The Arkansas State University offense sputtered before it found its rhythm in a 37-21 victory over New Mexico State Saturday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M.
ASU (5-2, 4-0 Sun Belt Conference) trailed 14-7 at halftime before scoring 30 second-half points behind three touchdown passes from redshirt junior quarterback Justice Hansen.
Hansen -- who was 25 of 40 for 297 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception -- now has 25 touchdown passes this season, which broke the single-season school record previously held by Fredi Knighten (2014) and Ryan Aplin (2012).
"He made a couple big throws late when we needed it," ASU Coach Blake Anderson said in the team's postgame radio interview. "He was frustrated early, but I thought he did a good job of staying calm."
A game that matched two of the nation's Top 25 offenses did not live up to its billing during the first half.
New Mexico State (3-5, 1-3) -- which entered the game 25th with 467.3 yards per game -- was 0 for 6 on third-down conversions through its first drive of the second quarter, and ASU -- which entered the game 21st with 474 yards per game -- punted on each of their first three drives.
New Mexico State senior quarterback Tyler Rogers, who entered as the nation's third leading passer (356.4 yards per game), was 4 of 13 for 20 yards on the Aggies' first six drives.
The ASU defense sacked Rogers seven times, and senior defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones matched his season-high with 2½ sacks, which put him second on the all-time NCAA career sacks list with 38½. Terrell Suggs (Arizona State, 2000-2002) is the all-time leader with 44.
ASU scored the first touchdown of the game with 1:25 left in the first quarter, when Hansen found a rhythm after starting the game 2 for 4 for 13 yards.
Hansen rushed up the middle for 12 yards to the Aggies 38, completed passes of 8 and 9 yards to freshman receiver Jonathan Adams, then completed a 21-yard touchdown pass in the back-right corner of the end zone to redshirt sophomore receiver Omar Bayless, who cupped the ball with one arm before landing out of bounds.
The four-play, 50-yard drive was the most successful drive for the Red Wolves' offense during the first half.
The rest were marred with penalties and a sack fumble, which led to New Mexico State taking its 14-7 halftime lead on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rogers to Bryce Roberts with 24 seconds left in the half.
The Red Wolves had 12 penalties for 111 yards in the first half, which broke the season-high of 90 penalty yards in the 44-21 loss to SMU. ASU had just one penalty in the second half while outgaining the Aggies 263-107 in total offense.
Bayless and senior receiver Chris Murray each had two touchdown receptions.
ASU will next play at South Alabama on Nov. 11.
Sports on 10/29/2017