Mississippi Valley State at Arkansas State
SWAC.org
Sept. 4, 2009
vs. 
Arkansas State 61, Mississippi Valley State 3
Jonesboro, AR - ASU Stadium
Final stats
(AP)
JONESBORO, Ark. - Reggie Arnold rushed for four touchdowns to lead Arkansas State to a 61-0 victory over MVSU Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Arnold, a senior, finished with 126 yards on 12 carries and scored on runs of 3, 20, 26 and 2 yards for Arkansas State (1-0).
"We did a really good job preparing for them, said Arnold, who has 3,336 rushing yards in his career and is going for his fourth 1,000-yard rushing season.
"Weve learned the past few years you got to take any win you can get, said Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard. "Regardless of who youre playing, you have to go out there and execute.
Leonard completed 8 of 13 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. He finished with 136 yards to become the Red Wolves career total offense leader with 7,433 yards.
The Red Wolves led 20-0 after one quarter and 40-0 at halftime.
Redshirt freshman Don Jones ran for 84 yards and a score, and also caught a touchdown pass from Leonard.
Derek Lawson scored on a 15-yard run and Ryan Aplin and Jermaine Robertson added short touchdown runs for the Red Wolves. The Delta Devils were held to 30 yards rushing and 39 yards passing.
6 p.m.
MVSU season preview
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Series Notes:
Record: First Ever Meeting
Mississippi Valley State
College Football Hall of Famer and MVSU alum Willie Totten opens his eighth season at his alma mater, which will look to ride an explosive offense to make some noise in the 2009 conference race.,p.
QB Paul Roberts was third in the SWAC in passing yards last season (2,039) and third in touchdown passes (14) despite starting just six games. Overall, the Delta Devils
ranked second in the conference in passing offense (243.8yds/gm).,p
Defensively, preseason all-conference selections LB Rory Malone and DL Chris Ivy will be counted on to help improve a unit that was last in total defense (434.5 yds/gm) and third-down conversions allowed (43.2%).
Arkansas State
The Red Wolves will face a SWAC opponent for thesecond ti me in as many years in their opener. In 2008, A-State defeated Texas Southern. Aft er starting 4-2, the Red
Wolves went 2-4 down the stretch, including a three-game losing streak to finish at .500.
2008 Team Comparisons
Miss. Valley St. ............. category ................. Arkansas St.
3-8 ............................... record ......................... 6-6
21.1 ......................... scoring off ense .........................27.0
36.4 ......................... scoring defense .........................23.8
72.6............................. rush average .......................... 203.3
243.8........................... pass average .......................... 195.5
316.5 ......................... total off ense .........................398.8
32% (46-146) ............3rd down conv ............ (59-158) 37%
183.8.....................rush defense average ................... 125.2
250.6.....................pass defense average ................... 211.3
434.5 ......................... total defense ........................336.5
39% (63-146) .....3rd down conv. allowed ..... (71-170) 42%