ASU to take on Middle Tennessee

Arkansas State has received nothing easy this season.

They have found themselves plagued by injuries, playing on the road against nationally ranked teams and losing tough football games by only one score. This Saturday against Middle Tennessee State, it won't get any easier.

MTSU (7-3,5-1) is playing good football right now and is currently on a four-game winning streak after beating Louisiana-Lafayette 34-17 last Saturday.

On top of that, the Red Wolves must travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to take on the Blue Raiders, who have only lost once at home this season to a stronger Mississippi State team.

"They're a very good football team," ASU head coach Steve Roberts said. "They've done a great job after a couple of disappointing years in putting together the foundation for a very, very good football team like they have this year."

Currently, ASU's defense ranks first in the Sun Belt Conference as they have allowed only 351.9 yards per game this season.

The Red Wolf defense will have to play another outstanding game against the Blue Raiders Saturday to pull off the upset.

"We're looking forward to going to Murfreesboro to play Middle Tennessee. It's a place where we have struggled. The past few years, we have played more there than we have here. We have not played well over there. We have changed our routine every time that we have gone over there. The bottom line is how you play once you get out on the field. You have to be ready to play emotionally, mentally and physically and to do things that you have to do to be successful. It will be a big-time challenge this week. Middle Tennessee is playing really good football right now," Roberts said.

Junior MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher earned Offensive Player of the Week in the Sun Belt last week after piling up 308 total yards against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Some noticeable lineup changes were made for ASU last week, as they started redshirt freshman Ryan Aplin at quarterback and sophomore Derek Lawson at running back.

Roberts said changes needed to be made and he commented on the job of his new starters, saying that they competed hard.

MTSU leads the all-time series against ASU 8-2, but ASU won the last meeting in Jonesboro last season 31-14.

The Red Wolves have never defeated the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro.

A win against the Blue Raiders would break MTSU's current winning streak, give ASU their first win at Murfreesboro, and also give ASU its first road win of the season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro.