NEW ORLEANS BOWL:  Arkansas State (9-3) vs. LA Tech (8-4)
Dec. 19, 2015 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, La. | 8:00 p.m.
Radio:  EAB Red Wolves Sports Network (107.9 FM, flagship), ESPN Radio
Television:  ESPN
Live Stats:  AStateRedWolves.com
Live Game Notes:  twitter.com/AStateGameDay

ON TAP: The 2015 Sun Belt Conference champions, Arkansas State will make its 13th all-time and fifth consecutive bowl-game appearance Dec. 19 when it faces Conference USA member Louisiana Tech in the 15th Annual R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Superdome.  The game is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff and will be televised by ESPN.  Every A-State game can be heard live on 107.9 FM in the Northeast Arkansas area.  The live radio broadcast can also be accessed through the official A-State Athletics web site (AStateRedWolves.com).

THE PRINCIPALS:  A-State finished the 2015 regular season with a 9-3 overall record and unblemished 8-0 Sun Belt Conference mark, and in the process became the only FBS program in the nation to win four league championships over the last five seasons.  The Red Wolves are earning votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches Top 25 polls after picking up victories their last eight games for the nation's fourth longest current winning streak.  The Red Wolves have never played Louisiana Tech in a postseason contest, but their game with the Bulldogs in the New Orleans Bowl will be the 38th all-time meeting between the two teams.  While this will be the Louisiana Tech's first time in the New Orleans Bowl, A-State is making its second appearance in the contest after also playing Southern Miss in the game's 2005 edition that was moved to Lafayette, La., due to damage sustained to the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina.  LA Tech, which is making back-to-back bowl trips for just the second time in school history, finished second in Conference USA's West Division this season with an 8-4 overall record and 6-2 league mark.

BY THE NUMBERS . . .

• 0.8 career sacks p/g by Ja'Von Rolland-Jones is the 2nd highest average in the nation among active players.
• 1 victory needed by A-State to reach 10 wins, which would tie its most ever as an FBS member (1992-cur.).
• 1 touchdown reception needed by Tres Houston to break the single-season school record (10).
• 1 or more turnovers gained by A-State in 23 of 25 games under defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen.
• 3 second half comeback victories this season by A-State and four total under Blake Anderson.
• 3 receptions needed by J.D. McKissic for the 23rd most in NCAA FBS history.
• 4 Sun Belt Conference championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015) over the last five seasons.
• 5 straight bowl game appearances (2011-15), including back-to-back GoDaddy Bowl wins in 2013 and 2014.
• 5 A-State players named a Sun Belt Player of the Week (Brown, Gordon, Knighten, McKissic, Taylor).
• 5 consecutive winning seasons (2011-15) by A-State (last time 1949-53).
• 5 head coaches over the last 6 years (Steve Roberts, Hugh Freeze, Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, Blake Anderson).
• 6 school records held by J.D. McKissic, including single-game (15), season (103) & career receptions (286).
• 6 special teams statistical categories A-State ranks among the top 34 teams in the nation.
• 7 or more victories each of the last five seasons (2011-15) -- first time in school history.
• 7 of last eight games A-State has rushed for at least 200 yards.
• 8 defensive touchdowns this season by A-State are the most in the nation.
• 8 game winning streak by A-State is the fourth longest in the nation.
• 8 current players have earned their degree -- Ferguson, Harris, T. Houston, Girley, Griswold, Mays, McKissic, Stevens.
• 8 of the last 11 seasons (2005-15) have seen A-State reach bowl eligibility, including the last five in a row.
• 8 players named to at least one major award watch list.
• 8 of last nine years w/at least one NFL Draft selection.
• 9 consecutive Sun Belt wins are tied for the nation's third longest conference winning streak.
• 9 wins are A-State's 3rd most in FBS history -- the 2011 & 2012 teams both won 10.
• 10 Sun Belt Conference Team Academic Awards over the last 13 years.
• 11 consecutive games with at least one interception -- longest streak in A-State's FBS era (1992-cur.).
• 11 consecutive seasons with a winning record at Centennial Bank Stadium (2005-15).
• 12 career 100-yard rushing games by Michael Gordon -- ties the 5th most in school history.
• 13 career runs covering at least 40 yards by Michael Gordon.
• 15 of A-State's 16 victories under HC Blake Anderson have come by a double-figure margin.
• 16 All-Sun Belt players this season are the most in school history and ties the most in SBC history.
• 16 victories under Blake Anderson, making him 1st HC in A-State history w/16+ wins 1st two seasons.
• 16 wins by A-State over its last 19 Sun Belt Conference road games.
• 16 statistical categories in which A-State ranks among the top three teams in the Sun Belt Conference.
• 26 interceptions are the most in the nation, most by an A-State team since 1969 (32) & most in SBC history.
• 27.9 career kickoff return average by J.D. McKissic is the 23rd highest NCAA FBS history.
• 29 “top-10” school records held by Fredi Knighten.
• 30 punts inside the opponent's 20 by Luke Ferguson -- the most in the Sun Belt Conference.
• 30 or more points scored by A-State in 41 of its last 59 regular-season games (69 percent).
• 33 Sun Belt Conference victories over the last five seasons (33-6 league record).
• 34 turnovers gained by A-State are the most in the nation.
• 42.5 career punting average by Luke Ferguson is the second highest in school history.
• 44 victories by A-State over the last five seasons ranks tied for the 20th most in the nation.
• 51 victories and just 11 losses at Centennial Bank Stadium since 2005 (.823 winning percentage).
• 60.7 percent of A-State's touchdown drives have taken 2 minutes or less.
• 62 All-Sun Belt Conference selections over the last five seasons.
• 286 career catches by J.D. McKissic -- most in A-State & SBC history & 2nd most in the nation among active players.
• 300 or more yds total offense in 68 of last 76 games (89 pct.), including all but 2 games under Blake Anderson.
• 400 or more yards total offense averaged last six seasons (2010-15).
• 492 points by A-State are the school and Sun Belt Conference records.
• 643 rushing yds by Warren Wand are the most by a true freshman at A-State since Lamont Zachery in 1996.
• 1,000 yard rushing seasons by Michael Gordon each of the last two years.

HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON: Blake Anderson, a 15-year coaching veteran at the NCAA FBS level who also coached in an NJCAA National Championship game, was named the Red Wolves' 30th all-time head football coach on Dec. 19, 2013.  Prior to guiding A-State to its Sun Belt Conference championship this year, he led A-State to its fourth consecutive winning season and bowl-game appearance his first season at the helm in 2014.  The Red Wolves broke the school records for total offense (6,194), average yards total offense (476.5 yards per game), total plays (1,024), points scored (477) and touchdowns scored (65) in 2014, and are on pace to break numerous A-State records this year.  Despite injuries forcing Anderson to use a different starting lineup in every regular-season game a year ago, his squad ranked among the top 45 teams in the nation in 23 combined offensive, defensive and special teams categories.  During his two years at the helm of the program, he has seen 20 of his players earn 26 All-Sun Belt Conference selections -- the most in the league over that span.

FAST START:  Out of 30 all-time head coaches at Arkansas State, Blake Anderson became one of just four to win at least seven games (2014) in his first season at the school.  The other head coaches to win at least seven games in their first season as head coach at A-State were Bryan Harsin (2013), Gus Malzahn (2012) and Hugh Freeze (2011).

TWO YEARS RUNNING:  Now with 16 career victories leading the Red Wolves, Blake Anderson is the first head coach in A-State history to win 12 or more games over his first two seasons at the school.  Additionally, Anderson is the only head coach in school history to direct A-State to 16 wins in 25 or fewer games.

BREAKING THE CYCLE:  Arkansas State began a season with the same head coach it had the season before for the first time since 2010.  Not only did Blake Anderson return for a second consecutive year, the Red Wolves have their entire coaching staff back for a second straight year for the first time since 2007.  Following a nine-year stint by Steve Roberts as A-State's head coach, Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss), Gus Malzahn (Auburn) and Bryan Harsin (Boise State) all spent one year at the helm of the program.

THE ARKANSAS STATE - LOUISIANA TECH SERIES:  While Arkansas and Louisiana Tech have not played each other since the 1998 season, the New Orleans Bowl will mark their 38th all-time meeting dating back to 1956.  The Dec. 19 matchup will move the Bulldogs into a tie with Southern Illinois as the third most played opponent in Arkansas State history.  Louisiana Tech holds a 25-12 series lead and has won the last two meetings. 

OLD TIES:  Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech were both members of the Southland Conference (SLC) from 1971-86 and the Big West Conference from 1993-95.  They played each other 29 consecutive years from 1970-98, and during their 16 years sharing the SLC combined to win the league 11 times (A-State 4, LA Tech 7).

A-STATE vs. CONFERENCE USA:  Arkansas State, which shared the Sun Belt Conference with five current C-USA members at some point between 2001-13, has played eight of the 14 teams comprising the league today.  The Red Wolves hold a 41-62-1 all-time record against current members of the league, including UAB (0-2), FAU (2-3), FIU (4-2), LA Tech (12-25), Middle Tennessee (5-9), North Texas (13-8), Southern Miss (2-9) and WKU (3-4-1).  The last time the Red Wolves played a team while it was a member of Conference USA was 2012, when it defeated Memphis 33-28 in Jonesboro.  A-State was a member of the Sun Belt with current USA programs North Texas and Middle Tennessee from 2001-12, FIU and FAU from 2005-12 and Western Kentucky from 2009-13.

LOUISIANA RED WOLVES:  Arkansas State has three players on its roster from the state of Louisiana, including redshirt freshman quarterback James Tabary (New Orleans) and a pair of true freshmen in defensive back Jai Knight (Boutte, La.) and linebacker Kirk Louis (Baton Rouge).  Knight and Louis are taking redshirt seasons, while Tabary has played in eight games and holds a 2-1 record as a starter.  He was a 2013 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Team selection while playing for Holy Cross High School.

