Arkansas State Edges App State in Thrilling Contest: Arkansas State 30, App State 29
Arkansas State Edges App State in Thrilling Contest: Arkansas State 30, App State 29
Arkansas State emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle against App State, securing a narrow 30-29 victory. The game was a back-and-forth affair, filled with impressive offensive performances and crucial defensive stands. The final score reflects the tight competition and the determination of both teams.
Key Individual Performances
Jaylen Raynor of Arkansas State had a phenomenal day under center, leading the offense with 363 passing yards and three touchdowns. His precision passing kept the App State defense on their heels throughout the game. His primary targets, Corey Rucker and Tyler Fortenberry , both had strong showings, with Rucker catching 10 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, and Fortenberry adding 69 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Chauncy Cobb also contributed significantly, racking up 117 receiving yards on five catches.
For App State, J.J. Kohl threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, keeping his team in contention. On the ground, Jaquari Lewis led the Mountaineers with 108 rushing yards, providing a consistent threat in the running game. David Larkins was a key receiver for App State, finishing with 72 receiving yards. Sam Mbake added 68 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Dalton Stroman contributed 64 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Aaron Alexander of Arkansas State was a tackling machine, recording 16 tackles. App State's Kevin Abrams-Verwayne stood out with 10 tackles and two sacks, while Ethan Johnson and DJ Burks each contributed 10 and 9 tackles respectively.
Turning Points
Several key plays swung the momentum throughout the game. In the 1st quarter, a sack by Kevin Abrams-Verwayne of App State, resulting in an 8-yard loss for Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor , hurt the Arkansas State offense. Later in the 1st quarter, App State's J.J. Kohl was sacked for a 7-yard loss by C. Sigler and D. Hendricks .
The 2nd quarter saw a significant fumble by Arkansas State, resulting in a 21-yard loss, recovered by App State's B. Littlejohn . This turnover gave App State a crucial opportunity. Also in the 2nd quarter, D. De Freitas made a 45-yard field goal for App State as time expired.
Field goals played a critical role in the game. In the 1st quarter, D. De Freitas successfully kicked a 43-yard field goal. In the 3rd quarter, a missed 52-yard field goal attempt by C. Van Andel of App State kept the score close. In the 4th quarter, D. De Freitas of App State made a 48-yard field goal. With the clock winding down, D. De Freitas of App State missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, ultimately sealing the victory for Arkansas State.
Looking Ahead
Arkansas State will be thrilled with the hard-fought victory against a tough App State team. They will look to build on this performance as the season progresses, focusing on the strong passing game led by Jaylen Raynor and the defensive efforts of Aaron Alexander . App State, despite the loss, displayed resilience and the ability to compete. They will need to address the turnovers and look to capitalize on opportunities moving forward, relying on the running game of Jaquari Lewis and the passing of J.J. Kohl . Both teams have areas to improve but showed enough promise to suggest a competitive season ahead.