Red Wolves QB Timmy McClain runs the ball against Louisiana.

PHOTO COURTESY OF A-STATE ATHLETICS

In a game to decide the potential winner of the Sun Belt West Division, the Arkansas State Red Wolves missed their opportunity by a mile.

The Red Wolves traveled down to Lafayette, Louisiana, to play the Ragin’ Cajuns, where the Cajuns proceeded to beat A-State like a stubborn mule, putting up 55 points in the game. The Red Wolves defense allowed 5 rushing touchdowns from three different backs.

The game was practically over from the start. The Red Wolves did not score in the first half until their very last drive. By the time quarterback Jaylen Raynor threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Adam Jones, the Cajuns had already taken a 31-0 lead, and the touchdown made the score at halftime 31-6. 

Cajuns running back Dre’lyn rushed for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 8 attempts, including a 46-yard touchdown in the first half. Louisiana RB Bill Davis rushed for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns, RB Zylan Perry rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown, and backup quarterback Chandler Fields ran for another touchdown. In total, the Cajuns ran for 278 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

In the second half, the Red Wolves played a little better. RB Zak Wallace capped off the first A-State drive of the second half with a 13-yard touchdown. But seeing as how the defense covered the offense like a tiny blanket on a fat man, any Red Wolves offensive touchdowns proved pointless in cutting into the lead. 

The Cajuns immediately responded to this touchdown by scoring one of their own on a 10-yard Bill Davis rush. Raynor decided that the next drive was the time to throw another interception, and the game was downhill from there.

Raynor ended the game passing 23/35, getting a touchdown and two interceptions. RB Ja’Quez Cross rushed 14 times for 84 yards, and RB Devin Spencer rushed 10 times for 58 yards. Zak Wallace only rushed 5 times but got 10.2 yards per carry, getting 51 yards and a touchdown.

WR Adam Jones pulled in the only receiving touchdown. WR Corey Rucker got 6 receptions for 73 yards. 

With this loss, the Red Wolves can likely kiss any hope of a trip to the Sun Belt Conference Championship goodbye. The Ragin’ Cajuns are now 8-1 and securely in first place in the West, and would only have to win out to win the division. The Red Wolves record now drops to 5-4, but a win in the next three games would secure a berth in a bowl game. 

Arkansas State will travel to Atlanta to take on the Georgia State Panthers on Nov. 18.

Categories: Sports