MOBILE, Ala. (11/11/23) – The Arkansas State football team scored a late touchdown to pull within one score, but South Alabama fended off the comeback to earn a 21-14 win Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
The Red Wolves (5-5, 3-3 SBC) rallied from a 21-6 deficit to score on a 46-yard strike from Jaylen Raynor to Jeff Foreman, followed by a successful 2-point conversion. However, USA (5-5, 3-3) held possession for the final 3 minutes, 39 seconds to end the contest.
A-State totaled 302 yards of offense to South Alabama's 344 and recorded 19 first downs. Raynor completed 15 of 28 pass attempts for 186 yards a touchdown while Zak Wallace was the team's leading rusher with 56 yards on 11 carries. Jeff Foreman hauled in three catches for 61 yards.
Defensively, Trevian Thomas racked up a game-high 11 tackles (6 solo) and forced a fumble in the fourth quarter. Nate Martey registered career highs in tackles (6), tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (2), while Charles Willekes had nine tackles and matched his career high with 1.5 tackles for loss.
Dominic Zvada put the Red Wolves on the board first with a 36-yard field goal, but La'Damian Webb scored on a 13-yard rush to put the hosts ahead 7-3. Webb rushed 28 times for 163 yards.
With seven seconds remaining in the first half, Carter Bradley gave the Jaguars a 14-3 halftime lead by finding Jamaal Pritchett for a 20-yard strike. Bradley completed 19 of 25 passes for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Pritchett, who caught three passes for 50 yards.
Zvada drilled a 44-yard kick through the uprights with 12:55 to go in the third, but Bradley and Pritchett linked up again on the next drive for a 24-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Raynor found Foreman for their 46-yard score with 3:39 left in the game, followed by a Raynor plunge up the middle for the 2-point try to make it 21-14. The Jaguars then maintained possession to run out the clock.
NEXT UP
Arkansas State returns home to host Texas State for its final home game on Saturday Nov. 18, with kickoff from Centennial Bank Stadium slated for 2 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.
