Anybody else notice that A-State rolled?

Arkansas St. 66, Florida Intl. 24
Preview - Box Score - Recap Arkansas St.

September 24, 2005
JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) -- Joe Smith grabbed two touchdown passes as Arkansas State opened Sun Belt Conference play Saturday with a 66-24 victory over Florida International, playing its first game as a member of the league.

It was a big day for the Indians (2-2, 1-0 SBC) both offensively and defensively. They scored on their first four possessions and averaged nearly 20 yards a play in the first quarter.

But ASU's Antonio Warren, who rushed for 143 yards on eight carries, suffered a high ankle sprain on the final play of the first half and did not appear in the second half. It was Warren's fourth straight 100-yard rushing game.

Smith caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Nick Noce in the first quarter and a 49-yarder in the second quarter. Noce finished 11-of-13 passing for 194 yards and the two TD throws to Smith.

Shermar Bracey, who filled in for Warren in the second half, finished with 105 yards rushing on nine carries and scored two touchdowns, on runs of 16 and 34 yards.

The Indian defense made five interceptions. Koby McKinnon returned one 85 yards for a touchdown and Tyrell Johnson returned another 92 yards to set up Chris Easley's 3-yard touchdown run.

ASU had a 35-17 halftime lead.

After an interception by James Johnson at midfield ended FIU's first possession, Warren raced off right tackle 50 yards on ASU's first play for a touchdown with 11:48 left in the first quarter.

The Indians made it 14-0 when Oren O'Neal scored from the 1 at the 9-minute mark of the first quarter.

FIU (0-3, 0-1) trimmed the margin to 14-7 when Cory McKinney caught a 28-yard pass from Josh Padrick with 5:01 left in the opening period.

But ASU came back with a 16-yard scoring run by Bracey with 4:19 left in the quarter. The Indians made it 28-7 when Smith grabbed a 9-yard scoring toss from Noce.

Josh Padrick's 1-yard run trimmed the margin to 28-14 early in the second period. But Smith's second touchdown made it 35-14. FIU finished first-half scoring with a 29-yard field goal by Adam Moss.

A 27-yard field goal by Eric Neihouse gave the Indians a 38-17 lead going into the final quarter.

The Indians then added 28 points, scoring on a 5-yard run by Chris Easley, Bracey's second touchdown run, McKinnon's interception return and a 21-yard run by Chris James.

FIU closed out the game with a 16-yard scoring pass to Sanchez Anderson from Tavar Kendrick.