Arkansas State hangs on to spoil Missouri State’s bowl debut

Jaylen Raynor threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night as Arkansas State won the inaugural Xbox Bowl, spoiling Missouri State's first bowl trip with a 34-28 victory in Frisco, Texas.

Raynor completed 17 of 31 passes for the RedWolves (7-6), who built a 31-7 third-quarter lead and held off the Bears' fourth-quarter rally. Arkansas State got six catches for 166 yards and a touchdown from Corey Rucker.

"We didn't play to a standard in the second half, but we found a way to win with our resiliency," Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said. "I think we have great culture. We worked so hard and we have a special team."

Jacob Clark connected on 25 of 35 throws for 349 yards and four scores for Missouri State (7-6), which earned a bowl bid in its first year as an FBS member. The Bears moved to Conference USA from the Missouri Valley Football Conference on July 1.

Clark found Jmariyae Robinson for a 16-yard touchdown strike with 1:54 left in the game, his third passing score of the fourth quarter, to pull the Bears within six points after the PAT. However, the RedWolves covered the onside kick and took three knees to end the game with Missouri State out of timeouts.

Clark worked under duress all game. The RedWolves notched nine sacks for 51 yards in losses, getting two sacks each from Ethan Hassler and Demarcus Hendricks. The Bears also committed 14 penalties for 115 yards and lost two fumbles.

Missouri State played with Nick Petrino serving as its interim coach after Ryan Beard was hired away by Coastal Carolina on Dec. 11.

Arkansas State established a 14-0 first-quarter lead as Raynor tossed touchdown passes of 7 and 71 yards to Jaylen Bonelli and Rucker, respectively. Missouri State drew within 14-7 with 17 seconds left in the period on Clark's 39-yard connection to Dash Luke, who finished with 169 yards and two scores on seven catches.

The RedWolves built the advantage to 24-7 by halftime. Clune Van Andel drilled a career-long 54-yard field goal, and Raynor hit Chauncy Cobb for a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Devin Spencer ripped off a 25-yard scoring jaunt at the 10:22 mark of the third quarter for a 31-7 lead, but the Bears roared back in the fourth quarter. Clark sandwiched Van Andel's 32-yard field goal with 15- and 47-yard touchdown passes to Ramone Green Jr. and Luke, respectively.