Arkansas State clobbers Texas State 77-31
What started as a back-and-forth exchange of scores ended an Arkansas State blowout over Texas State, powered by the A-State run game who totaled seven touchdowns. Red Wolves, after starting the season 0-2 and being outscored 110-3, collected their sixth win for bowl eligibility. Seventy-seven points is the most points scored for the Red Wolves against a Sun Belt opponent.
Texas State opened the game with a methodical scoring drive orchestrated by Joey Hobert and Ismail Mahdi. But momentum shifted to the Red Wolves, when Jacob Bayer saw his compatriot Zac Wallace clogged up near the goal line and provided the push into the end zone for Wallace’s second score of the game.
Texas State reclaimed the lead on a short Finley to Hobert touchdown, but the Red Wolves responded with a scoring drive that concluded with a 42 yard touchdown run from Ja’Quez Cross…followed by 15 yard scamper from Cross after the Bobcats coughed up the ball deep in their own territory. On its next possession, Red Wolves would then push the score to 35-17 on a 57 yard run by Cross.
“We’re all our biggest fans, but we also compete against each other,” said JaQuez Cross regarding the three Red Wolves running backs who scored two touchdowns apiece. “When Zac got his two, I had to get three!”
The Red Wolves opened the second half by pounding the ball into the end zone for Stuttgart’s favorite son Cedrick Hawkins first touchdown – and then he followed it with another rushing touchdown to pump up the score to 49-17.
The Red Wolves defense, not to be left out of the scoring, contributed a scoop-and-score after Tim Geathers forced a fumble from Finley and Travion Thomas collected the ball for a 91 yard score. In the fourth quarter, Melique Straker picked off Finely for an 87-yard pick six. With 10 minutes left, Dane Motley rumbled in for his own 50-yard Pick Six.
“We want to make teams quit,” said Melique Straker, wearing a 2023 Bowl Bound shirt at the post game presser. “That’s our style of play.”
The Bobcats misery was deepened by a 93 yard kick return from Ja’Quez Cross who totaled 310 yards (including 139 rushing) on the day, With four defensive/special teams TDs, and the run game churning out yards and scores, freshman quarterback Jaylen Raynor had a fairly quiet 14/17 for 196 yards. In fact, with the A-State defense didn’t have possession of the ball for more than 15 minutes in the second half as the DST squads took over the scoring.
Jaxon Dailey finished the game for the Red Wolves with the victory knee. The Bobcats, led by TJ Finley’s, 366 passing yards and three TDs, remain stuck on six wins.
“Praise and blame is all the same. ” said Butch Jones, looking back on a season that began with two disasterous losses. “I think our culture kicked in after the Oklahoma Game when the players were in the weight room that night after the loss. We’ve continued to get better week in and week out. Our toughness has improved. Our mentality has improved. Just to see the joy on their faces after this win was very rewarding.”
GAME NOTES
Red Wolves Travion Thomas, Jordan Sample and Justin Hodges were ejected for targeting. Each will miss the first half of the season ender with Marshall.
PHOTO CREDIT: Nate Samel
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