Red Wolves set for intra-state clash with Bears

Arkansas State ( 1- 2) hosts Central Arkansas ( 2- 2)

A-State Media Relations JONESBORO — Following three consecutive road games to begin its 2020 campaign, Arkansas State is now set to play FCS member Central Arkansas in its home opener on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The Red Wolves’ 2020 Homecoming contest will appear on ESPN3, and every A-State football game can be heard live on 107.9 FM in the Northeast Arkansas area.

One week after playing their Sun Belt Conference opener, the Red Wolves return to non-conference action with their first game against Central Arkansas since 2016. The Red Wolves and Bears were originally set to meet Sept.

19 before the game was rescheduled for Oct. 10.

This is the first season since 2013 that A-State hasn’t completed the entire non-conference portion of its regular-season schedule before starting Sun Belt play. A-State was receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches Top 25 polls before falling 52-23 last week at Coastal Carolina.

Central Arkansas enters the game with a 2-2 record after most recently dropping a 39-28 decision at North Dakota State.

Arkansas State didn’t announce Central Arkansas and Kansas State as additions to its 2020 schedule until Aug. 7 and Aug. 12, respectively. The Red Wolves were originally slated to play a home game against Howard on Sept. 12 and a road game at Michigan on Sept. 19 before the two contests were canceled. A-State’s original schedule called for it to alternate road and home games throughout the regular season for the first time in school history.

Arkansas State announced on Sept. 23 that its game against Tulsa, originally scheduled for Sept. 26, was postponed due to being unable to assemble a full two-deep depth chart at one specific position group (position group was different from the UCA postponement). Arkansas State and Tulsa officials are mutually working together to find a new date to reschedule the game, and the A-State Athletics Department will provide an update when available.

Saturday’s game will mark the first meeting between Arkansas State and Central Arkansas since 2016. AState and UCA have played 25 times since 1916, but will meet this year for just the fifth time since 1947.

The Bears hold a 13-10-2 lead in the series after collecting a 28-23 win in Jonesboro in 2016, but the Red Wolves have won three of the four games played in the modern era.

A-State defeated UCA 17-7 in 1996, picked up a narrow 36-35 win in 1997 and claimed a 53-24 victory in 2011. The Red Wolves stand 7-6 all-time versus UCA in games played in Jonesboro, including a 101-0 win in 1917 that stands as the largest margin of victory in school history. At the same time, UCA handed A-State its largest margin of defeat with a 95-0 win in Jonesboro in 1937.

Arkansas State is set to play an in-state foe for the first time since facing UAPB in 2017. The Red Wolves have played 10 colleges/ universities located in The Natural State, including Little Rock, Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Lyon College, Hendrix, Ouachita Baptist and Southern Arkansas. AState’s 25 games against UCA are its most against an in-state opponent, followed closely by Lyon College with 22 meetings.

Arkansas State is 62-27-3 all-time in Homecoming contests. The Red Wolves have won 16 of their last 17 Homecoming games, including the last nine in a row dating back to the 2003 season. The only setback during that time came 34-24 against Louisville in 2010. Saturday’s game will mark the fourth time AState has hosted Central Arkansas for its Homecoming game, but the first time since 1947. The Red Wolves also played their Homecoming game against the Bears in 1925 and 1921. This year marks just the fourth time in school history that AState’s Homecoming game was also its home opener.

The previous three times it occurred was 2001, 1924 and 1923.

While Arkansas State dropped its home (and season) opener 37-30 against SMU in 2019, it has still won its first home game played in 12 of the last 15 seasons dating back to 2005. The Red Wolves stand 32-14 all-time in home openers at Centennial Bank Stadium and are also 18-9 in such games since moving to FBS status in 1992. The last time A-State played its home opener on a date later than Oct. 10 was in 1950 (Oct. 14).

As A-State victory would run the Red Wolves record against the Bears to 11-13-2, move its record to 25-7 over its last 32 games played in the month of October, give the Red Wolves 16 wins over their last 17 games played against an FCS opponent and mark its 10th consecutive Homecoming game victory.

Sixteen (16) A-State players made their first career start with the Red Wolves over the team’s first three games of the season. The total includes Brandon Bowling (WR), Dahu Green (WR), Jamal Jones (RB), Ethan Miner (OL), Wyatt Luebke (OL), Roshauud Paul (WR), Elery Alexander (S), Taylon Doss (CB), Jaden Harris (LB), Tahj Herring-Wilson (CB), Fred Hervey (LB), Amir Howard (S), Noel Iwuchukwu (DL), Samy Johnson (CB), Justin Rice (LB), Vidal Scott (DL) Including the last two games this season, sophomore quarterback Layne Hatcher has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 12 of 14 career games.

Additionally, he has thrown at least two touchdowns in 10 outings and has 30 career touchdown strikes, which are the seventh most in school history. He has thrown at least one touchdown to six different receivers, including Omar Bayless (11), Kirk Merritt (9), Jonathan Adams (5), Brandon Bowling (3) Giles Amos (1) and Reed Tyler (1).

Senior wide receiver Brandon Bowling put together his first career 100-yard receiving performance with 115 yards and a career-best two touchdowns on seven receptions against Coastal Carolina. He hauled in the two longest receptions of his career, one going for 44 yards and the other covering 35. He entered the game with two receptions for 35 yards on the season.