Zak Wallace, the Benton Battering-Ram, the Saline Count Sledgehammer and the Arkansas State running back, took the post-game presser podium bearing a smile nearly as broad has his shoulders. He had plenty of reason to be of good cheer. Wallace had finished the evening with three rushing touchdowns – the last a one-yard game winner that finally nailed the lid shut on Troy. The press peppered him with questions, but when a journalists asked him the team’s mindset when the Red Wolves went down 26-31 with just 1:43 left in the game, his smile somehow widened more.

“We never had a doubt,” said the confident senior. Well, why should he? Down a score with two minutes or less on the clock is the sweet spot for Arkansas State. In the season opener against UCA, Jaylen Raynor led a 2-minute drive that ended with a sensational, game winning TD catch from Corey Rucker. Down 15-16 to South Alabama with 1:49 on the clock, Raynor led the team down the field to place Clune Van Andel in game winning field goal position. Red Wolves won 18-16.

“I don’t recall running so many game winning two minute drills in one season,” said Butch Jones after the victory over Troy – his 100th as a college head football coach. The coolness under pressure – the unfamiliarity with the word “adversity” – is the trait that makes this Red Wolves football team special. “When I first got here, you often heard me say we needed to learn how to win,” said Coach Jones. “We’ve learned how to win.”

Overcoming Bizarre Conditions

It appeared that the Red Wolves, up 20 points by the end of the first half, would have an easy win against Troy. However, the Trojans reminded Arkansas State that there are no easy games in this rivalry. Leaning on a one-two run attack from Gerald Green and Damien Taylor, the Trojans opened the second half by exploiting the Red Wolves weakness in stopping the rush. However, it was a pair of pass plays that provided the most chagrin.

The first was a 17 yard pass from Mathew Caldwell to Landon Parker that appeared to hit the turf before it was caught. There wasn’t enough video evidence, however, to overrule, and Taylor would close out the drive with a one yard run.

The second was a fourth down a four situation at the Arkansas State 47. Crowder founded himself chased out of the pocket by the Red Wolves defense. A desperation heave down the sideline seemed to carom off several players, Red Wolves included, before landing into the hands of Devante Ross, who fell out of bounds. On video, it appeared Ross never had control, but again, the officials didn’t see enough evidence to overturn the call. Two plays later, Troy was back in the end zone.

These circumstances could have fatally discouraged any team. Compound this with a dubious call, again in Troy’s favor, after a punted ball seemed to have glanced off the Trojan receiver with the Red Wolves recovering. That, too, led to a Troy touchdown – which put the Trojans ahead by 4 with one minute and forty three seconds left on the clock.

And yet, when possession was returned to the Red Wolves, Zak Wallace never had a doubt.

This Team Has 99 Problems But Lack of Confidence Isn’t One of Them

There are enough shortcomings to this Red Wolves team that have fans munching mountains of antacids. Disappointing field goal attempts in the red zone have become the norm. The run defense is atrocious (though it may surprise you to learn that Arkansas State out-rushed Troy 185-162). The play calling can become astonishingly conservative in moments when dealing a deathblow could seal the game. Nobody seems to know how to leverage Malik Hornsby’s speed.

And yet, this Red Wolves team has a mix of motley abilities that make them worth your time and allegiance. Only the James Madison defense has collected more interceptions. Raynor totaled 420 yards with his arms and legs on Saturday. Corey Rucker has become a player who takes matters into his own glue-hewn hands, racking up 192 of the toughest receiving yards you’ll ever see against Troy. They’ve won four home games by a total of 12 points. Have we ever been treated to a team that offers so much dramatic flair? Even in the win against Tulsa, the Red Wolves had to stage a comeback in the second half.

It’s almost as if this team is conditioned to thrive on pressure – and only pressure. It seemed that leading by 20 against a 1-6 Troy team was just too boring for Butch Jones and his Red Wolves. Why win a game by an overwhelmingly dull amount of points when you can seal the victory on a end zone pick?

Twice now, late game turnovers from Jaylen Raynor have jeopardized the outcome of the game. The latest was an end zone fumble that appeared to have demolished any chance of Arkansas State finishing off Troy. But at one minute, forty-three seconds left in the game, Butch Jones saw what he described as a “clarity” in Raynor’s eyes. Bear in mind, the Red Wolves had scored all of three points the entire half. There was no evidence pointing to a sudden burst of offense. And yet, Jones handed the ball to Raynor and told him to go win the game.

The result? Nine yard completion to Reagan Ealy. Eighteen yard completion to Rucker. Eight yard completion to Ealy. Eight yard completion to Rucker. Twenty-three yard completion to Rucker. One yard TD run from Wallace.

Four Games Left

Needing one game for bowl eligibility, the Red Wolves enjoy a bye next Saturday, then head down south for a date with the first-place Ragin Cajuns. Louisiana bears the conferences number one rated defense and third best offense. If Arkansas State thought the welcome in San Marcos was rough, wait until they get a load of what’s waiting for them in Lafayette.

But don’t expect these Red Wolves to meet the moment timidly. The worst thing the Cajuns can do is punch them in the mouth. That just seems to make Arkansas State angry.