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Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – After the West Georgia game, I warned my fellow readers that the defensive line and the linebackers look subject to being decimated by a good offensive line and a good running back.
That’s exactly what happened regarding the contest between the Red Wolves and the South Alabama Jaguars.The Red Wolves lost the game 56-49 to South Alabama who appeared to have a superior offensive line that aided their star running back , Keenan Phillips to run for more than 140 yards. Their second running back, PJ Martin wasn’t half bad either … running for 95 yards as well.
What it amounted to is that The Red Wolves defensive line took a butt kicking from the Jaguars offensive line.
I know that I as well as I’m sure a number of you are tired of the Red Wolves getting their tail kicked defensively. Since Butch Jones has been here, we have not had one solid defense. This in spite of the fact that we have had some of the best recruiting classes and all the Sunbelt. It seems as though we have just enough to be able to make it to a bowl and maybe win that game.
The old saying goes that defense wins championships while the offense entertains. You can win a conference championship with a great defense and a mediocre offense. It doesn’t work the other way around.
While Arkansas State did plenty on offense to win the game… more than 500 yds of which more than 400 yards were passing yards, it was not enough! South Alabama, while not statistically gaining as many yards as Arkansas State due to turnovers and short field, was very impressive. They never would take their hands off the throats of the Red Wolves.
And just for a minute, let’s talk about Trey Owens. Not since Justice Hansen have I seen a quarterback be able to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball as accurately. He was sacked from behind and lost the ball and one of the interceptions was a fluke. To continue to praise, the wide receivers also did their job and made some remarkable catches.
So what now? From my perspective this was not a good loss at all.. all losses are not good. This one stings and not just because it was a loss… but because it will make it very difficult to win the conference. We have six games remaining and all six are winnable and losable. But everyone, especially the defense, is going to have to do a much better job of sucking it up and playing football.
I really think that South Alabama has a good ball club. It’s hard to score 56 points against anybody. But for Arkansas State it is now time to get things going. It only gets harder down the road.
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.
