2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team

2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves football
2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves football
Sun Belt West Division co-champion
Arizona Bowl, L 13–16 OT vs. Nevada
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
	West Division
Record	8–5 (5–3 Sun Belt)
Head coach	Blake Anderson (5th season);
Offensive coordinator	Buster Faulkner (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Joe Cauthen (5th season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Centennial Bank Stadium
	Seasons ← 2017 2019 →

2018 Sun Belt Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
Appalachian State xy$	7	–	1	11	–	2
Troy x	7	–	1	10	–	3
Georgia Southern	6	–	2	10	–	3
Coastal Carolina	2	–	6	5	–	7
Georgia State	1	–	7	2	–	10
West Division
Louisiana xy	5	–	3	7	–	7
Arkansas State x	5	–	3	8	–	5
Louisiana–Monroe	4	–	4	6	–	6
South Alabama	2	–	6	3	–	9
Texas State	1	–	7	3	–	9
Championship: Appalachian State 30, Louisiana 19
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant

The 2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team represented Arkansas State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Wolves played their home games at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by fifth-year head coach Blake Anderson.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year
Maxwell Award^[1]	Justice Hansen	QB	SR
Davey O'Brien Award^[2]	Justice Hansen	QB	SR
Doak Walker Award^[3]	Warren Wand	RB	SR
Jim Thorpe Award^[4]	Justin Clifton	DB	SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy^[5]	Justin Clifton	DB	SR
Outland Trophy^[6]	Lanard Bonner	OL	SR
Ray Guy Award^[7]	Cody Grace	P	JR
Wuerffel Trophy^[8]	Justin Clifton	DB	SR
Wuerffel Trophy^[8]	Justice Hansen	QB	SR
Walter Camp Award^[9]	Justice Hansen	QB	SR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award^[10]	Justice Hansen	QB	SR
Manning Award^[11]	Justice Hansen	QB	SR

Sun Belt coaches poll

On July 19, 2018, the Sun Belt released their preseason coaches poll with the Red Wolves predicted to finish as champions of the West Division.^[12] They were also predicted to win the Sun Belt Championship game.

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
West Division
1	Arkansas State	49 (9)
2	Louisiana–Monroe	37
3	South Alabama	26 (1)
4	Louisiana	25
5	Texas State	13

Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams

The Red Wolves had nine players selected to the preseason all-Sun Belt teams.^[13] Quarterback Justice Hansen was selected as the preseason offensive player of the year.

Offense

1st team

Justice Hansen – QB

Warren Wand – RB

Justin McInnis – WR

Lanard Bonner– OL

2nd team

Jacob Still – OL

Defense

1st team

Ronheen Bingham – DL

Justin Clifton – DB

2nd team

BJ Edmonds – DB

Special teams

2nd team

Cody Grace – P

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	6:00 p.m.	Southeast Missouri State*	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPN+	W 48–21	20,184
September 8	2:30 p.m.	at No. 1 Alabama*	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	ESPN2	L 7–57	100,495
September 15	6:00 p.m.	at Tulsa*	Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK	CBSSN	W 29–20	17,349
September 22	6:00 p.m.	UNLV*	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPN3	W 27–20	18,537
September 29	5:00 p.m.	at Georgia Southern	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA	ESPN+	L 21–28	17,320
October 9	6:00 p.m.	Appalachian State	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPN2	L 9–35	21,421
October 18	6:30 p.m.	Georgia State	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPNU	W 51–35	18,176
October 27	6:00 p.m.	at Louisiana	Cajun Field Lafayette, LA	ESPN+	L 43–47	17,068
November 3	2:00 p.m.	South Alabama	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPN+	W 38–14	20,671
November 10	4:00 p.m.	at Coastal Carolina	Brooks Stadium Conway, SC	ESPN+	W 44–16	8,141
November 17	2:00 p.m.	Louisiana–Monroe	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPN+	W 31–17	20,012
November 24	3:00 p.m.	at Texas State	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	ESPN3	W 33–7	10,115
December 29	12:15 p.m.	vs. Nevada*	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ (Arizona Bowl)	CBSSN	L 13–16 ^OT	32,368
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Schedule Source:^[14]

Game summaries

Southeast Missouri State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Redhawks	0	14	0	7	21
Red Wolves	7	14	27	0	48

At Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Wolves	0	0	7	0	7
No. 1 Crimson Tide	19	21	10	7	57

At Tulsa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Wolves	3	10	14	2	29
Golden Hurricane	7	0	3	10	20

UNLV

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rebels	7	0	13	0	20
Red Wolves	6	7	6	8	27

At Georgia Southern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Wolves	0	3	11	7	21
Eagles	0	7	7	14	28

Appalachian State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Mountaineers	0	21	7	7	35
Red Wolves	3	6	0	0	9

Georgia State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	0	14	14	35
Red Wolves	20	14	7	10	51

At Louisiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Wolves	14	7	7	15	43
Ragin' Cajuns	21	10	3	13	47

South Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	7	0	7	14
Red Wolves	0	14	14	10	38

At Coastal Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Wolves	14	13	14	3	44
Chanticleers	0	6	7	3	16

Louisiana–Monroe

Week Twelve: Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks at Arkansas State Red Wolves – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Warhawks	0	7	10	0	17
Red Wolves	7	10	14	0	31

at Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas

Date: November 17
Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: 66° · Sunny · S – 9 mph.
Game attendance: 20,012
Referee: Jeremy Parker
TV: ESPN+
[1]

Game information

First quarter

ARST - Kirk Merritt 49-yard TD pass from Justice Hansen, Blake Grupe kick good, 4:41 (ARST 7-0)

Second quarter

ARST - Blake Grupe 26-yard field goal, 7:58 (ARST 10-0)
ULM - Josh Pederson 34-yard TD pass from Caleb Evans, Craig Ford kick good, 5:25 (ARST 10-7)
ARST - Merritt 7-yard TD pass from Hansen, Blake Grupe kick good, 0:31 (ARST 17-7)

Third quarter

ARST - Justin Clifton 43-yard interception returned for TD, Blake Grupe kick good, 11:58 (ARST 24-7)
ULM - Caleb Evans 1-yard TD run, Craig Ford kick good, 9:31 (ARST 24-14)
ULM - Craig Ford 37-yard field goal, 5:23 (ARST 24-17)
ARST - Justin McInnis 10-yard TD pass from Hansen, Blake Grupe kick good, 0:40 (ARST 31-17)

Leading Passers

ARST - Justice Hansen - 21/27, 246 yards, 3 TD
ULM - Caleb Evans - 17/28, 218 yards, TD, 3 INT

Leading Rushers

ARST - Marcel Murray - 17 carries, 94 yards
ULM - Caleb Evans - 14 carries, 34 yards, TD

Leading Receivers

ARST - Kirk Merritt - 6 receptions, 89 yards, 3 TD
ULM - Marcus Green - 5 receptions, 69 yards

At Texas State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Wolves	7	0	21	5	33
Bobcats	0	0	7	0	7

Vs. Nevada (Arizona Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Wolf Pack	0	3	0	7	6	16
Red Wolves	0	7	0	3	3	13

References

^ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^ "Davey O'Brien Award Watch List includes 26 players". July 17, 2018. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^ "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ "Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
^ "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
^ "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
^ "Ray Guy Award preseason watch list unveiled". July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
^ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
^ Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.
^ "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^ "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^ "Mountaineers, Red Wolves Selected as Division Favorites in 2018 Sun Belt Football Coaches' Preseason Poll".
^ "Sun Belt Announces 2018 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams".
^ "2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves Football Schedule". AStateRedWolves.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

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[1] "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.

[2] "Davey O'Brien Award Watch List includes 26 players". July 17, 2018. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.

[3] "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[4] "Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.

[5] "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.

[6] "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.

[7] "Ray Guy Award preseason watch list unveiled". July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.

[8] "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

[9] Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.

[10] "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.

[11] "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.

[12] "Mountaineers, Red Wolves Selected as Division Favorites in 2018 Sun Belt Football Coaches' Preseason Poll".

[13] "Sun Belt Announces 2018 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams".

[14] "2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves Football Schedule". AStateRedWolves.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

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v t e Arkansas State Red Wolves football
Venues	Kays Stadium (1937–1973) Centennial Bank Stadium (1974–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Memphis: Paint Bucket Bowl
Culture & lore	Howl "ASU Loyalty Song" Sound of the Natural State
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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National championship season in bold