Seahawks 41, Texans 38

Tight end Jimmy Graham scores on an 18-yard pass with 21 seconds remaining to give Seattle the victory over Houston.

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 3 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 thirddown 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 alltime 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.

Arkansas State ......... 7 0 10 20 — 37

New Mexico State ..... 0 14 0 7 — 21

First Quarter

ASU — Bayless 21 pass from Hansen (Williams kick) 1:25

Second Quarter

NMSU — Rose 1 run (Brown kick) 8:46 NMSU — Roberts 3 pass from Rogers (Brown kick) :24

Third Quarter

ASU — Williams 44 FG 9:2

ASU — Bayless 23 pass from Hansen (Williams kick) 6:55

Fourth Quarter

NMSU — Rogers 2 run (Brown kick0 14:56

ASU — Murray 12 pass from Hasen (Williams kick) 12:15

ASU — Murray 37 pass from Hansen (Pass failed) 9:16

ASU — White 8 run (Williams kick) 8:02

ASU NMSU

First Downs ........................... 27 13 Rushes-Yards ..................... 40-120 32-35 Passing Yards ...................... 297 221 Comp.-Att.-Int ................... 25-40-1 20-40-2 Fumbles-Lost ........................ 1-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards .................. 13-126 4-39 Punts-Avg ............................. 1-41 12-42.2 Return Yards ........................ 114 78 Time of Possession ............ 31:39 28:21 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING–Arkansas State, Jones 7-38, White 9-35, Hansen 16-31, Mason 4-13, Wilson 1-8, Bayles 1-(-1). New Mexico State, Rose 18-55, Huntley 4-11, Rogers 10-(-31).

PASSING—Arkansas State, Hansen 25-40-1, 297. New Mexico State, Rogers 20-40-1, 221. RECEIVING—Arkansas State, McInnis 7-68, Murray 4-59, Edwards 4-33, Bayless 3-62, Pascal 2-32, Adams 2-17, Mack 2-15, Cayetano 1-11. New Mexico State, Clark 7-113, Scott 4-61, Hogan 3-14, Muse 2-22, Huntley 2-8,Roberts 1-3, Rose 1-0.

AP/ELAINE THOMPSON