Final Stats (.pdf)

WICHITA FALLS – Angelo State sophomore wide receiver CJ Akins made the most of his first career start with a career-high 146 yards and helped the Rams out-gain Midwestern State, but when the final horn sounded it was the No. 15 Mustangs who prevailed, 35-21, at Memorial Stadium late Saturday night.

Akins was ASU quarterback Josh Neiswander's favorite target in the contest with his team-leading six catches and was one of the main contributors to a 442-yard effort by the Rams (2-4, 2-4 LSC, 0-4 LSC South), but it wasn't enough as the Mustangs scored first and never trailed. Lester Bush rushed for 77 yards and two scores, part of 198 yards on the ground by the Mustangs (6-1, 5-1 LSC, 2-1 LSC South), who handed the Rams their fourth-consecutive loss and third against a top-25 opponent.

Three different Mustangs rushed for touchdowns in the opening half while building a 21-7 lead. Marcus Mathis capped Midwestern's first touchdown drive with an 8-yard run, then MSU quarterback Zack Eskridge scrambled for an 18-yard score to answer a touchdown pass from Neiswander to John Norcott. Bush completed the first half scoring with his first touchdown run just before the break.

Angelo State had its chances to score in the first half. The Rams saw two drives end with missed field goals and have missed their last four attempts. A third drive stalled in the red zone as time expired when a last second pass from Neiswander to Nate Bayless was broken up by MSU's Austin McDaniel. Bayless, a native of nearby Burkburnett, caught a career-best four passes for 27 yards.

Bush scored his second touchdown on the opening drive of the second half to extend Midwestern's lead to 21 points at 28-7, and the Mustangs held the Ram scoreless for the third quarter.

In the fourth, Angelo State attempted a rally with a three-yard dive by Tristan Carter and 16-yard pass from Neiswander to V'Keon Lacey wrapped around another Midwestern State touchdown, but the 14-point, final margin was the closest the Rams could get.

Neiswander turned in the fourth-best passing total of his career after completing 26-of-45 for 333 yards and the two scores. Akins turned a quick pass from Neiswander into career-long, 67-yard reception that appeared to be a game-tying touchdown in the first quarter, but he was ruled out of bounds at the seven and penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct while celebrating the score. The Rams would later punch it in on Norcott's touchdown catch. V'Keon Lacey caught five passes for 40 yards and Zach McCormick added two catches for 39 yards. In all, Neiswander hit 11 different receivers in the game.

Midwestern State's David Little, who caught a touchdown pass from Eskridge in the fourth quarter, led all receivers with eight catches in the game and finished with 114 yards. Mathis was second among Mustangs with 62 yards rushing and Midwestern's big quarterback rumbled for 43 yards. Eskridge was efficient when he had to throw and completed 12-of-17 passes for 169 yards, though he was intercepted once by ASU corner Terrance Preston.

The Rams look to end their current skid against Lone Star Conference South Division foe Incarnate Word next weekend (Oct. 23) at San Angelo Stadium on Homecoming.

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