The Arkansas State Red Wolves secured bowl eligibility for the second-consecutive season by defeating the Georgia State Panthers this past Saturday, 27-20, behind a dominant performance from the Red Wolves’ run game. A-State’s rush attack would account for 261 total yards of offense and three touchdowns against the Panthers at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

A-State quarterback Jaylon Raynor led the Red Wolves with 97 passing yards and 114 rushing yards. Red Wolves’ running back Zak Wallace led the team with two touchdowns, while running the ball for 62 yards.

The first half did not start well for A-State as the Red Wolves could not capitalize on a 10-play, 40-yard opening drive as they were stopped on a fourth and short distance down and came up empty-handed on their first possession of the game. Georgia State would then take the ball on the ensuing possession and score the game’s first touchdown on a 24-yard pass from quarterback Zach Gibson to Ted Hurst, giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead. 

Raynor would lead the Red Wolves with the ground game late in the first quarter, putting up 58 yards on the ground in leading Arkansas State to tie the game at 7-7 when Wallace would also use his running abilities on a 13-yard touchdown with 3:34 left in the first quarter.

A Red Wolves interception by safety Justin Parks would halt an 11-play, 45-yard drive by Georgia State in the second quarter. Parks’ second interception of the season would keep the score at 7-7.

At halftime with the score 7-7, Arkansas State’s offense would only account for 176 yards of total offense and 29 passing yards. Before halftime, Panthers starting QB Gibson would suffer a leg injury and would be replaced by backup QB Christian Veilleux.

The second half started with Arkansas State’s defense keeping Georgia State from scoring on the opening drive, highlighted by a key stop by linebacker Charles Willekes on a fourth and short to halt the Panthers. The Red Wolves would capitalize on the turnover on downs with a Wallace one-yard touchdown to give A-State a 14-7 left with 9:32 left in the third.

The Red Wolves’ offense would be in sync all throughout the second half, outscoring Georgia State, 20-13 in the third and fourth quarters, to secure the win. Touchdowns by Wallace and RB Ja’Quez Cross would end up putting the Red Wolves in the win column in Atlanta.

While Georgia State outgained the Red Wolves in total offensive yards, 419-336, the Red Wolves would out rush the Panthers, 261-73. The A-State defense would sack Georgia State quarterbacks twice and force two interceptions in the win.

The Red Wolves will be back in action on Nov. 23, as they take on the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at 2 p.m. at Centennial Bank Stadium.

Categories: Sports