BOONE, N.C. - Fredi Knighten threw for 208 yards and one touchdown, JD Houston kicked four field goals, and Arkansas State scored 26 straight points in a 40-27 victory over Appalachian State on Thursday night.
Arkansas State trailed 21-17 at halftime. On the Red Wolves' first possession of the second half, Johnston White bounced outside for a 26-yard touchdown run for their first lead. After Appalachian State's drive stalled, Michael Gordon raced down the sideline 73 yards for a touchdown. Houston had field goals of 23, 26 and 32 yards on Arkansas State's next three drives.
Gordon had 17 carries for 136 yards for Arkansas State (6-3, 5-0 Sun Belt). Knighten added 69 yards.
Taylor Lamb had 321 yards passing with four touchdowns and one interception for Appalachian State (7-2, 4-1).
No. 2 BAYLOR 31, KANSAS ST. 24 - At Manhattan, Kan., Jarrett Stidham threw for 419 yards and three scores in his first start, Corey Coleman caught a pair of touchdown passes and No. 2 Baylor held on for a victory over pesky Kansas State to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Stidham, taking over for the injured Seth Russell, also ran for a touchdown to help the Bears (5-0 Big 12, No. 6 CFP) improve to 8-0 for only the second time in school history.
The freshman quarterback's favorite target was Coleman, who caught 11 passes for 216 yards while pushing his nation-leading total to 20 touchdown receptions.
NO. 24 MISSISSIPPI STATE 31, MISSOURI 13 - At Columbia, Mo., Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and Mississippi State got 100-yard receiving games from De'Runnya Wilson and Fred Ross in a rain-soaked victory over Missouri.
The Bulldogs kicked it into gear after a heavy downpour stopped at halftime, turning a one-point game into a runaway with a 17-point third quarter that included two of Prescott's TD throws.
Wilson had two touchdown receptions and Ross and Fred Brown had one each for Mississippi State (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference), which has won four in a row to stay in contention in the SEC West. The Bulldogs pulled away without left tackle Rufus Warren, who injured his left leg late in the first half.
Prescott became the 10th player in SEC history with 10,000 yards of total offense. He was 27 for 40 for 303 yards and led the Bulldogs in rushing with 47 yards on 14 carries.
Russell Hansbrough's 14-yard run late in the first half gave Missouri (4-5, 1-5) its first touchdown in four games. Kentrell Brothers forced a fumble and blocked a punt to set up a pair of field goals in the first half for the Tigers. They have lost four in a row for the first time since 2004.