SUN BELT CHAMPS:  Arkansas State won the 2015 Sun Belt Conference championship with an unblemished 8-0 record, giving it the league title for the fourth time over the last five seasons with a 33-6 conference record over that span.  A-State also won the league title 2011-13, including outright championships in 2011 and 2012.  It is just the second program in Sun Belt history with three (2015, 2011-12) outright titles, along with North Texas (2002-04).  Arkansas State is one of three programs to ever win at least four total Sun Belt Conference championships, joining North Texas (4) and Troy (5)

PERFECT LEAGUE RECORD:  A-State is the only SBC program to ever go 8-0 in league play during multiple seasons (2015 and 2011).  Along the same lines, it is just the second all-time Sun Belt program with multiple undefeated seasons in league play (2015 and 2011) -- the other is North Texas (2002-04).

A-STATE vs. THE SUN BELT:  Arkansas State has won 33 of its last 39 Sun Belt Conference games (.846 winning percentage) to run its all-time record in the conference to 66-42.  The Red Wolves hold their most all-time victories against ULM with 23.  With the exception of Georgia Southern, which A-State has never faced as an SBC opponent, the Red Wolves have defeated every team in the conference since the football league was formed in 2001.  Along with ULM and Louisiana-Lafayette, A-State is one of three teams that have been a part of the conference since its inaugural football season.

ALL-TIME CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS:  Including four of the last five Sun Belt Conference titles, Arkansas State has won 11 conference championships all-time.  A-State won the Southland Conference seven times (1986, 1985, 1978, 1975, 1970, 1969, 1968).  The Red Wolves also won the 2005 Sun Belt Conference title, but it was later vacated due to NCAA sanctions.

BOWL HISTORY:  Including this year's New Orleans Bowl, Arkansas State has played in 13 bowl games all-time and holds a 4-7-1 record in those contests.  The Red Wolves have now made a bowl game five consecutive years for the first time in school history.  They played in the last four GoDaddy Bowl games, winning two of them during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.  A-State also played in the 2005 New Orleans Bowl, which marked its first bowl appearance since 1970.  Arkansas State played in seven bowl games from 1951-70, including the Pecan Bowl (1968-70), Tangerine Bowl (1952 & 1951) and the Refrigerator Bowl (1951-52).  The Tangerine Bowl was played in Orlando, Fla., the Pecan Bowl in Arlington, Texas, and the Refrigerator Bowl in Evansville, Ind.

NEW ORLEANS BOWL:  Arkansas State will be the first Sun Belt Conference representative other than Louisiana-Lafayette to play in the New Orleans Bowl since Troy handed Ohio a 48-21 setback in 2010.  Along with North Texas, Troy, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and Louisiana-Lafayette, A-State is one of six teams to ever represent the Sun Belt in the game.  With the exception of FAU and Middle Tennessee, the other four teams SBC representatives have made multiple appearances in the New Orleans Bowl.  The Sun Belt has won the bowl game the last six seasons.  The Red Wolves are playing in the New Orleans Bowl for the second time in school history, but the first time at the Superdome.  A-State played in the 2005 New Orleans Bowl, but the game was moved to Lafayette, La., due to damage sustained to the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina.  The Red Wolves were tied 10-10 with Southern Miss in the game, but was outscored 14-9 in the third quarter and shutout in in the fourth as it fell 31-19.

SWEET 16:  Arkansas State placed a school-record 16 players on the All-Sun Belt Conference Team and had 17 total selections.  The Red Wolves' 16 players that made it on the list also ties the 2002 North Texas team for the most in Sun Belt history.  The All-Sun Belt Conference Team can be found on page 2 of the game notes.

FIVE ALIVE:  Arkansas State has secured five consecutive winning seasons (2011-15) for not only the first as an FBS member, but also the first time at any level since 1949-53.  The only time A-State has ever strung together six straight winning seasons was 1912-17.  The Red Wolves have piled up 44 victories since 2011 for its most over a five-year span in the program's 101-year history.

WINNING CONFERENCE RECORD:  With an 8-0 conference record this year, A-State posted a winning Sun Belt record for the eighth time since the league's inaugural season in 2001.  A-State has put together five straight winning records against conference opponents for the first time in school history.

TOP 25:  Arkansas State is currently receiving votes in both the Associated Press (2 points) and Coaches (6 points) Top 25 polls, making this the fourth season over the last five A-State has been included among “others receiving votes” at one point during the year.  The Red Wolves also earned votes in 2011, 2012 and 2013.  A-State's most ever points in the Associated Press (28) and Coaches (23) Top 25 came in the 2012 final polls.

BOWL ELIGIBILE:  With a 9-3 overall record, A-State is bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive season and eighth time over the last 11 years.  Since joining the FBS in 1992, Arkansas State became bowl eligible in nine games or less for the fourth time (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) in school history.  The earliest A-State ever became bowl eligible was in 2011 when it was 6-2 through eight games.

