Isaiah Poku scored two tries in the first half to help lead #6 Arkansas State University past DIAA contender Lindenwood-Belleville 41-12 Saturday.

Both teams got off to a slow start before Poku, a 6-0, 195-pound sophomore flanker from Daytona Beach, Fla., sprinted down the sideline for the score 16 minutes in. Shortly after, Poku extended A-State’s lead with another try.

(Photos by Rich Carvell, used with permission)

“Lindenwood-Belleville is a high-energy team and it took a little while for us to ride the wave to their physicality and get into a rhythm,” said Head Coach Blake White. “In the second half, we found it. Our guys have been working hard and it showed.”

White said he felt his team played a bit too individually.

Junior lock Asa Carter gave the Red Wolves a little cushion with less than five minutes remaining in the opening period with his try, and a conversion from sophomore Beefy Nyamarebvu. That made it 17-0 at the break.

Nine minutes into the final half, center James Luecke broke through and then set up Stewart to finish off the try.

Down 22-0, Lindenwood-Belleville finally replied, with Evian MalikAkers intercepting a pass and galloping in. 

ASU finished things off, though, scoring three more times before Darious Palmer's try for Lindenwood-Belleville. ASU finished the game down a player after exhausting its bench. White was able to get some time for some younger players.

It was a good showing by the Lynx, who drop to 6-2, while Arkansas State, now 3-0, is just getting started.