First-half outburst helps A-State roll past Ragin’ Cajuns, 47-3

JONESBORO, Ark. – Justice Hansen tossed a pair of first-half touchdowns and rushed for another as Arkansas State built a 34-3 lead at halftime and defeated the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, 47-3, in a Sun Belt Conference game Thursday night at Centennial Bank Stadium.

Hansen, who completed 23 of 37 passes for 275 yards while adding 121 yards on the ground on 13 carries, tossed a 44-yard strike to Justin McInnis early in the second quarter before scoring on a 20-yard TD run and adding a 6-yard TD pass to McInnis as Arkansas State (4-2, 3-0 SBC) outgained Louisiana (3-4, 2-2 SBC), 318-157, in the first half.

Arkansas State took a quick 7-0 lead after Caleb Caston scooped up an Andre Nunez fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. After the Ragin’ Cajuns were forced to punt on its next possession, the Red Wolves drove 73 yards in six plays with Johnston White capping the drive with a 1-yard plunge with 8:39 remaining in the quarter.

Louisiana scored with 2:10 remaining in the first quarter when Stevie Artigue booted a career-long 51-yard field to cap an 8-play drive.

Sawyer Williams booted field goals of 24 and 28 yards for Arkansas State in the second half with Chauncey Mason scoring on a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Davis completed 11 of 24 passes for 128 yards for the Ragin’ Cajuns while rushing for a team-high 33 yards on nine carries. Michael Jacquet caught six passes for Louisiana with Koa Haynes recording a career-high 10 tackles.

Louisiana will return to action on Saturday (Nov. 4) when it travels to Mobile, Ala., to play South Alabama at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

GAME NOTES
• Stevie Artigue’s 51-yard field in the first quarter was the longest of his career and the first 50-yard field goal by a Ragin’ Cajun since Brett Baer (52 yards) against East Carolina in the 2012 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
• Artigue’s field goal tied Drew Edmiston (at Houston, 2006) for the 14th-longest in school history.
• Raymond Calais’ 9-yard reception in the fourth quarter was his first career catch.
• The 44-point margin of victory was the largest by either team in the 46-game series.
• Sam Geraci attempted a career-high nine punts for Louisiana, placing three inside the A-State 20-yard line.