Jonesboro, Arkansas – In one of the most thrilling finishes of the season so far, Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor orchestrated a remarkable last-minute drive that lifted the Red Wolves to a 31-30 victory over Texas State on Saturday. The comeback unfolded in front of an electric home crowd, as the Red Wolves stunned the Bobcats in their Sun Belt Conference opener.
Trailing by six points with just over a minute remaining, Raynor put together a flawless drive that seemed straight out of a highlight reel. He completed five consecutive passes to four different receivers, driving his team 71 yards down the field before capping off the effort with a 4-yard touchdown run that tied the game. The decisive moment came when Clune Van Andel’s extra point sailed through the uprights, giving Arkansas State the one-point edge and sealing the incredible turnaround.
Just moments earlier, it looked as though Texas State had the win locked up. Running back Brad Jackson broke loose for a 63-yard run on first down, setting up Lincoln Pare’s 3-yard touchdown that pushed the Bobcats ahead 30-24 with only 61 seconds to play. But when kicker Tyler Robles missed the extra point, it opened the door for Raynor and the Red Wolves to make history — and they did.
From the opening kickoff, both teams traded momentum in a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire. Texas State struck first when Jackson ran in a 24-yard touchdown to give the Bobcats an early 7-0 lead. Arkansas State responded with Raynor’s 13-yard scoring run, tying the game at seven. Both teams exchanged field goals in the second quarter — one from Van Andel and one from Robles — sending the game into halftime tied at 10.
Neither side found the end zone during the third quarter, but the action picked up dramatically in the final 15 minutes. Jackson connected with Titus Lyons for a 13-yard touchdown pass, putting the Bobcats back on top 17-10 early in the fourth. Raynor answered yet again, this time through the air, finding Hunter Summers on a 5-yard strike to even things up at 17-17.
As time wound down, the two teams traded blows like heavyweight fighters. Pare’s 4-yard touchdown run gave Texas State a 24-17 advantage with under four minutes to go, but Arkansas State refused to quit. Raynor led another quick drive, hitting Kenyon Clay for a 5-yard touchdown with just 1:20 left on the clock to make it 24-24. That set the stage for the wild final sequence that saw the Red Wolves steal the win.
Raynor’s performance was nothing short of heroic. The sophomore finished the game completing 27 of 35 passes for 248 yards and rushing for 92 yards on 19 carries, proving himself as one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the Sun Belt. His favorite target of the night, Corey Rucker, hauled in eight receptions for 102 yards, consistently finding openings in the Texas State secondary.
For the Bobcats, Jackson delivered a massive game despite the heartbreaking loss. He threw for 230 yards and one touchdown on 18-of-26 passing while also running for 131 yards. Pare added 105 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, giving Texas State a balanced offensive attack that simply couldn’t withstand Raynor’s late-game heroics.
The win marked a pivotal moment for the Red Wolves, improving their record to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Texas State dropped to 3-2 and 0-1 in the Sun Belt. It was a game filled with grit, resilience, and dramatic swings — a true reminder that no lead is ever safe in college football.
As the final seconds ticked away, fans in Jonesboro erupted, knowing they had just witnessed something special. For Arkansas State, the victory wasn’t just another mark in the win column — it was a statement of perseverance, delivered by a young quarterback who refused to let his team lose.
