WKU leads Arkansas State 20-14 at halftime.

For the first time this season, WKU started the game on defense. The Red Wolves knew what they were doing though by using the dual-threat of quarterback Andy Kennedy to piece together a 12 play, 83-yard drive capped by a one-yard run from defensive lineman Ryan Carrethers. The Red Wolves converted three third downs.

Senior cornerback Tyree Robinson’s 38-yard return to the Arkansas State 35 yard line set up the Topper offense with great field position to open the game on offense. Junior quarterback Brandon Doughty connected with junior tight end Mitchell Henry for 31 yards and senior running back Keshawn Simpson only needed two tries to score to tie the game back up at the 8:41 mark of the first quarter.

Field position played in the Toppers favor again after starting at the ASU 32 after a sack from senior defensive end Bar’ee Boyd on Adam Kennedy forced the Red Wolves’ first three-and-out of the game.

After recovering his own fumble two plays earlier, Doughty connected with junior wide receiver Willie McNeal over the middle for a  24-yard touchdown pass to put WKU up 14-7 with 4:15 to go in the first quarter.

Doughty continued to make plays through the air by completing four consecutive passes including a 23-yard touchdown pass to the back of the end zone to freshman wide receiver Nicholas Norris. Sphomore kicker Garrett Schwettman’s missed point-after attempt made the WKU lead 20-7 early in the second quarter.

Arkansas State used 6:22 and three quarterbacks to go 85 yards in 15 plays where quarterback Fredi Knighten pushed it in from one-yard out.

Two individual milestones were reached in the first half for WKU.

Senior running back Antonio Andrews’ 75 all-purpose yards in the first half moved him past Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin for the most all-purpose yards in a two-year span in FBS history.

Doughty’s 155 first half yards gave him the single season passing yards record, moving him ahead of Jeff Cesarone, who threw for 2,737 in 1985.

WKU will receive the ball to start the second half.