Red Wolves Overwhelmed in Little Rock Showdown with Razorbacks
For the first time in more than 30 years, Arkansas State and Arkansas shared the same field. For the Red Wolves, though, the long-awaited matchup with the Razorbacks ended in frustration as A-State fell 56-14 Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.
The Razorbacks struck quickly, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions and racing out to a 14-0 lead before many fans had found their seats. But sophomore receiver Chauncy Cobb gave the Red Wolves faithful a jolt of energy on the ensuing kickoff, weaving through traffic for a dazzling 98-yard touchdown return — tied for the fourth-longest in program history.
That spark, however, was short-lived. Arkansas piled up 28 points in the opening quarter alone, flexing its depth and physicality on both sides of the ball. By halftime, the Razorbacks led 35-14, and A-State was left searching for answers.
Junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor battled throughout the afternoon, completing 21-of-33 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while adding 38 yards on the ground. His scoring toss came in the second quarter on a clever two-yard pass to offensive lineman Cameron Ambrose, who reported as eligible and hauled in his first career touchdown.
Defensively, the Red Wolves did find a few bright spots. Avante Dickerson and the secondary snagged a pair of interceptions, giving A-State chances to shift momentum. But each time, the Razorbacks responded with quick-strike drives that showcased their SEC firepower.
Turnovers and short fields doomed A-State in the second half. A fumble on the opening drive after intermission set up another Arkansas touchdown, and from there, the game slipped further out of reach. The Hogs tacked on three more scores to close out the contest.
For the Red Wolves, the matchup served as both a reality check and a chance to measure themselves against one of the state’s college football giants. Head coach Butch Jones’ squad showed flashes of playmaking ability — Cobb’s return, Dickerson’s pick, and Ambrose’s unlikely touchdown grab — but couldn’t keep pace with a Razorback offense that rarely slowed down.
Arkansas State (1-1) now turns its attention to Sun Belt play, where the Red Wolves will look to regroup and build off lessons learned in Little Rock.