Arkansas State outscored Tulsa 21-7 in the third quarter to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2008 in a 28-24 win Saturday night at Centennial Bank Stadium.

The Red Wolves (2-0) battled back from a 17-7 halftime deficit, but scored through the air, on the ground and on special teams to upend the Golden Hurricane (1-1). A-State’s 2-0 start is not only its first since 2008, but also the program’s second since it joined the FBS level in 1992.

A-State outgained Tulsa 401-362 and limited the visitors to just 92 total yards in the second half. The Red Wolves also converted 8-of-16 third-down opportunities while Tulsa went 5-for-13.

Jaylen Raynor completed 21 of 32 passes for 255 yards and two scores and rushed for 73 yards with a touchdown. Zak Wallace added 78 yards on the ground, while Reagan Ealy led the way with career bests in catches (six) and yardage (68). Corey Rucker (4 catches, 60 yards) and Adam Jones (3 catches, 43 yards) hauled in touchdowns from Raynor.

Defensively, Justin Parks amassed a career-high 12 tackles along with his first career forced fumble, while Bryan Whitehead had a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss.

Tulsa struck first on a 29-yard field goal, but A-State answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Raynor to Jones. Raynor completed all three of his passes in the series for 63 yards, while Wallace broke loose for a 22-yard gain to set up the score moments later.

The Golden Hurricane then drove down the field, but Parks forced a fumble which exited the end zone for a touchback, and A-State led 7-3 after one.

With 8:57 remaining in the half, Tulsa reclaimed a 10-7 lead when Kirk Francis linked up with a wide-open Kamdyn Benjamin for a 39-yard score. Francis went 16-for-28 for 199 yards, while Benjamin had six grabs for 131 yards. The Hurricane then added another score before the half following a muffed punt, as Cardell Williams scrambled five yards to give the visitors a 17-7 halftime lead.

After Trevian Thomas ended Tulsa’s opening drive of the second half with an interception, the Red Wolves marched down the field with Raynor capping the drive with a 12-yard rushing score to make it 17-14.

Courtney Jackson pushed the Red Wolves back ahead 21-17 with 10:53 left in the third, returning a punt 77 yards for his third career punt-return touchdown. His punt return TD was the longest by an A-State player since Kevin Jones’ 89-yard return against Memphis in 2007.

Tulsa responded quickly, scoring three plays to lead 24-21 after a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Anthony Watkins. Over six minutes later, Raynor found Rucker for a 5-yard touchdown pass for the go-ahead score to cap a 14-play, 79-yard drive and put the Red Wolves back ahead 28-24.

A-State’s defense buckled down the rest of the way, forcing the Golden Hurricane to punt on its final four drives and allowing just 21 yards on 15 plays.

The Red Wolves hit the road for back-to-back contests, beginning next Saturday, Sept. 14, at No. 9/10 Michigan (1-1). Kick-off against the reigning national champion Wolverines is set for 11 a.m. CT inside Michigan Stadium.