BY MATTHEW V. ROBERSON
SUN STAFF WRITER

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — There were plenty of changes, but the results were still the same.
Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin made his starting debut and guided ASU to a halftime lead that offered an encouraging sign, but the Red Wolves faded in a sluggish second half and Florida Atlantic carved out a 35-18 victory Saturday afternoon at Lockhart Stadium.
Aplin took every snap under center while several others, who hadn’t started or played only a reserve role, joined him on the first series and throughout. But, in the end, the multitude of changes in personnel and switches made no difference.
Arkansas State (2-7 overall, 1-4 Sun Belt Conference) lost its third straight and fell for the seventh time in eight games overall. The Red Wolves were assured of a losing season, their fifth in eight years.
“The guys went out and competed and played hard, but obviously, the results were the same,” ASU coach Steve Roberts said, referencing the many changes. “That’s going to be something we have to sit down and evaluate again.”
Arkansas State scored on three of its first four possessions and led 9-7 at halftime as it rolled up 200 yards offense and moved up and down the field. But the Red Wolves failed to sustain anything on either side of the football after halftime, and trailed 35-12 before a late touchdown made the final score respectable.
Florida Atlantic (3-6, 3-2) scored on its first drive, then barely moved the football the remainder of the half. The Owls overpowered Arkansas State after the break, though, scoring four touchdowns on four straight possessions to put ASU away.
FAU had 268 yards offense following the halftime break.
“I’m proud of the way we played for the most part in the first half,” Roberts said. “We were able to move the football and get some key stops defensively. Unfortunately, we had field goals on those drives. Obviously, knowing what I know now, we should have gone for it every time. ... You have to give FAU credit; they’re a heck of an offensive football team, and they proved that tonight in the second half.”
ASU settled for three field goals in the first half, driving inside the FAU 2-yard line twice and inside the 20 another time. But all the Red Wolves could manage were field goals by Josh Arauco, who made kicks from 19, 22 and 35 yards. He also made a 21-yard field goal in the second half for a career-high four field goals in one game.
Aplin was impressive in his first start while senior Corey Leonard stood on the sideline and watched. Aplin was 20-of-27 passing for 168 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
In a strong first half, Aplin completed 13 of 15 passes for 116 yards, he also had a 47-yard run, the longest rush of the season by Arkansas State. Aplin finished with a team-high 82 yards rushing and 198 yards total offense.
Aplin said settling for field goals instead of touchdowns was costly.
“In the first half, we moved the ball well on them,” Aplin said. “We had that one drive where we moved all way down to the 1, and we just couldn’t finish. We couldn’t put the ball in the end zone for some reason, and that’s what really hurt us.”
Florida Atlantic running back Alfred Morris really hurt Arkansas State, too.
Morris, a blue-collar workhorse, pounded the interior of Arkansas State and occasionally slipped outside as well. He finished with 117 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 24 carries, and is the only running back this year to top 100 yards against ASU.
And while Morris was doing the work on the ground, FAU quarterback Jeff VanCamp supplied the knockout punch.
VanCamp, making just the second start of his career, was 18-of-27 passing for 242 yards and three touchdowns. His 52-yard pass to Jason Harmon early in the fourth quarter put the Owls up 28-9 and essentially finished off the Red Wolves.
Roberts said the combination of Morris and VanCamp was more than what Arkansas State was up to handling.
“When you can run the football — the play-action game was very effective for them,” Roberts said. “They were able to establish the run, and that made their play-action (passing) very effective.”
Morris opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run on FAU’s first drive. A key block by receiver Lester Jean sprung Morris, who barreled over a pair of ASU defenders near the goal line to end a 9-play, 84-yard drive.
Arkansas State scored on its next two possessions with Arauco booting a 35-yard field goal, then a 19-yard kick to pull within 7-6. ASU got the ball back early in the second quarter and Aplin led the longest drive of the season.
The Red Wolves drove from their own 3 to the FAU 1, where they had second-and-goal. But Aplin was swarmed by a crushing Owl rush on back-to-back plays and ASU settled for Arauco’s 22-yard field goal and 9-7 lead at the break.
Florida Atlantic dominated the second half, though, scoring on four straight possessions as VanCamp picked apart the Red Wolves. He was 10-of-12 passing for 163 yards and three TDs after the break.
Morris gave the Owls the lead with a 7-yard touchdown run, which effectively set up FAU’s next score. VanCamp used a play-action fake to freeze the ASU defense, and found fullback Willie Rose for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 21-9 with 1:11 to play in the third quarter.
“They just outplayed us in the second half,” ASU defensive end Alex Carrington said. “They ran the same plays. We just didn’t stop them. They’ve got a good running back. He keeps on churning his feet, but in the same breath, we’ve got to wrap up better than we did.”
VanCamp followed with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Harmon, then found Morris for a 17-yard TD catch on a screen throwback that led to Morris virtually walking into the end zone.
Aplin connected with freshman Taylor Stockemer inside the final minute for a 4-yard touchdown catch. It was Aplin’s first TD pass and Stockemer’s first TD catch of their careers, and ended a 6-play, 60-yard drive.
But a late touchdown hardly satisfied Roberts, who slumped against a wall outside the locker room and spoke softly.
“I can’t really describe it,” Roberts said. “I’m disappointed for our players, number one.”
The players are disappointed, too.
“I’m disappointed, definitely,” ASU running back Derek Lawson said. “We’re too good of a team to lose like this. That’s about all you can say.”

mroberson@jonesborosun.com