GoMiddle.com - Week eight wrap: Blowouts own the week

October 26, 2009

Bobby Raymond
GoMiddle.com Staff Writer

Competitive games were scarce in the Sun Belt over the weekend.

The average margin of victory in the five games on the schedule was nearly 25 points, including a surprising blowout conference loss for previous league unbeaten Louisiana-Lafayette.

GoMiddle.com reviews the weekend action with the Sun Belt wrap up.

BEST GAME

ARKANSAS STATE 27, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 10- This was the closest game across the Sun Belt in a week of blowouts. The Golden Panthers had a chance draw even with the Red Wolves late in the game, but a fumble lead to an Arkansas State touchdown and put the game out of reach. Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard and running back Reggie Arnold ran for 120 and 104 yards respectively. Leonard also had a 5-yard touchdown throw.

BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE

MIDDLE TENNESSEE QUARTERBACK DWIGHT DASHER- The shifty quarterback had one of the best games of his college career. Dwight Dasher dominated the Hilltoppers by throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 66 yards and 2 more touchdowns as the Blue Raiders dropped WKU 62-24. Each of Dasher's three touchdown tosses came in the second quarter when the MT offense hung 28 points on the WKU defense.

BEST DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE

TROY LINEBACKER BEAR WOODS- The intimidating, face-painted linebacker filled up the stat sheet against North Texas. Woods tallied six tackles, including one for loss. He forced one fumble (recovered by North Texas), had an interception, and recorded a sack as the first team Trojan defense manhandled the Mean Green.

TEAM THAT MOST IMPRESSED

TROY- The Trojans improved to 4-0 in the Sun Belt and 5-2 overall, with a dominating 50-26 win over North Texas. Trojan quarterback Levi Brown had a record-setting day throwing for a school record 454 yards and added a touchdown to his stat line. Three running backs also put it in the endzone for Troy. DuJuan Harris had two scores, while Shawn Southward and Maurice Greer each had a touchdown.

TEAM THAT MOST DISAPPOINTED

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE- The Ragin' Cajuns came into their home game with Florida Atlantic with a 2-0 record in Sun Belt play. FAU had only been victorious once this season, a win at lowly North Texas last weekend. ULL probably expected a close game against FAU's powerful offense, but the Cajuns got dominated at home, 51-29. Quarterback Rusty Smith and the Owls racked up 624 yards of total offense and Smith threw for four touchdowns.

FINAL SCOREBOARD

Troy 50, North Texas 26
Middle Tennessee 62, Western Kentucky 24
Florida Atlantic 51, Louisiana-Lafayette 29
Arkansas State 27, Florida International 10
Kentucky 36, ULM 13

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