Dominate running game helps Arkansas State take down Georgia Southern, 34-24
Arkansas State rallied from an early deficit to earn its third straight Sun Belt Conference victory Saturday night, defeating Georgia Southern 34-24 at Centennial Bank Stadium. The win marks the first time since 2019 that the Red Wolves have won three consecutive league games — and with it, they now control their own destiny in the Sun Belt West Division race.
Quarterback Jaylen Raynor delivered another standout performance, throwing for 216 yards and rushing for three touchdowns to lead the comeback effort.
Trailing 21-10 late in the first half, Raynor engineered a 14-play, 91-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run with just nine seconds remaining before halftime. The Red Wolves carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a 13-play, 77-yard march that ended with another Raynor score — this time from eight yards out — to give A-State its first lead at 24-21. They never trailed again.
Raynor added his third rushing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to extend the lead to double digits and seal the win.
A-State’s ground game was dominant throughout the night. Kenyon Clay rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while Devin Spencer added 123 yards on 14 attempts, giving the Red Wolves a balanced and physical offensive attack.
Georgia Southern (3-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) jumped out to a 14-0 lead behind quarterback JC French IV, who threw touchdown passes of 24 yards to Camden Brown and 18 yards to Marcus Sanders Jr. But from there, Arkansas State’s defense settled in, and the offense — powered by Raynor’s poise and playmaking — took over.
With the victory, Arkansas State (4-4, 3-1 Sun Belt) keeps pace in the divisional standings as it eyes a potential run toward the Sun Belt Championship Game. The Red Wolves will look to extend their winning streak next weekend when they travel to Troy for a nationally televised matchup on ESPNU.
Red Wolves Roll: What We Learned from A-State’s Win Over Georgia Southern
Arkansas State celebrated Homecoming in style Saturday night, defeating Georgia Southern 34-24 at Centennial Bank Stadium. The win gave the Red Wolves their third consecutive Sun Belt victory — their first such streak since 2019 — and further solidified their push toward the top of the Sun Belt West standings.