Arkansas State University is now five days removed from one of its strangest and most eye-opening losses Coach Blake Anderson can recall.
On Tuesday, ASU failed to score a touchdown and converted 3 of 17 third downs as Appalachian State sent the Red Wolves (3-3, 0-2 Sun Belt Conference) reeling to a 35-9 home loss, their second consecutive league defeat.
"Tuesday night was probably the least rhythm and balance and flow to our offense that we've had since I remember," Anderson said.
The 26-point bludgeoning signaled a disoriented Red Wolves' offense. Commandeered by the same folks -- Anderson, an offensive guru, and senior quarterback Justice Hansen -- the Sun Belt's most prolific passing offense in 2017 was diminished to ineffective.
"We just weren't executing right," said senior wide receiver Justin McInnis. "Every time we tried to go out for a play, someone was busting or someone missed an assignment. It takes all 11 to run a play. If you have nine guys doing the right thing and two guys doing the wrong thing, it's not going to work out."
Appalachian State's defense instilled its dominance on the line of scrimmage. The defense's push against ASU's youthful offensive line allowed the Mountaineers to fall comfortably into deeper pass coverages. From there, the Red Wolves had little room to execute a successful passing attack, while Appalachian State was stuffing the ground game at the same time.
"It was frustrating," Anderson said. "We just never could get any rhythm. We've got to find a way to control the line of scrimmage, it starts there. If we can do that, everything kind of works from there. If people can bail out and play coverage, then we can't establish the run effectively. That just makes for a long day."
Anderson said he believed the Red Wolves reacted poorly to one of Hansen's three interceptions late in the second quarter, a blow that fully deflated ASU.
The interception, which was deep in the Red Wolves' territory, led to a 1-yard Appalachian State touchdown three plays later and cap a 21-point quarter.
"I don't think we responded real good to the turnover-touchdown right before the half," he said.
The ASU offense has now gone six of the past eight quarters without scoring a touchdown.
"We're going to find a way to move the ball," Anderson said. "We're going to find a way to score."
ASU has six Sun Belt games remaining, four against teams from the West Division. Despite an 0-2 conference mark, the Red Wolves know they still have time to turn things around and qualify for the Sun Belt Championship Game on Dec. 1.
"The games happened," McInnis said. "You can't get them back. Six more left, you've just go take them one week at a time. If you think about the past and sit on it, it's just going to eat at you."
Sports on 10/14/2018