BLACKSBURG, Va. (9/17/2011) - The Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-2) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead Saturday afternoon against Virginia Tech, but the 13th-ranked Hokies (3-0) responded with 23 first-half points and went on to defeat ASU 26-7 at Lane Stadium.

Arkansas State returns to action Sept. 24 when it hosts Central Arkansas in a 7 p.m. game at ASU Stadium.

The Red Wolves found the end zone on their first possession Saturday, using a 51-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Aplin to wide receiver Taylor Stockemer on their first play from scrimmage to set up the touchdown. Stockemer's catch gave ASU a first down at the Hokie eight, and two plays later, Aplin scrambled in from five yards out to put the Red Wolves on the board. Placekicker Brian Davis added the extra point for the 7-0 A-State advantage just over three minutes into the game.

Virginia Tech began at the Hokie 16 on their next possession and needed just three plays to set up a first-and-goal at the ASU seven, but the Arkansas State defense denied the Hokies the goal line from there. The Red Wolves kept Virginia Tech out of the end zone on four consecutive plays to give ASU possession at the Arkansas State one, but on the second play of the drive, Aplin was flagged for intentionalgrounding in the end zone, with the penalty awarding Virginia Tech a safety.

Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas completed a 49-yard touchdown pass to split end D.J. Coles on the ensuing possession to give the Hokies a 9-7 advantage. Thomas added a four-yard touchdown pass later in the opening quarter and tailback David Wilson scored on a three-yard run with 5:14 remaining in the half to give Virginia Tech a 23-7 lead at the break.

Virginia Tech tacked on a 31-yard field goal from placekicker Cody Journell to increase its lead to 26-7 with 9:49 remaining in the third. The field goal would prove to be the only score of the second half as the defense ASU limited the Hokies to just 147 yards in the second half.

Aplin completed 16-of-36 passes for 205 yards and added 29 rushing yards and a touchdown to lead ASU with 234 yards of total offense. Six of Aplin's passes went to wide receiver Dwayne Frampton, who totaled 59 receiving yards. Wideout Josh Jarboe added four catches for 38 yards and Stockemer logged three catches for a team-high 77 yards.

Linebacker Nathan Herrold and safety Kelcie McCray led the A-State defense with 10 tackles each, with each making five solo stops and McCray making one behind the line of scrimmage. Eight players notched tackles behind the line of scrimmage, led by linebacker Najel Byrd with two tackles-for-loss. Cornerbacks Darryl Feemster and Darron Edwards both intercepted passes in the game for the Red Wolves.