The Ragin Cajuns hopes for a late rally were squashed late after a turnover on downs, leading to a 37-27 loss to the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
After Stevie Artigue missed a FG on the opening drive, The Red Wolves capitalized on it and marched down the field and gave it to Michael Gordon to give the Red Wolves and early 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.
The Red Wolves scored again in the first quarter, but it was Johnston White that got things done with a 21 yard run to extend the Red Wolves lead.
The Red Wolves began to put the game out of reach for the Cajuns with a short pass into the endzone to Darion Griswold from Fredi Knighten to go up 20-0. Arkansas State continued to score, but this time of the defensive side of the ball with a pick six by Cody Brown.
Jalen Nixon finally got the Cajuns on the board on the next drive when he took it himself 75 yards into the endzone.
Knighten went off again with a huge pass to Chris Murray for the score to make it 34-7. But the Cajuns were able to get another score before heading to the locker room with Elijah McGuire running it in from eight yards out to cut away at the lead.
The Red Wolves finished their scoring late in the third with a 42-yard field goal. But the Cajuns began to rally with a touchdown in the closing seconds of the third quarter off of a jet sweep from Nixon to Al Riles to come within 16 points.
After picking off Fredi Knighten, the Cajuns marched down the field and scored off of a pass to McGuire to make it only a 10-point deficit after a failed two-point conversion.
The Cajuns were unable to capitalize on the momentum and on the following two drives, the Cajuns were unable to convert a fourth down twice to give Arkansas State the win.
The Cajuns (2-4, 1-1 Sun Belt) will head back to Cajuns Field for a Halloween matchup against in-state rivals UL-Monroe (1-4, 0-2 Sun Belt) with kickoff set for 4 pm.
-Clint Domingue