Final Stats (.pdf)

ABILENE – Angelo State quarterback Josh Neiswander became the school's all-time completions leader while helping the Rams to an early 7-3 lead over No. 3 Abilene Christian, but the Wildcats proved too much to handle in a 33-20 loss in the Big Country-Concho Valley Shootout presented by State Farm at Shotwell Stadium Saturday.

Neiswander entered the game needing two completions to tie Ned Cox at 589 and did so on the team's opening drive with a screen pass to Tristan Carter. The Rams (3-5, 1-5 LSC South) were eventually forced to punt but during team's next possession, Neiswander hit Carter again on a screen for completion No. 590 of his career. The senior from Winnsboro, Texas, finished the contest 33-of-48 for 327 yards to break his own single-game completions record and surpass 300 yards for the third consecutive game, but it wasn't enough for the Rams to upset one of the top teams in the country.

Angelo State's defense was stout early on, forcing a long field goal on ACU's first drive of the game before holding the No. 2 offense in the country to a three-and-out on the second drive. On the Rams' third drive of the contest, Neiswander rolled out on two separate plays and hit CJ Akins for gains of more than 20 yards. Garrett Tidwell gave ASU its first touchdown and the lead, 7-3, on an 11-yard scamper to the left.

After going without a touchdown in the first quarter, the Wildcats (9-0, 5-0 LSC South) wouldn't be denied in the second. ACU punched in a four-yard pass from Mitchell Gale to Emery Dudensing on the first snap of the second quarter and added another score in the final minute before halftime on a pass from Gale to Raymond Radway. ASU's Devin McDonald blocked the first point after try, making the score 16-7 ACU at the break.

The Rams' defense came up with another big stop after halftime in forcing another three-and-out. Neiswander and the Rams pulled within three points at 16-13, when a nine-play, 65-yard drive was capped by a 26 yard touchdown pass to Dakarai Pecikonis. The ensuing extra-point was blocked and that was as close as the Rams would get to ACU.

Abilene Christian kick returner Kendrick Johnson ran down a 73-yard punt by ASU's George Shamblen around the seven minute mark in the third quarter and returned it 31 yards. The Wildcats built more momentum on the second play of the drive when Gale hit Radway for 44 yards and set up a first and goal situation. Two plays later, Gale connected with Dudensing again to push the advantage to 23-13.

The Wildcats blocked an ASU field goal try on the next possession and Edmund Gates pushed the dagger deeper by taking a screen pass to the right sideline 55 yards for a score. Neiswander found Akins for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to 10 points, but ACU didn't give up another. Angelo State's final drive ended with less than two minutes to play when a Neiswander dive left the Rams inches short on fourth down.

Akins led the Ram receiving corps with 129 yards on seven catches. Pecikonis also had seven catches and finished one-yard shy of 100 yards at 99 for the game. As a team, Angelo State was held to minus-23 yards rushing, the fewest yards rushing by an ASU team since Sept. 14, 2002, a minus-45 effort in a 38-0 season-opening loss to Tarleton State. Shamblen punted seven times for an average of 50.9 yards and placed two kicks inside the 20-yard line.

Gale guided the Abilene Christian offense to 459 total yards while completing 27-of-41 passes for 377 yards and four scores. Gates led ACU's receivers with six catches for 124 yards.

Angelo State will travel to Southeastern Oklahoma next weekend for a 2 p.m. Lone Star Conference crossover game (Nov. 6), before welcoming Central Oklahoma to San Angelo Stadium for Military Appreciation Day (Nov. 13).