HOME SWEET HOME:  Arkansas State has strung together 11 consecutive years with a winning record at Centennial Bank Stadium dating back to 2005.  The Red Wolves are now 51-11 (.822 winning percentage) since the 2005 season and have won 26 of their last 30 home games.  The Red Wolves actual on-field record all-time at Centennial Bank Stadium is 143-74-1 since it opened in 1974.  A-State's six home wins in 2011 were its most since 1985.

ROAD TO THE SBC TITLE:  Arkansas State's path to the Sun Belt Conference title included a late road stretch when the Red Wolves played three of their last four league games away from Centennial Bank Stadium, including a victory at league runner-up Appalachian State.  The Red Wolves had a three-game road stretch that covered the entire month of November before clinching the SBC's outright title at home on Dec. 5.  It marked just the second time in A-State's history as a Sun Belt member that it played three straight conference road games, although the other time came just last season when the Red Wolves went 2-1 at Georgia State (W), Louisiana-Lafayette (L) and Idaho (W).  The last time A-State went an entire calendar month without playing a home game in Jonesboro was October 2003.

ROAD WARRIORS: Arkansas State has won 16 of its last 19 conference road games dating back to the 2011 season. A‐State had won 10 consecutive conference road games, its longest streak ever as a member of any league, before falling at Western Kentucky in its 2013 regular‐season finale. The Red Wolves went 4‐0 in conference road games in 2011, 2012 and 2015, 2‐1 in 2013 and 2‐2 a year ago.

THROUGH 12:  Arkansas State has a winning record (9-3) after 12 games for the fifth time since joining the FBS in 1992, and all five have come over the last five seasons.  The Red Wolves' 9-3 record matches the 2012 team for their second best record through 12 games since joining the FBS.  The 2011 team was 10-2 through 12 contests.

AN A-STATE VICTORY WOULD . . . :  give it a double-digit victories total for the seventh time in school history (10 wins in 1951, 2011 & 2012; 11 wins in 1970 & 1975; 12 wins in 1986) . . . give the Red Wolves' their 10th victory to match the 2011 and 2012 teams for their most ever as an FBS member . . . make A-State the only team in Sun Belt Conference history with three 10-win seasons . . . give it five all-time bowl victories, including three over its last four played . . . mark the seventh consecutive year the Sun Belt Conference representative has won the New Orleans Bowl . . . give the Red Wolves 45 victories since 2011, increasing their total that is already the most in school history over a five-year span . . . give it nine consecutive victories in the same season for the first time since 2011 and overall since 2012-13  . . . improve its record over the last five seasons to 45-20 . . . snap a two-game skid against Louisiana Tech and bring its all-time record versus the Bulldogs to 13-25.

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK:  Three of Arkansas State victories this season came after the Red Wolves entered halftime behind on the scoreboard.  During those three victories, A-State outscored its opponents by a combined 86-23 in the second half.  The Red Wolves also defeated Utah State last season after entering the second half behind, giving them four second-half comeback victories under head coach Blake Anderson.

DOUBLE DIGITS:  All nine A-State victories this season have come by at least 10 points and the Red Wolves average margin of victory in its eight Sun Belt wins was 21.1 points.  Six of A-State's seven wins last season also came by a double-figure margin, meaning 15 of the Red Wolves' 16 wins under head coach Blake Anderson have come by 10 or more points.  The only exception was a 21-14 overtime win over Utah State last season.

FIVE-YEAR WINS TOTAL:  Including back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2011 and 2012, eight more in 2013, seven last year and nine this season, the Red Wolves have recorded 44 victories that are tied for the 20th most in the nation over the last five years.

STEPPING INTO A STARTING ROLE:  Twenty players  (13 defense/7 offense) have made their first career start at A-State this season (9 vs. USC, 1 vs. Missouri, 7 vs. Missouri State, 1 vs. South Alabama, 1 vs. ULM, 1 vs. NMSU), which is tied for the 10th most in the nation.   UCF and Kansas have the most with 33 each.  The defensive starters included DL Waylon Roberson, Donovan Ransom, Chase Robison, Robert Mondie and Jake Swalley, LB's Tajhea Chambers, Austin Copeland and Khari Lain, DB's Bo Sentimore, Cody Brown, Blaise Taylor, Justin Clifton and Jamaris Hart.  Gaining their first offensive career start were OL Daniel Keith, Brandon Berg, Joseph Bacchus and Austin Moreton, QB James Tabary and TE Warren Leapheart. 

NEW FACES:  Arkansas State has seen 26 total players, including six true freshmen and five redshirt freshmen, achieve their first game experience at A-State this season.  Those 26 players are tied for the 25th most in the nation -- Kansas and Florida State have the most with 39.  Last season, A-State had 31 players that claimed their first game experience with the program.

