JONESBORO, Ark. (10/21/23) – Arkansas State football outscored Coastal Carolina 14-10 in the second half, but could not close the gap in a 27-17 loss to the Chanticleers Saturday night at Centennial Bank Stadium.

The Red Wolves (3-4, 1-2 SBC) totaled 422 yards of offense, including 306 through the air by Jaylen Raynor, who completed 19 of 35 passes for two touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 52 yards. Raynor linked up with Courtney Jackson five times for 99 yards and a score, while Corey Rucker led all players with 104 yards receiving on four grabs.

Grayson McCall completed 24 of 28 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns to lead Coastal Carolina (4-3, 2-2), while Max Balthazar rushed four times for 79 yards.

Three A-State defenders recorded double-digit tackles, led by Melique Straker's 11 stops (8 solo). Justin Parks and Charles Willekes both registered 10 tackles, with Parks notching a career-best and Willekes matching his previous career high.

Coastal Carolina got on the board with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Kade Hensley drilled a 38-yard field goal to give the visitors a 3-0 lead after one. A-State looked to answer on its next drive and had a touchdown nullified by a penalty before a 23-yard field goal flew wide right.

The Chanticleers added a touchdown pass from McCall to Sam Pinckney with 6:16 remaining to extend their lead to 10-0, but the Red Wolves trimmed the margin to a touchdown with a 34-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada. McCall then capped a nine-play drive by finding Kendall Carr for a 7-yard strike to push Coastal's lead to 17-3 at the half.

A-State limited Coastal scoreless in the third quarter, while scoring on a 10-yard pass from Raynor to Emmanual Stevenson to make it 17-10 entering the fourth.

Hensley sent a 22-yard kick through the uprights with 9:54 to play, and then backup quarterback Jarrett Guest scored on a 3-yard rush to make it 27-10 with 3:54 left.

With 2:49 remaining, Raynor found Jackson for a 20-yard touchdown pass to trim the margin back down to 10, but the Red Wolves could not close the gap on their final drive.

NEXT UP

Arkansas State travels to ULM on Saturday, Oct. 28, with kick-off from Malone Stadium set for 4 p.m. on ESPN+. The radio broadcast can be heard on the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network as well as on the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.