Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – Sept. 13, 2025 – The Arkansas State football team (1-2, 0-0 SBC) trailed by one possession late in the fourth quarter versus No. 14 Iowa State (4-0, Big 12), but the comeback effort fell short in a 24-16 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Jaylen Raynor led the Red Wolves air and ground attack, rushing for 83 yards and one touchdown on 16 attempts while throwing for 222 yards on a 19-for-33 clip. Chauncy Cobb tallied a team-high 81 receiving yards on a career-high seven catches.
Avante Dickerson and Brandon Barnes recorded seven tackles apiece, with the former establishing a new career high while intercepting a pass in his second consecutive contest.
A-State accumulated 222 passing yards alongside 160 rushing yards, combining for 382 yards of total offense. The Red Wolves held the advantage in time of possession with 34:41 compared to 25:19 for Iowa State.
After both sides went three-and-out to open the first quarter, the Cyclones marched 52 yards on 10 plays before settling for a field goal with 9:04 on the clock. The Red Wolves punted on the ensuing drive and Iowa State went 91 yards on seven plays to score the first touchdown of the game. The Cyclones missed the extra point, resulting in a 9-0 score at the 2:33 mark.
After claiming possession on their own 18 yard-line, the Red Wolves moved 55 yards on eight plays before Clune Van Andel converted a 45-yard field goal with 13:11 in the second quarter. The opposition moved into field goal territory after starting on their own 25, but the attempt fell short from 47 yards.
A-State took advantage of the opportunity, holding possession for 8:13 before Raynor capped a season-long 17-play drive with a three-yard rush. With 0:39 remaining in the first half, the Cyclones used four plays to reclaim a 17-10 lead going into halftime.
The Red Wolves cut into the deficit with the first drive of the second half, scoring on a 36-yard field goal from Van Andel. With 3rd and 12 on the A-State 27 yard-line, Dickerson intercepted Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht.
A-State carried possession into the fourth quarter, resulting in van Andel’s second 40-yard field goal of the contest and third overall, making the score 17-16.
The Cyclones scored their first points of the second half with 8:34 remaining in the fourth, scoring on a four-yard rush that extended the deficit to eight. An interception stalled the Red Wolves’ next drive, but the defense forced a three-and-out deep in Cyclone territory, setting up another drive at the Iowa State 49 yard-line.
With 1st and 10 at the 28, A-State gained five more yards before turning it over on downs. Iowa State recorded two first downs on the ensuing possession before kneeling to end the game.
NEXT UP
A-State travels to Kennesaw State on Saturday, Sept. 20. Kickoff from Fifth Third Stadium is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT), and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
ON ANOTHER NOTE – by Jonesboro Right Now
KAIT reported tonight that Arkansas State University football player 22-year-old Ja’Quez Cross was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly fleeing on foot from a DWI accident. Cross was arrested at 3:09 a.m. Saturday morning. He was released from the Craighead County Detention Center at 7:24 a.m., according to the KAIT report.
Coach Butch Jones announced on Sept. 4 that Cross had been injured in practice on Sept. 2 and would be out for the remainder of the season.
Cross was a redshirt senior on the A-State football team. He played for the Red Wolves in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons after a redshirt freshman year at Purdue.