OFFENSE:  Joseph Bacchus (Jr., OL), Jhamal Bell (Fr., OL) Brandon Berg (Jr., OL), Brandon Brockman (So., TE), Robert Maxwell (Jr., OL), Logan Moragne (Fr.-R, RB), Chris Murray (Jr., WR), Sterling Stowers (So., WR), James Tabary (Fr.-R, QB), Warren Wand (Fr., RB) || DEFENSE:  Cody Brown (Jr., DB), Tajhea Chambers (Fr., LB), Jarrod Chandler (Fr.-R, LB), Justin Clifton (Fr., DB), Ben Gallagher (So., LB), Marcus Hudson (Fr.-R, DE), Chauncey Mason (Fr., DB), Robert Mondie (Jr., DL), Donovan Ransom (Fr., DL), Griffin Riggs (Fr., DE), Waylon Roberson (Jr., DL), Chase Robison (Jr., DE), Bo Sentimore (Jr., DB), Jake Swalley (Jr., DL) || SPECIAL TEAMS:  Drew White (Jr., K), J.D. Houston (Jr., K)

THREE TOP-25:  Three of A-State's four non-conference opponents have been ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation at some point this season.  Toledo checked in as high as No. 20 at one point on the AP Poll, while A-State began its 2015 campaign with back-to-back games against top-25 teams (then ranked No. 8 USC, No. 21 Missouri) for the first time since 2004 when it faced No. 17 Missouri and No. 4 LSU.  The Red Wolves' lone victory over a top-25 team since joining the FBS in 1992 came against No. 25 Kent State in the 2013 GoDaddy Bowl.  USC was the highest ranked opponent Arkansas State had faced since playing at No. 5 Oregon to open the 2012 season.

UNBUCKLE THE BELT:  The Red Wolves stand 10-5 all-time in Sun Belt Conference openers after picking up a 49-35 win over Idaho in their first league game this year.  A-State has now won its last three Sun Belt openers, also knocking off ULM 28-14 last year and Troy 41-34 in 2013.  Prior to the current three-year stretch, the last time the Red Wolves won three consecutive SBC openers was 2004-06.

RED WOLVES TABBED THIRD IN SBC PRESEASON POLL:  Arkansas State was picked third in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 96 points and one first place vote.  The Red Wolves have been picked to finish among the top three teams in the league seven of the last 10 years.

PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE:  Led by six first-team selections, Arkansas State placed a league-high 11 players on the 2015 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team.

101ST SEASON:  Arkansas State kicked off its 101st season of football Sept. 5 at USC.  A-State now holds a 450-471-37 record since the inaugural season and has played in 13 bowl games (including the 2015 New Orleans Bowl).  A-State did not field a team from 1942-44 due to World War II.  Arkansas State also didn't have a team in 1918 as World War I was ending.

THREE FORMER WALK-ONS EARN SCHOLARSHIP:  Head coach Blake Anderson announced during A-State's fall camp that three former walk-ons to the Red Wolves football team have been awarded full athletics scholarships.  While senior defensive back Raziel Velgis has been placed on scholarship in the past, all three have all been a walk-on member of the team at some point during their careers.  In addition Velgis, sophomore receiver Sterling Stowers and sophomore defensive lineman Clifford Thomas have earned a scholarship.

OFFENSIVE NOTES 

TWO-MINUTE OFFENSE:  The Arkansas State offense has scored in two minutes or less on 34 of its 56 touchdown drive this season for a 60.7 percentage that ranks among the 10 highest in the nation.  As of Nov. 30, Hawai'i was the national leader, scoring in two minutes or less on 65.4 (17 of 26) of its touchdown drives.

300-PLUS: Dating back to the 2010 season, Arkansas State has posted at least 300 yards of total offense in 68 of its last 76 games (.895 percentage).  A-State went over 300 yards in all 13 games last season and has reached the mark 10 times this year, including the last eight games in a row.

400-PLUS:  Including the last six games in a row and nine games total this season, Arkansas State has posted at least 400 yards total offense in 18 of 25 games (72 percent) under offensive coordinator Walt Bell.  The Red Wolves have posted over 500 yards total offense six times in 2015, including a season-high 624 yards against Missouri State.  The last time A-State recorded at least 500 yards total offense in six or more games was 2012 when it did so seven times.

LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD:  A-State has posted at least 30 points in 41 of its last 59 regular-season games (69 percent) dating back to the 2011 season, including 15 of the last 19 contests. The Red Wolves have won 29 of their last 33 games when scoring at least 30 points.  A-State broke its own school record, set last year, this season for both points scored (492) and touchdowns scored (66).  Additionally, the Red Wolves are ranked 10th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 41.0 points per game.

RUSHING RED WOLVES:  Arkansas State has posted at least 200 rushing yards in seven of their last eight games.  The Red Wolves ran for over 200 yards in five straight games (first time since 1988 when it was an FCS member) prior to posting 148 against ULM.  Additionally, the Red Wolves are averaging 276.1 rushing yards per game over their last eight outings and have piled up 26 rushing touchdowns over the same span.  Arkansas State is ranked 14th in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 235.8 yards per game for the entire season.

