FRIDAY FOOTBALL PREVIEW
TXST FOOTBALL
It is official. A sell-out crowd is on hand as Texas State hosts the Arkansas State Red Wolves in a critical conference game featuring two undefeated teams in conference play.
On scouting the Arkansas State offense, Head Coach G.J. Kinne talked about the Red Wolves strength in the trenches.
“It starts with the offensive line,” Kinne said. “They have multiple guys who are on the all conference list and are projected to be drafted. [Andy Kwon] does a tremendous job with those guys. … He is a solid coach with really good players.”
The Red Wolves are led by quarterback Jaylen Raynor who has passed for 1,125 yards and four touchdowns. Raynor has also rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns.
A focus for the Bobcats is stopping Raynor and his ability to improvise outside of the pocket.
“They have two quarterbacks who can play in Jaylen Raynor and Timmy McClain,” Kinne said. “Jaylen can run and throw. The two minute drill at the end of [Arkansas State-South Alabama] game, I was watching at my house, and he just went down the field and scored. He has that to him, and that is something when you are evaluating quarterbacks [that you look for.] Is that winner in you? He has the discipline and is a solid player.”
Another key contributor for the Red Wolves is wide receiver Corey Rucker, having caught 25 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns.
Leading rusher Zak Wallace is another threat for the Red Wolves, rushing for 164 yards on 51 carries and two touchdowns.
Arkansas State’s ability to both run and pass the ball will be the challenge for the Bobcat defense.
“[Corey] Rucker is a talented guy and other guys that have a great skill set and can get open,” Kinne said. “They are one of those teams that can beat you running the ball and they can throw it as well.”
Texas State will look to avenge their last loss to Arkansas State after the Red Wolves defeated the Bobcats 77-31. The Red Wolves rushed for 284 yards on the Bobcats while forcing four turnovers and returning a kickoff back for a touchdown.
The history of the Texas State-Arkansas State series dates back when the Bobcats joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2013.
The Bobcats and the Red Wolves played every year since 2013.
Arkansas State and Texas State split the first two meetings with the Red Wolves winning in 2013 and the Bobcats in 2014. The Red Wolves then went on a five game winning streak against the Bobcats before Texas State snapped it during the 2020 season in the highest scoring game of the series, winning 4745.
The win led to a threegame winning streak for the Bobcats before Arkansas State won in 2023.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
