ATLANTA, Ga. (9/20/25) – The Arkansas State football team (1-3, 0-0 SBC) battled back from a 21-point deficit at Kennesaw State (2-2, 0-0 CUSA), but the effort would not be enough in a 28-21 defeat on Saturday night at Fifth Third Stadium.
 
The Red Wolves totaled 318 yards of total offense, including 226 through the air, but could not overtake the Owls' attack of 308 passing yards and 189 rushing yards. 
 
Hunter Summers posted a career-high eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown while Kenyon Clay hauled in a career-high six receptions and a touchdown catch. Jaylen Raynor finished 25-of-41 passing for 226 yards, scoring twice through the air and once on the ground. 
 
Defensively, Javante Mackey tallied a career-high 14 tackles and Aaron Alexander added a career-high 12 tackles. 
 
Kennesaw State led 21-0 after one quarter, scoring first on a 54-yard pass from Amari Odom to Garland Benyard, followed by a 7-yard rushing score by Alexander Diggs plus a 14-yard scramble by Odom.
 
A fumble from the Owls with 0:53 in the second quarter shifted momentum as A-State marched 43 yards on five plays before Raynor connected with Summers on a 28-yard touchdown reception with 0:02 on the clock.
 
Kennesaw State fumbled again during the first drive of the second half, setting the Red Wolves up at midfield. Raynor connected with Summers again for 43 yards and added five more on the next play before scoring on a rush up the middle to make the score 21-14.
 
The opposition responded with a touchdown to move ahead 28-14 as the contest moved into the fourth quarter.
 
Following back-to-back punts from both sides, A-State moved down the field methodically before facing a 4th and goal from the Owls' six-yard line. Clay walked into the endzone untouched on a reception from Raynor, putting the Red Wolves back within one possession.
 
A-State turned the ball over on downs at their own 19-yard line with 1:01 remaining, allowing Kennesaw State to kneel and end the game.
 
NEXT UP
A-State opens conference play at ULM on Saturday, Sept. 27. Kickoff from Malone Stadium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The radio broadcast of the game can be heard across the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network, including the flagship station 107.9 KFIN in Jonesboro.