Red Wolves’ Defense Dominates In 23-10 Win Over Troy
The Arkansas State Red Wolves leaned on one of the most dominant defensive performances in program history Saturday night, sacking Troy nine times and limiting the Trojans to just 187 total yards in a 23-10 road victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
With the win, A-State improved to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, marking the Red Wolves’ best league start since 2017 and their first four-game conference win streak since 2019. Troy dropped to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
The Red Wolves’ defense was relentless from the opening kickoff, recording the second-most sacks in a single game in school history — just one shy of the record 10 set against Southern Illinois in 1989.
Arkansas State’s defensive front completely overwhelmed Troy’s offense, holding the Trojans to their fewest total yards by an FBS opponent since Memphis (169 yards) in 2011 and the fewest by a Sun Belt foe since FIU (186 yards) in 2006.
Demarcus Hendricks led the way with two sacks, while Bryan Whitehead recovered a fumble and AG McGhee added a key fourth-quarter interception to seal the win.
Quarterback Jaylen Raynor continued his efficient play, completing 21 of 29 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
Hunter Summers led the team with 70 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Corey Rucker added 64 yards through the air. Tyler Fortenberry recorded his first career touchdown reception to open the scoring.
A-State wasted no time seizing control of the game. On the opening drive, Raynor hit Chauncy Cobb for a 51-yard strike to set up a four-yard touchdown pass to Fortenberry, putting the Red Wolves ahead 7-0 just minutes into the game.
Moments later, Whitehead recovered a Troy fumble at the Trojans’ 29-yard line, setting up another quick score — a 19-yard touchdown pass to Summers that made it 14-0.
A-State added a 30-yard field goal from Clune Van Andel late in the first quarter to extend the lead to 17-0. Troy’s only first-half points came on a 43-yard field goal in the closing seconds before halftime.
Van Andel drilled two more field goals in the second half — including a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter — to cap a perfect 3-for-3 night.
Troy managed just one touchdown on a short run early in the fourth, but A-State’s defense shut the door with two more sacks in the final two minutes. Back-to-back takedowns from Whitehead and Cody Sigler on Troy’s final possession sealed the win and extended the Red Wolves’ conference streak.
Arkansas State returns home to Centennial Bank Stadium next Saturday for an 11 a.m. showdown with Southern Miss (6-2, 4-1 SBC).
The matchup — the first 11 a.m. kickoff in program history — will air live on ESPNU and on the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network, including flagship station 107.9 KFIN in Jonesboro.