Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – The Arkansas State football team (5-5, 4-2 SBC) had an opportunity to take the lead on the final play versus Southern Miss (7-2, 5-0 SBC) but could not convert in a 27-21 defeat Saturday at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Jaylen Raynor completed a career-high 37 passes on 48 attempts for 331 yards and two touchdowns, while Josh Flowers added one more touchdown through the air. Kenyon Clay, Tyler Little and Hunter Summers recorded the touchdown receptions, but Corey Rucker led the team with 123 receiving yards.
The total pushes Rucker past Sam Pinckney (2018-23) as the Sun Belt Conference’s career receiving yards leader with 3,693 yards.
Kyle Taylor posted a team-high 11 tackles while Aaron Alexander and Brandon Barnes snagged interceptions. As a team, the Red Wolves accumulated 456 yards of total offense, throwing for 337 and rushing for 119.
A-State fumbled on the first play from scrimmage but limited the Golden Eagles to a 28-yard field goal five plays later. Raynor opened the ensuing drive with a 55-yard completion to Rucker, and the Red Wolves eventually reached the five yard-line before Kenyon Clay reeled in a touchdown reception at the 11:04 mark to make the score 7-3.
The opposition moved 76 yards on eight plays to the A-State 11 yard-line, but Demarcus Hendricks stopped quarterback Braylon Braxton for no gain on 4th & 1 to flip possession.
The Scarlet and Black were unable to get a third consecutive stop in the redzone, as quarterback Landy Liddy kept the ball for a seven-yard touchdown rush. An interception by Brandon Barnes was followed by a three-and out that carried into the second quarter, and the Golden Eagles extended their advantage to 17-7 with a 76-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the ensuing drive.
Both sides combined for four interceptions and three punts over the next 14:16, with neither side adding to their totals on the scoreboard before halftime.
The defensive stalemate continued into the second half, as A-State and Southern Miss exchanged three-and-outs in their first drives. After forcing a fourth punt in five drives, A-State reached the Golden Eagles’ 27 yard-line before an interception ended the drive.
Following the touchback, the opposition gained 61 yards on eight plays before settling for a 37-yard field goal at the 2:05 mark in the third quarter.
Flowers spearheaded the response for A-State, rushing for 30 yards before capping an 11 play, 75-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Little and cutting the deficit to 20-14. Southern Miss nullified the effort on the next drive, accumulating 66 yards of total offense on 10 plays, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass with 9:15 remaining.
A-State took over on their own 41 yard-line with 5:34 to go and Raynor connected on six consecutive passes, including a three-yard strike to Jaylen Bonnelli to make it a one-possession game. The Red Wolves got possession back with 1:09 on the clock and made it to the Southern Miss 13 yard-line with four seconds to go, but an interception in the endzone on the last play of the game ended hopes of a comeback.
NEXT UP
A-State returns to action for Senior Day versus Louisiana (3-6, 2-3 SBC) on Thursday, Nov. 20. Kickoff from Centennial Bank Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
