MOBILE, Ala. — Ryan Aplin threw for 213 yards and a touchdown, J.D. McKissic caught 11 passes for 113 yards and Arkansas State edged No. 25 Kent State 17-13 to win the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Sunday night.

Arkansas State's usually prolific offense struggled against Kent State, but the consistent Aplin-to-McKissic connection and a stingy defense was enough to help the Red Wolves (10-3) to their first bowl victory since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1992.

Arkansas State lost in this bowl to Northern Illinois 38-20 last year.

The Red Wolves won their last eight games this season.

Kent State was driving late in the game when quarterback Spencer Keith tried to scramble on fourth down and was stopped a few yards short of the marker with 52 seconds left. Neither team scored a touchdown in the second half.

The Golden Flashes (11-3) were playing in their first bowl game since 1972.

Coach Darrell Hazell is leaving the Kent State program to coach Purdue.

Notes

• Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said he is returning for his senior season. The fourth-year junior who led the Bulldogs to a 12-2 record already has graduated.

Murray is the first quarterback in Southeastern Conference history to pass for 3,000 yards in three straight seasons. He had 3,898 yards passing this season to set a Georgia record, topping Eric Zeier's mark of 3,525 in 1993. Murray threw 36 touchdown passes, was intercepted 10 times and leads the nation with a 174.8 passer rating.

• All-America running back Ka'Deem Carey of Arizona had a protection order issued against him stemming from an incident before Christmas, a person familiar with the situation said.

Carey was issued the protection order after allegedly being involved in an incident Dec. 23. No other details were available.

"I've spoken with Ka'Deem and am aware of the case," Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement. "We take these matters very seriously and will support the authorities however we can. Once more specific information is available, we will act accordingly."

Carey rushed for 1,929 yards this season.