PHOTO COURTESY OF A-STATE ATHLETICS

The Arkansas State Red Wolves secured their third straight bowl game after a miraculous 30-29 victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Both teams entered the game in dire need of a win. With both holding a record of 5-6, the winner would get the necessary sixth win for bowl eligibility, and the loser would see their season end then and there.

App State scored on their opening drive in the frigid temperatures of Boone, North Carolina. Mountaineers kicker Dominic De Freitas kicked a 43-yard field goal to make the score 3-0.

Both teams traded punts for a while in the first, and the Red Wolves finally tied the score at 3-3 near the end of the first quarter on a 24-yard field goal from kicker Clune Van Andel.

The scoring came alive in the second quarter. App State scored another field goal, with De Freitas making this one from 38-yards. The Red Wolves fumbled on their next possession, and Mountaineers quarterback JJ Kohl found wide receiver Dalton Stroman for a 37-yard touchdown.

A-State decided the best course of action for a comeback was to fumble again. The Red Wolves special teams unit came through to prevent another field goal, and linebacker Jordan Sample blocked De Freitas’ kick. 

The two-minute timeout, as it has all season, seemed to give the Red Wolves life on the scoreboard. After a series of short passes, QB Jaylen Raynor launched a 43-yard pass to WR Chauncy Cobb. Raynor soon completed an 8-yard pass to WR Corey Rucker Jr for the touchdown and made the score 9-13.

The Red Wolves special teams came through again, and again it was Sample on the play. The Red Wolves kickoff was muffed by the Mountaineers and recovered by Sample for excellent Red Wolves field position. Raynor capitalized on this with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Fortenberry to take a 16-13 lead. App State closed the lead with another De Freitas field goal and the half ended tied 16-16.

The third quarter was defined by slow, methodical drives. The Red Wolves got the ball, but a nine-play drive ended on a missed 52-yard attempt from Van Andel. The Mountaineers managed more success on their possession, and Kohl got a 17-yard touchdown pass to WR Sam Mbake to take a Mountaineers lead at 16-23. The Red Wolves would respond when Raynor found Rucker again for a 6-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 23-23.

Both teams struggled to reach the finish line in the fourth quarter. Raynor threw his first interception and De Freitas managed to break the tie with his fourth field goal of the game. The Mountaineers would extend this lead inside the two-minute warning with yet another field goal by De Freitas. The score became 23-29.

But again, that two-minute offense came back to life. Raynor led another good drive downfield quickly. Raynor got a 19-yard pass to Fortenberry, then with 45 seconds left he got a 34-yard bomb to Rucker, who was tackled at the 1-yard line. A quick handoff to RB Kenyon Clay ensured a Red Wolves touchdown and lead at 30-29. But it did not guarantee a Red Wolves victory.

The Mountaineers managed a similar drive, and only needing a field goal to win, De Freitas was called on once again to send the Mountaineers bowling. He was 5 for 6 on the night, with the only miss coming from the blocked attempt. He ended the night 5 for 7, as he missed the field goal and ensured a Red Wolves victory.

Raynor had a great game, going 32/47 with 363 yards and three touchdowns to one interception. Rucker ended the game with 10 receptions, 90 yards and two touchdowns. Cobb had five receptions for 117 yards. Sample received Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week for his blocked field goal and fumble recovery that helped towards the victory.

With the win, the Red Wolves end the regular season at 6-6. They will now wait and see which bowl invitation they will receive for their final game of the season.

Categories: Sports