Troy shook off a terrible first half to grab a late lead at Arkansas State on Saturday night, but could not hold on in the final minutes of a 34-31 loss at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro.
Zak Wallace’s 1-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left put the Red Wolves up for good, though the Trojans had one last chance. But rather than try a potentially game-tying field goal from the Arkansas State 30 with 10 seconds remaining, Matthew Caldwell threw for the end zone and was picked off by Trevian Thomas.
The loss drops Troy to 1-7 overall, 0-4 in the Sun Belt Conference. After back-to-back Sun Belt titles in 2022 and 2023, the Trojans have clinched a losing record in their first season under coach Gerad Parker.
“I hurt so much for our players and staff,” Parker said. “Honestly, I can’t tell you how much I hurt for them. All my colleagues and the people I care about in this profession ask me, ‘How are our players? Are they still playing hard?’ They’ve prepared so hard and have given so much to get this thing turned around and it showed.”
Troy trailed 23-3 at halftime, but scored three straight touchdowns to go up 24-23 late in the third quarter. Damien Taylor ran for a 1-yard score, while Caldwell threw scoring passes of 16 yards to Brody Dalton and 1 yard Peyton Higgins.
Arkansas State (5-3, 3-1) took the lead back at 26-24 on Clune Van Andel’s fourth field goal of the game, a 46-yarder with 49 seconds left in the third. That score stood until Troy drove 80 yards to go up 31-26 on Gerald Green’s 2-yard with 1:45 to play.
But quarterback Jaylen Raynor moved the Red Wolves 75 yards in 9 plays in just 1:12 to retake the lead. Raynor connected with Corey Rucker three times for 49 yards on the drive, the last a 23-yarder to the Troy 9.
The Trojans were called for defensive holding and pass interference on consecutive plays, putting the ball on the 1 and setting up Wallace’s go-ahead touchdown. Raynor then found Rucker for two points and a three-point lead.
Caldwell completed three straight passes for the Trojans, the final one a 26-yarder to a diving Higgins at the Arkansas State 30. Troy called timeout with 10 seconds left, presumably to take one shot at the end zone before trying a game-tying field goal.
Higgins flashed open in the end zone, but Thomas stepped in front of Caldwell’s pass and took a knee after securing the interception. The Red Wolves then kneeled out the victory.
Raynor rushed for 71 yards and passed for 349 for Arkansas State, hitting Rucker 12 times for 193 yards. Wallace scored all three of the Red Wolves’ touchdowns, runs of 5 and 3 yards in the first half in addition to his 1-yard game-winner.
Caldwell went the distance at quarterback for Troy, completing 22 of 33 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times. Green ran for 113 and Taylor 70 — with each scoring once — while Devonte Ross caught 11 passes for 126 yards.
Troy returns to action at home next Saturday vs. Coastal Carolina. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
