Sports

Final Score: Arkansas State 51, Middle Tennessee 24

Jonesboro, AR (Sports Network) - Ryan Aplin threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a score, and Jermaine Robinson added two TDs on the ground as Arkansas State ripped Middle Tennessee, 51-24, at ASU Stadium.

Aplin ended 16-of-27 for 245 yards and one interception while Robertson gained 79 yards on 13 carries for the Red Wolves (4-5, 4-2 Sun Belt), who have won three of their last four games.

Phillip Butterfield threw for a score, Derek Lawson posted 104 yards and a TD on 15 carries, and Dwayne Frampton added 138 yards and a touchdown on six catches.

Dwight Dasher was 19-of-37 for 146 yards and threw for a touchdown but was picked off four times and sacked four times for the Blue Raiders (3-5, 2-2), who have dropped three of four.

Dasher contributed 96 yards and a rushing TD on 23 carries, Benjamin Cunningham posted a rushing score and Garrett Andrews had three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in defeat.

Aplin opened the scoring by calling his own number and rolling four yards into the end zone, but the extra point was blocked. ASU went up 13-0 on its next drive, as Robertson rushed for a seven-yard score.

MSU got on the board on its ensuing series when Alan Gendreau booted a 27- yarder, then got within 13-10 on a four-yard Cunningham rushing TD set up by the visitors' recovery of an onside kick.

Aplin then hit Taylor Stockemer for a 37-yard touchdown connection on the first play of the second quarter for a 10-point edge, but Dasher once again cut the deficit to three on a 29-yard TD dash.

Brian Davis then hit a 22-yard field goal with seconds to play in the half to make it 23-17.

The third quarter belonged to Arkansas State, as Butterfield hit Frampton on a 33-yard touchdown and Aplin hit Jeff Blake for a five-yard score and 37-17 advantage.

Lawson hit the end zone from 17 yards out early in the fourth and the home team was up 44-17, then Dasher's 14-yard strike to Andrews made it a 20-point contest.

Robertson capped the scoring with a six-yard run to paydirt with under five minutes to go.