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The Arkansas State Red Wolves held off the Tulsa offense in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden Hurricane 28-24 in front of more than 19,000 fans at Centennial Bank Stadium on Saturday evening.
After stopping Arkansas State on fourth down to open the game, it was Tulsa who got the board first with a Seth Morgan field goal from 29 yards out.
The Red Wolves responded with an 84-yard drive in five plays to go up 7-3. TU would hold Arkansas State off the scoreboard for the remainder of the opening half.
Arkansas State was threatening to extend its lead entering the second quarter, but Dayne Hodge ended the threat with his first interception of the season.
Kamdyn Benjamin put Tulsa back ahead with a 39-yard touchdown reception from Kirk Francis, capping a 10-play drive that traveled 90 yards. Later in the quarter, Cardell Williams entered as quarterback late in the second and extended Tulsa’s lead with a five-yard TD rush to give Tulsa a 17-7 advantage heading to the lockers.
The hosts overturned their deficit early in the third quarter, scoring in three plays and gaining 63 yards after Francis tossed his first interception of the young season. Then, a booming punt from Angus Davies was returned 77 yards for a touchdown to give ASU a 21-17 lead.
TU would respond, however, going down the field 65 yards on three plays and pushing it in with a 2-yard TD from Anthony Watkins to regain the lead.
Arkansas State closed the scoring with a long 14-play, 79-yard drive. Jaylen Raynor found Corey Rucker for a five-yard TD to go back up 28-24, which would hold as the final.
Kirk Francis got the majority of snaps in week two, throwing 16-of-28 for 199 yards, a touchdown and one interception. Cardell Williams threw one pass, but also found success on the ground, taking it in from five yards out on his lone carry. Cooper Legas entered the game, but did not rush or throw a pass.
Kamdyn Benjamin was the main target, recording 131 of the 199 yards through the air Tulsa totaled. Zion Steptoe had three receptions for 18 yards and Luke McGary caught a pass for 18 yards. Eight different receivers caught a pass on Saturday.
For the second consecutive week, freshman Lloyd Avant led the Hurricane in rushing, gaining 61 yards on 14 carries. Anthony Watkins 46 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Bill Jackson had a 37-yard run en route to 42 yards on the evening.
Keuan Parker and Dayne Hodge led the Hurricane in tackling with nine stops each. Hodge added an interception in the contest. Gavin Potter had eight tackles and 1.5 TFL in his return to Jonesboro. Tai Newhouse also had eight. Tyree Carlisle picked up Tulsa’s lone sack of the evening.
Tulsa falls to 1-1 on the season, while Arkansas State improves to 2-0 following back-to-back games to the wire. Tulsa will face a top 20 opponent next weekend when TU hosts Oklahoma State at H.A. Chapman Stadium.