Texas State won the toss and opted to receive first, perhaps aware of A-States struggles in the first quarter. The first drive of the game, Texas State found themselves on the A-State 24. The Bobcats QB, Brad Jackson, called for the snap, and a Red Wolves linebacker found himself in the backfield alone with the QB for a fairly standard open field tackle. However, the QB sidestepped the tackle and then ran the ball into the end zone untouched.

It was a bad sign. In facts, all the signs were pretty bad until suddenly Jaylen Rayer, who ran on flat tires for the last two games, broke off runs off 33 and 19 yards, the last result in a game tying touchdown. Suddenly, the Red Wolves were playing 11 for 11, complimentary football with perfect eye discipline.

The Red Wolves defense, smoked on the opening drive, began clocking three-and-outs with regularity. Red Wolves wide receiver Corey Rucker delivered a 25 yard reception to put Van Andel in field goal position (he’d nail a 51 yarder to put A-State up 10-7).

By halftime, Jaylen Raynor was out rushing Texas State lead running back Lincoln Pare 46 yards to 45 yards and the game was tied 10-10. What was this dark and mysterious magic? The Red Wolves defense, which had given up one of the most miserable opening touchdown drives since (well, let’s not talk about that) had suddenly rebounded to keep the conference’s most prolific offense in check. Meanwhile the Red Wolves offense wasn’t exactly bumping (142 yards of offense), but the 25 reception from Rucker and the 33 yard run from Raynor was enough to give fans hope.

A drop by Rucker in the third quarter seemed to sap all energy from the Red Wolves. Wide open and streaking down the sideline, a catch would have likely put A-State in the Red Zone, but the ball boinged off Rucker’s hands. After the drop, Raynor took a pair of sacks, leading to a half-shanked pun to put Texas State in favorable field position. But the Red Wolves defense bailed out the team to force a turnover on fourth down.

When the third quarter ended, the score was still 10-10.

Texas State opened the fourth quarter with the ball and a plan, moving the ball down the field in gulps, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass to Bobcats tight end. Red Wolves responded right back with a seventy-five yard drive capped by and end zone catch from Hunter Summers. Texas Stare rebounded by dialing up 49 yards on just two plays, placing them solidly in Red Wolves territory. Texas State began pounding the ball, pounding into the worn and weary A-State defensive line until Pare rolled in from the four.

With 3:45 left on the clock, the Red Wolves were given the opportunity to tie. Nine plays and 80 yards later, the Red Wolves tied the game. On the next posssession, Brad Jackson broke off a 63 yard run and Lincoln Pare punched it in to retake the lead.

Texas State missed the XP. The Red Wolves had exactly one minute to win the game.

Raynor, nine yard pass to Summer. Twenty nine yard pass to Rucker. Nine yard passes to Keynon Clay. Fourteen yard pass to Jabari Bush. Twelve yard pass to Clay. FOUR YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN BY RAYNOR and Van Andel nailed the XP, sealing the 31-30 victory.

Raynor completed 20 passes in a row to conclude the game (he didn’t know until the presser). He finished the game with 248, two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and 92 yards rushing. Rucker who had that huge third quarter drop, put the wideouts on his shoulders with a team leading 102 yards. The defense, though exhausted by game’s end, rebounded from that dismal opening drive from Texas State to keep the Red Wolves in play. It was, quite possibly, the wildest Red Wolves game ever seen by this man’s eyes.

Texas State had an equally masterful performance from Brad Jackson: 131 yards rushing, one run TD, 230 passing yards, one passing TD. Former Red Wolves RB Lincoln Pare put in two touchdowns, and the Texas State defense tallied five sacks.

What They Said After the Game:

“That two minute drive in that critical situation where we have to go 80 yards is a minutes is something we practice in spring ball. ” – Jaylen Raynor

“We talk a lot about winning the fourth quarter. Once we get in the fourth, we know we got to win it. We did a great job playing complimentary football.” – Raynor

“I told him we’re coming back to you.” – Raynor to Corey Rucker after the big drop in the third quarter.

“Coach Jones said we were gonna find a way to win this game,” – Kenyon Clay.

“The adjective is ‘wow.’ Sixteen years as head coach, and never been in anything like this.” – Butch Jones

“The pre-snap penalties we have to get cleaned up,” said Jones, picking through a small basket of negative.

“Corey Rucker was at his best when it was needed.” – Jones

“The negative fans that didn’t come missed a great game.” – Jones