LOGAN, Utah -- Blake Anderson held a stat sheet in his hand late Friday night and shook his head.
The Arkansas State coach didn't disclose the reason for his reaction, but it could have been any number of things in the minutes after a 34-20 loss at Utah State.
QB comparison
• Through three games, ASU hasn’t gotten consistent quarterback play for an entire game. But Justice Hansen passed for 277 yards in Friday’s loss, to Utah State including 204 in the second half. How Hansen and senior Chad Voytik compare through three games:
PLAYER;C-A-I;PCT.;YARDS;TD;AVG./G
Chad Voytik;28-51-1;54.9;349;0;116.3
Justice Hansen;22-36-1;61.1;322;1
It could have been the 17-0 hole ASU fell into after two first-quarter turnovers. Or the 18 penalties committed, the most for an ASU team under Anderson. Or the 63 rushing yards for Utah State quarterback Kent Myers, 50 of which came on the game-sealing drive.
A few minutes later, Anderson managed to find a sliver of optimism in ASU's third loss to start the season, most of which was brought on by a second half sparked by a change of quarterback, a slew of receivers making competitive catches and a defense that found traction for the first time this year.
"I could care less about the scoreboard right now," Anderson said from outside his team's locker room at Maverik Stadium. "The team that played that second half is a team that can win some games.
"There's a lot of new moving parts for our football team this year -- from coaches to players -- and we found out a lot about ourselves."
Anderson wasn't touting a moral victory, but rather showing confidence in an offense that sputtered through the first two weeks under a first-year offensive coordinator and a starting quarterback who arrived on campus in June. But the Red Wolves' quarterback discussion took another turn Friday night, and this time it might have finally provided some closure.
Justice Hansen, a sophomore who lost the competition for the starting job to Pittsburgh transfer Chad Voytik in August, entered late in the first quarter and led four scoring drives while passing for 277 yards. Two of those drives ended in field goals when penalties derailed them, and Hansen threw one interception. But Anderson spoke highly of the transfer from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, who completed 18 of 26 passes.
"He calmed down and threw the ball extremely well and took control of the offense," Anderson said.
Hansen's previous experience came in one series in the season-opening loss to Toledo and in the fourth quarter of last week's loss at Auburn. He entered Friday with ASU needing help, trailing 17-0 and having accumulated just 8 total yards.
"Coach says when he comes in the next day and flips on the film that he wants us to have given our receivers a chance," Hansen said. "That's my job."
Seven ASU receivers caught passes, and five caught more than one, led by tight end Blake Mack's seven catches for 82 yards. Mack said the big passing plays -- seven of Hansen's 18 completions went for more than 15 yards -- changed the outlook.
"Now we know what our major keys are, and I think that will keep a lot of defenses on their toes," Mack said.
On ASU's second touchdown drive, Cameron Echols-Luper leapt for a 33-yard gain. Then Dijon Paschal caught a pass in which he was blocked for the ball by Utah State's Wesley Bailey, who fell down, allowing Paschal to spin and walk the final 15 yards without opposition into the end zone.
"If we throw it to five, six guys, that's going to help," Anderson said. "[Hansen] obviously has the ability to push the ball in the areas in the field that he did tonight and make us explosive offensively."
Throwing downfield is a skill Anderson said Voytik isn't "really comfortable with." The senior was 2 for 6 for 10 yards with 1 interception and 1 fumble before being pulled for Hansen.
Voytik's interception -- thrown off his back foot from the end zone while being pressured, setting Utah State up at the ASU 25 -- is what led to the change. Anderson said it was a "group call" between he and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner.
"I just felt like it was time," Anderson said. "I told Buster I think it's time to see how Justice handles things, and I thought he did a great job."
He helped ASU make a game of it in the second half for the first time this season. Hansen hesitated to say what it means for him going forward.
"That's not a question for me," he said.
Anderson wouldn't jump to conclusions either, saying he wanted to review the film. He wanted to be fair, but it was clear Hansen's play was fresh in his mind.
"Make sure I'm not being too hard on Chad and overpraising Justice," he said. "But I think the momentum and how things went gives you a pretty good indication of where we're moving forward at."
Sports on 09/18/2016