Arkansas State shuts down Southern Miss chances in 23-13 win

Arkansas State kept Southern Miss from scoring in the third quarter, then held the ball for the final 7:21 to finish a 23-13 road win Saturday in Hattiesburg. Clune Van Andel kicked three field goals, while Dontrae Henderson and AG McGhee each intercepted a pass for the Red Wolves.

The victory was Arkansas State's first on the road this season and its first Sun Belt win. The Red Wolves improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Southern Miss fell to 1-5 and 0-2.

Three kicks create breathing room

Van Andel made attempts from 29 and 40 yards in the opening quarter. Arkansas State's first two scoring possessions consumed nearly 11½ minutes, keeping Southern Miss' offense on the sideline while establishing a 6-0 lead.

Henderson's interception ended the Golden Eagles' second possession. The Red Wolves followed with a touchdown drive that Kenyon Clay finished on a two-yard run with 10:48 left in the second quarter.

Southern Miss answered through the air. Landry Lyddy's 25-yard completion to MJ Johnson helped set up a 16-yard touchdown pass to Preston Kilgore. Van Andel responded with a 44-yard field goal on the next Arkansas State possession, making the halftime score 16-7.

The Sun Belt published its official highlights from Arkansas State's road win:

Southern Miss comes up empty after halftime

The Golden Eagles reached Arkansas State territory on three third-quarter possessions without scoring. Creighton Wilbanks missed a 34-yard field goal, McGhee intercepted Lyddy at the Red Wolves' nine-yard line, and a fourth-down rushing attempt was stopped for a loss.

Arkansas State turned the last of those stops into its second touchdown. Trey Owens found James Lee for a 36-yard gain to begin the possession. Timothy Carter finished the eight-play, 69-yard drive with a two-yard run early in the fourth, extending the margin to 23-7.

Steven Robinson's one-yard touchdown brought Southern Miss within 10 with 10:02 left. The two-point attempt failed. The Golden Eagles forced a punt and got the ball back at their 37, but three straight incompletions after a short completion ended their final possession on downs.

Arkansas State never gave it back. Its 14-play closing drive covered 30 yards and used the remaining 7:21. The Red Wolves finished with 40:08 of possession against Southern Miss' 19:52 despite a relatively narrow 304-289 advantage in total offense.

Owens completed 17 of 25 passes for 170 yards without an interception. Chauncy Cobb caught four passes for 50 yards, and Solomon Baggett led Arkansas State with 48 rushing yards. Lyddy threw for 208 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions; Robinson ran for 84 yards. Arkansas State hosts Georgia State on October 24.