Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Red Wolves spread wealth with passes
ARKANSAS STATE 48, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE 21
JONESBORO — Arkansas State University’sa depth at wide receiver was on display Saturday night.
Quarterback Justice Hansen threw for 423 yards and a school-record six touchdowns as the Red Wolves posted a 48-21 victory over the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks in front of 20,184 at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Eleven ASU players caught passes, and seven of them forged their way into the end zone as the Red Wolves won their season opener for the first time since 2014.
Leading 21-14 at the half, Arkansas State scored on its first four possessions of the second half to send Southeast Missouri State into a tailspin.
Hansen was 26-of-36 passing with one interception.
Sophomore redshirt Logan Bonner also got in on the fun, throwing for 74 yards, including a 54-yard scoring pass to Omar Bayless.
Junior Kirk Merritt caught a team-high five passes for 55 yards. Freshman Marcel Murray caught two passes for a game-high 75 receiving yards. Arkansas State outgained Southeast Missouri State 686286.
It was not all good news for ASU. The Red Wolves were guilty of 12 penalties for 119 yards. Receiver Dahu Green suffered an injury to his right ankle in the first half and did not return. Reserve running back Jamal Jones was carted off the field with 3:59 to play.
Tied at 14-14 late in the first half, Hansen hit senior Kendrick Edwards for a 36-yard TD pass to cap a 10-play, 84-yard drive giving the Red Wolves the lead for good.
Southeast Missouri State’s shot at an upset suffered a telling blow on its ensuing drive. Quarterback Daniel Santacaterina was carted off the field with 2:00 left after being leveled by a late hit. Sophomore safety Demari Medley was called for targeting and ejected.
The game was delayed for 10 minutes as trainers worked to stabilize Santacaterina, who waved his arms and clapped as he was being taken off the field.
The Red Wolves scored on their opening drive and never trailed. Sophomore Jonathan Adams caught a 26-yard scoring pass with 9:05 remaining in the first quarter, carrying a Southeast Missouri defender on his back for the final six yards.
Southeast Missouri hit two long-yardage plays in the second quarter to account for its two touchdowns. A 56-yard pass from Santacaterina to junior Kristian Wilkerson set the Redhawks on the ASU 3. Two plays later, Santacaterina hit junior Kobe Bryer for a 5-yard TD pass.
After Justin McInnis scored on a 15-yard pass play to give ASU a 14-7 lead with 8:47 left before halftime, Southeast Missouri used only two plays and 45 seconds to tie the game at 14. Marquis Terry, who led the Redhawks in rushing with 77 yards on nine carries, broke two tackles at the line of scrimmage and took off for a 67-yard touchdown.
The Redhawks’ lone score of the second half came on a 13-yard run by back-up quarter Anthony Cooper with 37 seconds remaining.
Hansen threw three touchdown passes in the third quarter: a 57-yarder to sophomore tight end Isaac Javonis with 14:01 left, a 6-yarder to sophomore Bubba Ogbedor at the 8:51 mark and a 67-yard strike to freshman Marcel Murray with 1:21 remaining.