FINDING THE END ZONE:  A former walk-on and Burlsworth Trophy nominee, sophomore running back Johnston White has recorded a team and career-best 14 rushing touchdowns this season to give him 20 running scores during his career.  He has scored at least one rushing touchdown in the last eight games, and he has scored multiple rushing touchdowns in four outings this season.  White's 14 running scores this season are tied for the fifth most in school history.  His 20 career rushing touchdowns are tied for the 10th most in school history.

WAND MAKING EARLY IMPACT:  Running back Warren Wand has rushed for 643 yards, the second most on the team, and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry as a true freshman.  His 643 yards are the most by a true freshman at A-State since Lamont Zachery ran for 846 yards in 1996.  Wand has rushed for at least 50 yards in six games, including a career-high 119 against Georgia State.

SAY THAT AGAIN:  Senior running back Michael Gordon has rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season, pushing his career total to 2,961.  He is just the fifth A-State player to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons since 1950, joining Richie Woit (1951-52), Jonathan Adams (2000-01), Antonio Warren (2004-05) and Reggie Arnold (2006-08).  Additionally, he is the sixth A-State player since 1950 to lead the Red Wolves in rushing during three consecutive seasons.  The others are Woit (1950-53), Calvin Harrell (1969-71), Rickey Jemison (1984-86), Lamont Zachery (1996-99) and Arnold (2006-09).  He will enter the New Orleans Bowl needing just 39 rushing yards to become the fifth player in school history with 3,000 during a career.

SCORING MACHINE:  Senior running back Michael Gordon is ranked fourth all-time at A-State in career rushing touchdowns with 32 and second in total touchdowns with 36.  He has scored at least one rushing TD in 18 career games, 2+ TDs in seven contests, 3+ TDs in five outings and a career-high five against Idaho as a junior.  His five running scores against Idaho last year are the third most in school history for a single game.

A FLARE FOR THE DRAMATIC:  Senior RB Michael Gordon holds a career 6.7 average per rush, which ranks as the third highest in school history, and has been a part of 20 plays covering at least 30 yards the past four seasons.  He has recorded 13 career runs covering at least 40 yards:

92 yd TD vs UAPB (2013);  73 yd TD vs Appalachian State (2015);  70 yd TD vs ULL (2014);  68 yd vs ULM (2014);  64 yd TD vs Troy (2013);  59 vs. Idaho (2015);  55 vs. Idaho (2015);  53 vs GSU (2014); 50 vs GSU (2014);  49 yd vs ULM (2014);  44 yd TD vs Idaho (2014); 42 yd TD vs Montana State (2014);  40 yd TD vs Texas State (2013)

GROWING NUMBERS FOR GRISWOLD:  Senior tight end Darion Griswold's 882 career receiving yards are the second most in school history by an A-State tight end behind only Steve Lockhart's 1,216 accumulated between 1968-71.  Additionally, Griswold's 65 receptions are the most by an A-State tight end since Lockhart recorded a tight end school-record 79.  Lockhart was a 12th round NFL Draft pick by the New Orleans Saints.

TAKING OVER AT QB:  In 16 of his 22 career starts, senior quarterback Fredi Knighten has posted over 200 yards total offense.  Knighten has recorded at least 300 yards total offense in nine games the last two seasons combined.  His most yards of total offense this season came in two of the Red Wolves last three games, including a season-high 400 against New Mexico State and 322 versus ULM.  He holds five of A-State's all-time top-10 marks for total offense in a game, including 407 yards against Toledo in last year's GoDaddy Bowl.  Knighten is ranked fourth at A-State in career total offense yards with 6,811 to his credit.

Mc-KISS-ic THE RECEPTIONS RECORDS GOODBYE:  Senior wide receiver J.D. McKissic broke the Sun Belt Conference record for career receptions during the Red Wolves' game against Idaho, recording four receptions to give him 264 for his career (now 286).  He broke the Sun Belt record (262) formerly held by Troy's Jerrel Jernigan (2007-10).  McKissic has caught at least one pass in 48 of 49 career games, including the last 13 in a row dating back to last season.  He entered the 2014 regular-season finale against New Mexico State with a catch in 35 consecutive games (every game of his career), which was the 12th longest streak in the nation at the time.  McKissic is the only player in school history to have 70 or more receptions in two different seasons.

RECEIVING SCHOOL RECORDS:  J.D. McKissic has already taken over the Arkansas State record books in almost every major receiving statistical category.  He holds the school record for receptions in a game (15), season (103) and career (286).  He broke the school record for career receiving yards during the ULM game and currently has 2,800 to his credit.  McKissic has 11 career receiving touchdowns that rank tied for the seventh most ever by an A-State player.  Additionally, his 2,800 receiving yards are the third most in Sun Belt history.

