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Louisiana-Lafayette holds off Arkansas State 21-18

Nov 8, 2009 - 1:16 AM JONESBORO, Ark.(AP) -- Lance Kelley's interception with 2:52 left stopped an Arkansas State rally and saved Louisiana-Lafayette's 21-18 victory Saturday.

The Ragin' Cajuns (5-4, 3-2 Sun Belt) led 21-3 until the Red Wolves (2-6, 1-3) rallied behind redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Aplin, who led the team to 15 fourth-quarter points. Both touchdowns were by Reggie Arnold, who scored on runs of 2 and 5 yards.

Aplin entered late in the third quarter after senior Corey Leonard was benched for an interception, penalty and unsportsmanlike penalty on three second-half possessions. He drove the Red Wolves on scoring drives of 68 and 69 yards and followed the second TD with a scrambling two-point conversion, which made it 21-18 with 10:10 left.

Aplin finished with 147 yards passing and ran for 16 more.

Louisiana-Lafayette built a 21-3 lead behind the play of quarterback Chris Masson, who ran for 30 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 229 yards.

Blaine Gautier's 1-yard run gave the Cajuns the lead and Masson added a 7-yard score in the second quarter. Louisiana-Lafayette led 14-3 at halftime after Arkansas State's Josh Arauco kicked a field goal with 29 seconds left.

In the third quarter, Masson added a 2-yard touchdown run.