Arkansas State had key plays in all three phases on Thursday night inside Hancock Whitney Stadium and picked up its eighth win of the season in a 38-31 victory over Bowling Green in the 68 Ventures Bowl.

A-State (8-5) earned its first bowl victory since 2019, relying on early momentum and never trailing in the contest. The Falcons (7-6) outgained the Red Wolves 479 to 360 but only managed 46 yards rushing.

Jaylen Raynor was named the game’s Offensive MVP, completing 18 of 30 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns – both to Corey Rucker, who racked up 107 yards on just four receptions. Zak Wallace led the game on the ground, churning out 99 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown.

Justin Parks earned Defensive MVP laurels, tallying 10 tackles (8 solo) with one for loss and forcing a fumble. Charles Willekes had a game-high 11 stops, marking his seventh career game with 10-plus tackles.

A-State struck first with a pair of special teams scores to take an early 10-0 lead. Clune Van Andel drilled a 46-yard field goal, and then the game’s Special Teams MVP Courtney Jackson returned a punt 60 yards. It was the longest punt return by an A-State player in the postseason and first in 68 Ventures Bowl history, while also being the first punt return touchdown allowed by Bowling Green since 2015.

The Falcons got on the board on a 43-yard pass from Baron May to Malcolm Johnson Jr., but Raynor found the end zone on a 5-yard scamper to make it 17-7 after one quarter.

Bowling Green pulled within 17-14 with 6:46 left in the half on an 8-yard pass from Connor Bazelak to Jaison Patterson. Bazelak finished with 390 yards and three touchdowns on 32-of-49.

A-State widened its margin back to 10 when Raynor found a wide-open Rucker for a 79-yard touchdown strike to make it 24-14 – a pass play that was the longest pass play in A-State postseason history and in 68 Ventures Bowl history.

The Falcons scored once more before the half ended when Harold Fannin Jr. (17 catches, 217 yards) corralled a tipped ball in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown catch. A-State took a 24-21 lead into intermission.

A-State took advantage of a short field after Bowling Green fumbled on its opening drive of the half inside its own 35, as Raynor linked up with Rucker again for a 6-yard scoring pass. Bowling Green later answered to make it 31-24 Red Wolves through three quarters.

Wallace recorded the Red Wolves’ final score of the night, plunging across the goal on a 14-yard rush to make it 38-24 with 3:10 remaining. Bowling Green scored with 1:42 left on a 23-yard pass from Bazelak to Rahkeem Smith, but A-State managed to run out the clock on its final possession to earn the bowl victory.