Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Hansen lifts ASU to victory

- BROOKS KUBENA

JONESBORO — Justice Hansen is making a routine of closing in on Arkansas State University quarterbac­k records.

On Saturday night, he threw five touchdown passes to four different receivers in a 51-17 victory over Sun Belt Conference newcomer Coastal Carolina at Centennial Bank Stadium.

The redshirt junior tied the single-game school touchdown passing record against CCU (1-5, 0-3) before an announced crowd of 25,916 — a record he had already tied against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff during the second week of the season.

“He obviously doesn’t want to break the record, he just wants to tie it,” quipped ASU Coach Blake Anderson, who sent in backup Logan Bonner with 7:09 left in the fourth quarter and a 44-17 lead.

Hansen has matched his touchdown passing total from last season (19) through just five games, and he is five touchdowns away from the record Fredi Knighten set in 2014.

He was announced completely healthy this week from the lower back strain he suffered in the 44-21 loss to Southern Methodist on Sept. 23.

“Especially compared to last week, I’m a lot healthier than I was,” said Hansen, who was 24 of 37 for 286 yards. “I’m taking a lot of strides lately.”

Anderson said the Red Wolves (3-2, 2-0) took strides in every aspect of a dominating game, which included punt returns of 28 and 50 yards by senior cornerback Blaise Taylor.

Taylor, who had a 63yard punt return touchdown against Nebraska, nearly scored on his 50-yard return against CCU during the third quarter, but was tripped up by punter Evan Rabon at the CCU 25.

It was two bad CCU punts that led to ASU’s 17-7 halftime lead.

The game was tied with 9:36 left in the second quarter when Rabon rolled a low punt 27 yards that bounced out of bounds at the ASU 34.

ASU earned the go-ahead lead on the following possession, capping a 9-play, 66-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Hansen to senior tight end Blake Mack, who was wide open over the middle on the play-action pass.

Rabon shanked another punt on the next drive, and the ball traveled 15 yards before landing out of bounds at the ASU 15.

The Red Wolves ran nearly three minutes off the clock before Sawyer Williams made a 17-yard field goal with 8 seconds left in the half to give ASU a two-score halftime lead.

Rabon also missed field goals of 25 and 49 yards in the game.

The ASU lead could have been more at the half, were it not for a penalty and a few missed opportunit­ies on deep passes.

A 50-yard run by senior running back Johnston White would have set the Red Wolves at the CCU, but it was called back on an illegal formation penalty.

Three plays later, ASU punted.

Hansen was also unable to complete two deep pass attempts to redshirt sophomore Omar Bayless. One of them grazed Bayless’ outstretch­ed fingertips near the CCU 45.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times where we should have gotten points,” Anderson said. “I thought we responded well.”

 ?? Special to the Democrat-Gazette/AMMAR TAQI ?? Arkansas State receiver Blake Mack (16) pulls down a 10-yard touchdown catch in front of Coastal Carolina’s Amir Howard during the second quarter of the Red Wolves’ 51-17 victory over the Chanticlee­rs on Saturday in Jonesboro. Mack was ASU’s leading...
Special to the Democrat-Gazette/AMMAR TAQI Arkansas State receiver Blake Mack (16) pulls down a 10-yard touchdown catch in front of Coastal Carolina’s Amir Howard during the second quarter of the Red Wolves’ 51-17 victory over the Chanticlee­rs on Saturday in Jonesboro. Mack was ASU’s leading...

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