Final Stats (.pdf)

DURANT, Okla. – At times it wasn't pretty, but Angelo State got the job done. Josh Neiswander passed for 355 yards, four touchdowns, set a new single-game completions mark for the second consecutive week and orchestrated a game-winning drive in the final minutes to lift the Rams over Southeastern State, 40-33, at Paul Laird Field Saturday.

Neiswander completed 37-of-60 passes to surpass 300 yards for the fourth consecutive game and moved into a tie with Ned Cox for Angelo State's all-time touchdowns mark. It was Neiswander's 54th career touchdown pass, a three-yard strike to Tristan Carter with 44 seconds left in the game, which provided the difference. Trailing 33-32 with 3:18 to play, the Rams (4-5, 4-5 LSC) marched 77 yards in 11 plays and reached the end zone when Neiswander found Carter for the third time in the game. ASU was successful on a two-point conversion and held the Savage Storm (3-7, 3-6 LSC) on the ensuing drive before taking a knee in the red zone to end the game.

“It really shows the character of our football team,” Neiswander said. “We didn't necessarily play the way we wanted to early in the game, but when it meant the most, we put a drive together and scored a touchdown. You have to give credit to all the guys on our football team – he offensive line did a great job, our backs did a great job blocking and pass catching, and our receivers did a great job, as well as the tight ends, making plays and making catches.”

Angelo State scored on its opening possession, a 10-yard connection between Neiswander and Carter, and took a 14-0 lead on a quick slant by Dakarai Pecikonis early in the second quarter. Despite the quick start, Southeastern Oklahoma scored two touchdowns of its own and appeared to have the momentum going into the break before the game-tying extra point was blocked by Austin Benson and returned by Terrance Preston to make it 16-13 Rams.

Angelo State's Garrett Tidwell was electrifying in the return game and returned the second half's opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown to make it a 29-20 advantage. The senior return specialist had two long punt returns – one for a score – negated by block in the back penalties, part of the ugliness for ASU.

Southeastern Oklahoma would rally again, wrapping two scores around Neiswander and Carter's second connection in the third quarter, to pull within two at 29-27. With 8:40 to play in the game, Angelo State called upon its struggling place-kicking unit, which has had four kicks blocked this season and missed an extra-point earlier in the contest. Ryan Smith blasted a 31-yard try, and despite being deflected by the defense, it wobbled through the uprights and made it a five-point game.

The Savage Storm put together a 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive on their next possession to take the team's first lead at 33-32, but failed on a two-point conversion. Angelo State was pinned at the 23 on the ensuing kickoff, but Neiswander methodically picked apart the SOSU secondary while leading the team downfield for the win.

“I didn't feel any pressure – we had enough time to score,” said wide receiver V'Keon Lacey, who finished with nine catches for 99 yards. “I felt like we were going to score regardless. (The two-minute drill) is what we work on during the week. All summer we worked on it and its just another phase of the game that we go through.”

Carter finished the game with 48 yards rushing, but collected eight passes for 55 yards and the three scores. He was ASU's third leading receiver behind Lacey and Pecikonis, who had nine catches for 82 yards. CJ Akins also grabbed five passes from Neiswander. ASU out-gained SOSU 423-382 in total offense.

On the defensive side, Austin Benson led the Rams with eight total tackles, including three tackles for loss and the blocked extra point. Devin McDonald added a sack and the Rams notched six total tackles-for-loss as a team.

Savage Storm running back Baylen Laury rushed for 138 yards and a score and quarterback Logan Turner was 25-of-44 for 218 yards and threw two touchdown passes.

Angelo State returns to San Angelo Stadium for its final game of the season when the Rams welcome LSC North foe Central Oklahoma for a 2 p.m. contest Saturday (Nov. 13). The game will serve as Military Appreciation Day, with all active and former military and their families receiving free admission to the game with proper military identification. The game will feature a special pregame ceremony, including a vocal performance by Patriotic Blue, and a flyover.