Red Wolves set for showdown with Ragin’ Cajuns
A-State, Louisiana-Lafayette clash in ESPN game tonight
By Jerry Scott (870-972-3405) ASU Sports Media
*PDF version attached JONESBORO — Coming off its first open week of the season, Arkansas State continues Sun Belt Conference play tonight, when it hosts Louisiana-Lafayette in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU.
The Red Wolves will play their only mid-week game of the season when they host Louisiana in their first matchup of the year against a Sun Belt Conference West Division opponent.
A-State had a five-game Sun Belt winning streak snapped its last time out, falling 52-38 at Georgia State on Oct. 5. The Red Wolves enter the game with a 3-3 overall mark and 1-1 record in league play, while Louisiana stands 4-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Ragin’ Cajuns are playing their second consecutive midweek game after falling 17-7 to Appalachian State on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
A-State head football coach Blake Anderson was named on Sept. 18 as the first weekly nominee for the 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, presented annually since 2002 to one recipient for displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through a hardship. Anderson is the second Arkansas State coach or player to be a nominee for the honor, joining former defensive lineman Brandon Rollins in 2005. Rollins, from Texarkana, Texas, was a finalist for the award after fully recovering from an elevator accident that occurred prior to the 2003 season, causing multiple injuries while also requiring numerous surgeries.
Arkansas State holds an all-time record of 20-25-1 against Louisiana in the series that dates back to the 1953 season. As Sun Belt Conference opponents, Louisiana leads the series 10-7. The Red Wolves dropped a 47-43 decision at Louisiana last season. The home team has held the recent advantage in the series, winning 15 of the last 18 meetings. Thursday’s game will be the 47th alltime meeting in the series.
A-State’s 46 games played against the Ragin’ Cajuns are the second most against any opponent in school history behind only its 57 played versus Memphis.
Historically, A-State has performed well in midweek games (Tue.-Thur.) since joining the Sun Belt Conference. The Red Wolves hold a 20-7 record in all midweek games since its 2001 inaugural year in the league. They have won 16 of their last 20 midweek contests.
An A-STATE victory would improve its all-time record against Louisiana to 21-25-1, give the Red Wolves their 41st win over their last 50 home games, while also improving their record at Centennial Bank Stadium to 66-16 since 2005 and give it a winning record after seven games for the third consecutive season and fifth time in six years under Coach Anderson.
Senior WR Omar Bayless has picked up this season where he left off last year, recording over 100 receiving yards in six of the last seven games dating back to 2018. Including the Arizona Bowl and the first six games this season, he has posted 51 receptions (7.3 rpg) for 972 yards (138.9 ypg) and 10 touchdowns.
His four touchdown receptions versus SMU tied the school and Centennial Bank Stadium records, while his career-high 213 receiving yards against Troy were the third most in A-State history. Bayless is currently leading the nation in receiving yards (843) and receiving touchdowns (10) and is ranked eighth in receptions (7.3 pg).
Bayless was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in A-State’s 50-43 victory at Troy. He became the fourth player in Arkansas State history to record over 200 receiving yards in a game by posting 10 receptions for a career-high 213 yards and a touchdown. He finished with the third most receiving yards in school history and the seventh most in the nation this season, while also tying the fifth most ever by a Sun Belt Conference player. A-State’s first offensive play of the game saw Bayless come up with a 92-yard touchdown catch, which was the second longest reception in school history, third longest in the nation this season and tied the fourth longest every by a Sun Belt player.
This and every Red Wolves football game can be heard live on 107.9 FM in the Northeast Arkansas area. The live radio broadcast can also be accessed on the official A-State Athletics web site (AStateRedWolves. com) and the A-State Athletics app.
