Jonesboro, AR — (Contributed) — October 4, 2025 – The Arkansas State football team (2-4, 1-1 SBC) faced a late deficit against Texas State (3-2, 0-1 SBC), but the Red Wolves persevered in a 31-30 victory Saturday afternoon at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor finished 27-for-35 with 248 yards and two touchdowns through the air while rushing for a team-high 92 yards on 19 attempts for two additional scores. He ended the contest with 20 consecutive completions, with the first beginning at the 4:33 mark of the third quarter.
Corey Rucker led the Red Wolves in receiving yards with 102, while Kenyon Clay and Hunter Summers recorded a touchdown reception. Redshirt-senior Kyle Taylor led the defense with 12 tackles, including four solo stops. As a team, A-State posted 398 yards of total offense featuring 150 on the ground.
The Bobcats scored on the opening drive of the game, moving 51 yards on six plays before quarterback Brad Jackson reached the endzone on a 24-yard keeper. After forcing a punt at the 4:02 mark in the opening quarter, Raynor completed a 24-yard pass and rushed for 33 yards before completing a seven-play drive of their own with a 13-yard touchdown run.
The Red Wolves defense forced a punt for the fourth consecutive drive, and the offense pushed the ball 21 yards before settling for a 51-yard field goal from Clune Van Andel at the 10:29 mark in the second. Texas State used 12 plays to gain 62 yards on the ensuing drive and tied the contest at 10-10 with a field goal of their own.
Defense highlighted the third quarter, with A-State punting three times while Texas State punted once and turned it over on downs at the Red Wolves’ 16 yard-line.
The fourth quarter saw both sides end cold stretches on offense, with the opposition scoring a touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Jackson. The Scarlet and Black rushed for 32 yards on five plays while Raynor completed all six of his passes including a five-yard touchdown reception for Summers.
The Bobcats scored once again on a 75-yard drive consisting of seven plays, but Raynor tied the game at 24-24 after rushing for 32 yards on three plays and completing five more passes for 33 yards, capped by a five-yard touchdown reception for Clay at the 1:25 mark.
Jackson kept the ball for 63 yards and made it to the Red Wolves’ three yard-line before a rush up the middle pushed Texas State ahead with 1:00 remaining. The extra point attempt was no good, making the score 30-24.
A-State moved 71 yards in 46 seconds following five completions from Raynor, including a 27-yard reception to Rucker. With 10 seconds on the clock, Raynor kept the ball and made a defender miss before finding the endzone to tie the game.
Van Andel converted the go-ahead extra point to move the Red Wolves in front 31-30, but the Bobcats received the ball with seven seconds remaining. Texas State pushed the ball 29 yards downfield on the final play before Ethan Hassler made the tackle to secure the victory.
NEXT UP
A-State travels to Mobile, Ala. to take on South Alabama on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Kickoff from Hancock-Whitney Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
