Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – A defensive showdown highlighted by two fourth-down stops propelled the Arkansas State (2-2, 0-0 SBC) football team to a 17-14 win over defending Conference USA champion Kennesaw State (1-3, 0-0 CUSA) on Saturday night inside Centennial Bank Stadium.
Trey Owens completed 24 passes on 31 attempts and totaled 244 yards plus a passing and rushing touchdown. Hunter Summers was on the receiving end of the touchdown throw and recorded a team-leading seven receptions while Jaylen Bonelli led with 78 receiving yards. Solomon Baggett posted a team high of 63 yards on the ground, more than half of A-State’s 119 rushing yards.
Defensively, Kam Moore totaled a team-best 13 tackles while Joe Drew was not far behind with 11. Moore, alongside Tony Carter, accounted for both fourth-down stands.
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The first quarter saw both teams combine for 94 yards of offense, and the defensive dominance continued into the second quarter. Carter and Moore teamed up to stop running back Skyler Williams on 4th & 2 and set up the offense in enemy territory at the 7:15 mark. A pair of carries by Ezell Jolly were followed by three consecutive completions from Owens to Summers, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown throw that broke the scoreless stretch.
A 47-yard completion from Rickie Collins to Javon Rogers highlighted the Owls’ counterattack, as Boogie Woods Jr. rushed up the middle for eight yards and a touchdown five plays later. A-State made it to the Kennesaw State 43-yard line, but would not be able to answer as the score stood at 7-7 entering intermission.
The opposition marched 76 yards on 14 plays in their first drive of the second half and scored on a six-yard run by Woods Jr. Facing 3rd & 11 on the ensuing drive, Owens connected with Chauncy Cobb on a screen pass and the latter carried the ball 46 yards to the Owls’ 2-yard line. Owens powered into the endzone on the next play and tied the contest at 14-14 with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter.
Moore and Carter teamed up again to give A-State a second fourth-down stop in as many tries and gave the offense possession at midfield. The Scarlet & Black would be stopped just outside the redzone, but a successful 33-yard field goal from Clune Van Andel resulted in a 17-14 advantage.
Kennesaw State had a chance to tie with 2:59 remaining in the game, but the 32-yard field goal attempt missed wide right. The Red Wolves would not yield possession beyond that point as two first downs clinched the victory.
Next Up
A-State begins Sun Belt Conference play with a trip to Louisiana on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. inside Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+, and the radio broadcast of the game can be heard across the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network.
The Red Wolves return to Centennial Bank Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. to face South Alabama. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
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