Late field goal secures Red Wolves’ win over South Alabama
Van Andel’s gamewinner propels A-State
past Jaguars
From Arkansas State University
arkansasrazorbacks.com
JONESBORO – Clune Van Andel booted a 34-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to propel the Arkansas State football team to an 18-16 Homecoming victory over South Alabama Saturday night inside Centennial Bank Stadium.
Van Andel went a career-best 4-for-4 kicking, and then AState (3-2, 1-0 SBC) held strong on defense for the final two plays to move past the Jaguars (2-4, 1-1). The Red Wolves have now won backto- back SBC openers and 12 of the last 14 Homecoming games.
Jaylen Raynor completed a career-best 30-of-39 passes for 345 yards, with Corey Rucker hauling in eight of those passes for 172 yards.
Tyler Little hauled in Raynor's touchdown strike from five yards out in the fourth quarter, Little's first score of his career.
Defensively, Charles Willekes paced the Scarlet and Black with a dozen tackles, including seven solo stops and 1.5 for loss. He also broke up the Jaguars' final pass of the game to seal the victory. Justin Parks added 11 tackles and an interception – the first of his career – while Marvin Ham had 10 tackles, two for loss.
The teams traded punts for the first four drives of the night before Van Andel put A-State on the board first with a 20yard field goal, which bounced off the right post but fell through.
South Alabama threatened on the ensuing drive, but Parks ended the series with his pick.
The Red Wolves drove into Jaguar territory but could not convert the drive into points.
USA then again drove down to the A-State 20, but Bryan Whitehead stopped DJ Thomas-Jones short on 4th and 2 to help the Red Wolves regain possession.
Van Andel then tacked on his second kick of the night, this time from 21 yards out to give A-State a 6-0 lead with just over a minute remaining in the half. South Alabama answered as time expired on a 42-yard field goal by Laith Marjan, putting A-State's lead at 6-3 at intermission.
Neither squad could add to the score for much of the third quarter until Van Andel sent his third kick through the uprights with 1:58 left in the period – a 25-yard kick to put the count at 9-3.
South Alabama responded two players later when Gio Lopez connected with Jamaal Pritchett for a 75-yard touchdown strike to put the Jaguars up 10-9 after three. Lopez threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-35 passing, with both scores going to Pritchett, who had seven grabs for 137 yards.
After A-State took over on its on 42 following a punt, Raynor led the offense on a 10-play drive capped by his 5yard pass to Little at the 5:58 mark, putting the Red Wolves back on top 15-10.
The Jaguars then scratched back on their next drive to reclaim the lead, when Lopez linked up with Pritchett on a 26-yard pass, but the twopoint try was no good to keep the score at 16-15 USA.
Arkansas State then took possession with under two minutes remaining, but methodically moved deep into South Alabama territory to set up Van Andel's eventual game-winner. Following a timeout, Van Andel sent his fourth and final kick through the posts.
What’s Next?
The Red Wolves return to action next Saturday with a trip to Texas State to open a twogame road swing. Kickoff from San Marcos is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN Plus.
