The Red Wolves celebrate a touchdown from TE Tyler Little.

Photo by Abigail Leggett | Staff Photographer

Arkansas State played their first conference game of the season Saturday against South Alabama. Since 2012, the Red Wolves and Jaguars had each won 6 games against each other. 

Arkansas State broke the tie with an 18-16 victory. The Red Wolves now have their longest home winning streak since 2019-20.  Arkansas State has become the second team over the last three years since 2022 in the Sun Belt conference team to hold South Alabama to 16 points or less.

The Red Wolves special teams defense played a pivotal part in this matchup. Both teams struggled to score in the first half, and kicker Clune van Andel finally broke the scoreless tie in the first quarter by kicking a 20-yard field goal, which deflected off one of the uprights and managed to squeak through for 3.

Van Andel would kick another field goal before the end of the half, and by halftime the red Wolves held a 6-3 lead.

The Red Wolves would kick one more field goal, but the next drive for South Alabama would see the first touchdown of the game. A blown coverage led to South Alabama wide receiver Jammal Pritchette being wide open for a 75-yard receiving touchdown.

The Red Wolves defense held off another Jaguars drive, and quarterback Jaylen Raynor then led A-State on a 10-play, 58 yard touchdown drive. The Red Wolves  took a 15-10 lead with six minutes left when Raynor threw a five yard touchdown to tight end Tyler Little. A-State failed on the two-point conversion.

South Alabama was able to regain the lead 16-15 when  South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez threw a 26-yard touchdown to WR Jammal Pritchette at the end of a 10-play, 80 yard drive.

Van Andel kicked the game winning field goal at the end of the game. Van Andel’s kick was at the end of a 10-play, 60-yard drive that lasted one minute and 30 seconds. Raynor completed 6 straight to start the drive and ended it 6/7 for 61 yards.

Quarterback Jaylen Raynor threw 30/39 on passing for 345 yards for a touchdown. WR Corey Rucker led the game with 8 receptions for 172 yards. Linebacker Charles Willekes led the team in tackles with 12 and Justin Parks also had 11 tackles. Parks also recorded a big interception in the red zone. Safety Websley Etienne had 5 tackles.  

Clune Van Andel was 4/4 on field goals, including a 34 yard field goal for the win.  Punter Ryan Heicher had a big day, punting five times for 233 yards. He pinned the Jaguars inside the 20 three times.

 South Alabama came to Jonesboro averaging 59 points per game, and had a 2-3 record, with the Jags only wins being blowout wins against Northwestern State (0-4) and Appalachian State (2-2)

“I feel like…we just executed at such a high level. I feel like we’re really limited to a lot of explosives. And you see, the only time they just scored the touchdown was off a long pass, you know, we made them a dime for a lob down the field, “Parks said.

Offensively the Red Wolves did not find a rhythm till the third Quarter. Quarterback Jalen Raynor discussed some of the struggles of not converting inside the red zone.  

“Once we get inside the 20s, we’ve got to score touchdowns. Take the pressure off the defense. We’re getting out, we’re getting down, we’re doing well, give it down at the end of the day, we have to score touchdowns. Three points. This is not  going to be enough for the game that we’re going to play in conference,”  Raynor said.

Butch Jones said he was pleased with his players’ performance, emphasizing the critical plays and limiting the turnovers.  

“Defensively, just a great effort. But when you really look at the critical stretches, critical moments, critical stats, whatever you want to look at, it always starts with the double positive, and we were able to win the double positive. We did not turn the football over on offense, and we were able to generate one turnover, and then we won the explosive play battle, four plays to three,”  Jones said. 

Jones said he had mixed feelings about red zone efficiency, but was pleased by the lack of turnovers

He said we was also happy with his defense and special teams and how they performed. 

“We talked about creating a hot pocket. I thought we were able to do that. And, you know, we knew we had to win this game with effort and strain. And it was really our culture. It was a culture game, you know, with special teams and mindset and mentality and toughness and playing with great effort, and our players were able to do that,”said Jones.

The loss for the Jaguars takes their record to 2-4,  with a   1-1 record in conference play. They are now  5th in the Sun Belt West.

The Red Wolves are now 3-2 on the season, and 1-0 in conference. They are currently  placed third in the Sun Belt West.  

Arkansas State will travel to San Marcos, Texas to take on the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday, October 12.

Categories: Sports