HOUSTON, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM:  Senior wide receiver Tres Houston has tied the school record for receiving touchdowns in a season with 10, which is also tied for the 14th most in the nation this season and tied for the fifth most in Sun Belt Conference history.  The last time an A-State player had 10 touchdown catches in a season was 1959 when Alfred Bentley accomplished the feat.  Houston needs two touchdown receptions in the bowl game to tie the Sun Belt Conference record currently held by North Texas' Casey Fitzgerald (2007) and Troy's Eric Thomas (2013).  Houston is also averaging 17.2 yards per catch to rank 39th in the nation.

OFFENSIVE NCAA ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS:  Arkansas State seniors Fredi Knighten, Michael Gordon and J.D. McKissic are all ranked among the top 41 active NCAA career leaders in at least one statistical category.  McKissic is ranked second in the nation in career receptions among current players with 286.  Only Nelson Spruce of Colorado has more with 294 to his credit.

KNIGHTEN NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Senior QB Fredi Knighten was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week after racking up a season-high 367 passing yards while accounting for three touchdowns in A-State's 52-28 victory at New Mexico State. He added 33 rushing yards to post a season-best 400 yards of total offense and finished just 49 yards shy of equaling his career-high in the category. He averaged 15.9 years per completion and threw two touchdown passes to move his season total to 17, the fifth most in school history.  Knighten had a 75-yard touchdown completion, the longest play of the season by A-State, and added a rushing touchdown later in the game.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Senior running back Michael Gordon was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Oct. 5 after rushing for a career-high 221 yards and season-high three touchdowns against Idaho, leading Arkansas State to a 49-35 victory over the Vandals.  Gordon's 221 rushing yards were the second most ever by an A-State player at Centennial Bank Stadium.  He ran the ball a career-high 26 times, averaging 8.5 yards per attempt, and recorded three or more rushing touchdowns in a game for the fifth time of his career.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

LOCK IT DOWN:  Even while A-State's pass defense efficiency ranked first in the Sun Belt Conference last season at 122.3, the Red Wolves have shown improvement on that number through this year.  Their pass defense efficiency this season is 113.7, which is the best in the league and currently ranked 28th in the nation.  The Red Wolves have 26 interceptions (most in the nation) and are allowing just a 52.7 completion percentage (16th in the nation).

BREAK IT UP:  Arkansas State has seen 14 different players combine to record 47 pass break-ups this season, which are its third most ever as an FBS member.  The last time the Red Wolves recorded more than 47 pass break-ups was 2013 when it had an FBS-era record 57.  Senior safety Cody Brown has posted a team-high nine pass break-ups and is ranked third in the Sun Belt in passes defended with 12.  Brown is the only player in the Sun Belt ranked among the top 50 players in tackles and top 10 in both passes defended and interceptions.

PICK IT OFF:  The Red Wolves lead the nation in interceptions this season with a Sun Belt Conference record 26, which have all come over the last 11 games.  Fifteen different players have combined for their 26 picks that are the third most in school history and the most by an A-State team since 1969 squad posted a school-record tying 32 (tied with the 1961 team).  A-State posted a season-high four interceptions at ULM, and it has recorded at least three in six games this season.  The squad has at least one interception in 11 consecutive games, which is the most in A-State's FBS era.

PICK-SIX:  Arkansas State has recorded six interception returns for a touchdown, which is the second most in Sun Belt Conference history and just two shy of the NCAA record currently held by the 2011 Southern Miss and 2012 SMU teams.  While he coached on the offensive side of the ball, A-State head coach Blake Anderson was also a member of that 2011 Southern Miss team.  The current Sun Belt Conference record is seven, held by the 2011 Louisiana-Lafayette team.  The Red Wolves have also posted a school-record 503 interception return yards, led by junior safety Money Hunter with 128 yards that ranks tied for the fifth most ever by an A-State player.  Hunter has two interception returns for a touchdown this season to tie the Sun Belt Conference record.  Additionally, he has three for his career to tie that Sun Belt record as well.

TURNOVER KINGS:  Arkansas State leads the nation in turnovers gained this season with 34 (all over the last 11 games), including 26 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.  They have turned eight of those turnovers into defensive touchdowns, which also leads the nation.  A-State's 34 turnovers gained ties the 2002 team for the most by the Red Wolves since joining the FBS in 1992, and it is also the program's most at any level since 1988 when it had 39.  The Red Wolves have recorded at least one turnover gained in 23 of 25 games played under defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen.

GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK:  Arkansas State has recorded 30 or more sacks in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever during its FBS era (1992-cur.).  Sixteen players have combined for those 30 sacks, which have come one year after tallying 37.  The Red Wolves are ranked second in the SBC in sacks and 31st in the nation.  A-State has now posted at least one sack in 10 games this season, including three in each of the last three games.

PLAYING IN THE BACKFIELD:  Sophomore defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones has recorded at least a half TFL in nine of 12 games this season and 13 of his last 16 contests dating back to last year.  He also has a team and Sun Belt Conference high 9.0 sacks this season, as well as a team-high 17.5 for his career.  He has tallied at least a half sack in 12 of his last 17 games.  Additionally, he is tied for eighth in the nation in forced fumbles with four.

