Wolves 24-13 road victory against Blake Anderson, ASU’s former coach and his Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

This was a true chess match in which the Red Wolves managed to be able to get the win based on several Southern Miss errors, especially in the first half as several interceptions aided the Red Wolves in their first conference win of the season. CHECKMATE!

I thought the Red Wolves stayed very steady throughout the game, always remembering that Southern Miss is absolutely the worst team stopping the run in the conference but dangerous offensively. Still, we only got about 140 yds rushing against the Golden Eagles and that is a little concerning regarding future games.

I thought ASU being steady was very critical because the teams were very similar in so many ways. Arkansas State had not been very good against the run and Southern Miss was worse. If we had lost to Southern Miss., even down there at their home, it would have been a catastrophic loss.

Southern Miss had lost a lot of their players to Memphis where their former coach, Charles Huff, had gone. Blake Anderson, our former head coach from 2016-2021, was really at a disadvantage at being able to fill his roster as he lost 70 players, 14 of his best to Memphis. I have no doubt that they will be much better once he is able to get his players and recruit the portal with players he wants to fit his system.

But for today, Coach Butch and his team owned the moment as Jones and the Red Wolves completely controlled the game. They put Anderson and his team in a bad position and that position required them to have to punt on fourth down on numerous occasions. Give the defense their due. They stopped the Golden Eagles many times when it counted. It helped that Southern Miss missed two field goal attempts…. one at point blank range.

I remember when Blake was here at ASU. It seemed like we had occasions where inopportune penalties showed up at the very worst times. It seems to have followed him to Southern Miss.

This was not a game of flashy plays and ESPN TV moments. It was just a good solid game on the road that the Red Wolves won without a lot of stress.

This team needs to win three or of next 6.to go to another bowl. Next is Georgia State at Centennial Bank Stadium. We really need everybody out there to give Arkansas State the boost that they need. Georgia State is very good this year and will not be as easy a win as Southern Miss.

What do we need to be concerned about?

1. Even winning the game as ASU did, Southern Miss out gained the Red Wolves by 13 yards.
2. ASU barely got 130 yards of rushing against the worst rushing defense in the SBC.
3. Georgia State is coming into town. Sure, isn’t gonna be an easy game as they are very good is second in the East.
4. If that ain’t bad enough, we have our old nemesis Louisiana Tech on the road. Tech has never been an easy game.

We definitely have an uphill road to be able to get to where we will qualify to be able to play in a bowl. Just like last year.

IT WON’T BE EASY.

About the Author: Bob Troutt is a lifelong Jonesboro resident, Arkansas State University journalism graduate and longtime member of one of Northeast Arkansas’ most prominent newspaper families. A veteran of The Jonesboro Sun and a lifelong A-State fan, Troutt has spent decades watching—and caring deeply about—Arkansas State football.