Big third quarter ends ASU’s woes

JONESBORO — After two consecutive frustrating losses, the Arkansas State Red Wolves got back on track Saturday night with a 38-14 victory over Texas State at Centennial Bank Stadium.

The Red Wolves led 17-14 at halftime before orchestrating a big third quarter to pull away. ASU blocked a Bobcats punt, sophomore running back Marcel Murray rushed for a pair of touchdowns, sophomore cornerback Nathan

Page picked off Texas State quarterback Tyler Vitt twice and ASU’s defense allowed just three yards of offense in the third quarter.

ASU led 31-14 when it was all said and done, and the Red Wolves (4-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) were in cruise control the final quarter to get back to .500 on the season.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Layne Hatcher, Murray and senior wide receiver Omar Bayless each had strong nights to carry ASU. Hatcher completed 18 of 28 passes for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. Murray rushed 22 times for 114 yards and 2 scores. Bayless caught 7 passes for 77 yards and 2 scores, setting a new single-season school record for touchdown catches with 12.

Texas State (2-5, 1-2) appeared ready to strike for a touchdown on the very first series when it faced a fourth and goal at the 1. But ASU caught a break when Vitt couldn’t connect with a wideopen Hutch White in the flat.

What ensued was a methodical 18-play, 99-yard drive by ASU’s offense that lasted 7:22. On a third and 7, Hatcher found Bayless on a slant for a 13-yard touchdown. ASU led 7-0 with 5:01 left in the opening quarter.

Later in the quarter — after a 47-yard punt by senior Cody Grace pinned Texas State on its own 5 — ASU’s defense forced the Bobcats into another mistake.

On a third and 7 at the 8, junior defensive end Jeffmario Brown smacked Vitt from behind and forced a fumble, which was recovered by senior defensive back Logan Wescott at the 2.

But the Red Wolves had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by sophomore Blake Grupe after the offense fumbled on first down and then threw back-to-back incomplete passes. ASU led 10-0 with 14:53 left in the second quarter.

A 7-yard touchdown run by senior Jamal Jones made it 170 with 9:22 remaining.

Texas State answered on the next drive. Facing a fourth and 1 at ASU’s 2, Caleb Twyford scored after running to his right out of the wildcat formation. Later, Vitt hit White for a 6-yard touchdown pass to pull Texas State within three at 17-14 with 1:58 left before the half.

In the third quarter, the Red Wolves’ onslaught began.

After a three and out by Texas State’s offense deep in the Bobcats’ territory, Bayless blocked Seamus O’Kelly’s punt, which set up ASU at the Texas State 13. For Bayless, it was his second blocked punt of the season. The first came against Troy on Sept. 28.

On the next play, Murray rushed for a touchdown, putting ASU up 24-14. Page’s first pick of the night came on the next series.

Later in the quarter, after a 34-yard punt return by senior safety B.J. Edmonds set up ASU at Texas State’s 16, Murray found the end zone again on the next play, which extended the Red Wolves’ lead to 31-14 with 4:19 left in the third quarter. Minutes later, Page intercepted Vitt a second time.

Hatcher hit Bayless for a 2-yard touchdown with 9:48 left in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 38-14.