YO, ROCKY:  Senior cornerback Rocky Hayes entered this season with three interceptions recorded over the previous two years he spent in the defensive backfield, but has a team-leading six this season that ranks tied for first in the Sun Belt and tied for fifth in the nation.  He completed the Idaho game on Oct. 3 with a career-high two interceptions.  His six picks this season are tied for the sixth most in school history.  He is currently ranked 39th in the nation in career passes defended (29) among active players. 

THE FAST LAIN:  Sophomore linebacker Khari Lain leads the Red Wolves in tackles this season with 74, giving him a 6.2 average that ranks tied for 21st in the Sun Belt Conference.  With an expanded role this season, Lain has already posted 68 more tackles than he had a year ago as true freshman.

DEFENSIVE NCAA ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS:  Arkansas State's Rocky Hayes and Ja'Von Rolland-Jones are both ranked among the top-39 active NCAA leaders in one statistical category.  Rolland-Jones, ranked 23rd in sacks, is one of just two sophomores among the top-50 leaders in the stat.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Junior safety Cody Brown was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Oct. 26 after tying his then-career high seven tackles, posting one pass break-up and returning his third interception of the season 30 yards for a touchdown during Arkansas State's 37-27 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

SPECIAL TEAMS SOLID:  Arkansas State's special teams units have become one of the best-rounded in the nation, ranking among the top 34 teams in the country in six different statistical categories.

COVERED UP:  The Red Wolves were one of the top teams in both kickoff and punt coverage a year ago, ranking No. 4 in the nation in kickoff return defense (16.31 ypr) and No. 9 in punt return defense (3.10 ypr).  Under the direction of second-year special teams coordinator Luke Paschall, they have continued that success.  This season has seen the Red Wolves allow just 18.8 yards per kick return, which is the 21st best average in the nation.  Additionally, they are averaging 40.4 net yards per punt to rank 13th in the country.

SOLID PERCENTAGE:  Junior kicker J.D. Houston has made 9-of-11 field goals this season, including a run of nine consecutive that was the sixth longest streak in school history.  His 83.3 field goal percentage is the third highest in the Sun Belt Conference and tied for the 24th highest in the nation.  He made a career-high four field goals against Appalachian State to tie the fourth most in school history for a single game.  He also finished the contest with 16 points by kicking that rank as the fifth most in A-State history.

BLOCK PARTY:  Junior defensive end Chris Odom has posted a team-high three blocked kicks this season to tie third most in school history.  He recorded his first two career blocks during the Georgia State game, his first coming on a field goal and the second on an extra point attempt.  In the process, he became the seventh player in school history to record multiple blocks in the same game.  His third block came on a Texas State field goal attempt to end the first half.  The Red Wolves now have four total blocks, which ties the fifth most in school history.

PRECISION PUNTING:  Not only is senior punter Luke Ferguson averaging 42.9 yards per punt, he has recorded 30 punts (44 percent) inside the 20 that lead the Sun Belt Conference.  Ferguson has posted at least one punt inside the opponent's 20 every game this season, including a career-high five against ULM.  He finished last season with 22 punts inside the 20 and now has 60 for his career.

ON THE RETURN:  Sophomore cornerback Blaise Taylor  has recorded 282 punt returns yards this season that are the most in the Sun Belt Conference and the fourth most in school history.  His two-year career has seen him pile up 516 punt return yards that are the second most in school history and the third most ever by a Sun Belt player.  He has two punt returns for touchdowns (1 in both 2014 and 2015), making him one of six Sun Belt players all-time with multiple scores.

McKISSIC RETURNS:  Senior wide receiver J.D. McKissic is one of the most dangerous kickoff returners in not only Arkansas State and Sun Belt Conference history, but his career 27.9 yards per return is the 23rd highest in NCAA history.  McKissic has piled up 1,455 career kickoff return yards that are the fifth most in school history.  He holds a 27.7-yard average per return this season that ranks first in the Sun Belt and 12th in the nation.

TAYLOR NAMED SUN BELT PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Sophomore corner Blaise Taylor had a career-long 73 yard punt return for a touchdown and recorded a career-best 111 total punt return yards against New Mexico State, earning Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His 73-yard return was the second longest by a Sun Belt player this year and the longest by an A-State player since Kevin Jones had an 89-yard return against Memphis in 2007. Taylor, who also recorded his first career interception during the contest, averaged 27.8 yards per punt return in the game.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Senior wide receiver J.D. McKissic was named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week on Nov. 30 after recording a school-record 211 kickoff return yards, including a 92-yard return for a touchdown, during A-State's game against Toledo.  McKissic's 92-yard return was the 10th longest in school history and the first return for a touchdown by an A-State player since he accomplished the feat on a 98-yard return versus Idaho in 2013.  He became the 10th player in Sun Belt history to post two kickoff return touchdowns in a career.