Final Stats

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Angelo State defense flew around the field Saturday, as the Rams' forced seven Texas A&M-Kingsville turnovers. Despite the plus-six turnover margin, ASU fell in triple overtime to Lone Star Conference foe Javelinas, 36-33, at San Angelo Stadium
 
“The defense did everything they could to win us the game,” Angelo State head coach Will Wagner said. “Unfortunately our offense wasn't there to match it. When you force that many turnovers, and get that few points out of it, it's disappointing.”
 
The Rams (4-5, 1-5 LSC) caused four first-half turnovers, but walked away with just six points. Shiloh Hickman led the Angelo State defense with two forced fumbles and had a fumble recovery, while Terrance Preston, Rush Seaver and Alvin Johnson each had interceptions. Lawrence Rumph and Jake Eannarelli also had fumble recoveries for the Rams. Angelo State's seven takeaways were the most since 2001 against Abilene Christian.
 
Angelo State struck first after Jarred Martin hit a pair of field goals. After a Javelinas' (5-4, 3-3 LSC) touchdown, the Rams countered with a seven-play, 60-yard drive. Antwon Williams capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown reception. The junior tight end finished the game with a team-best four catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns. ASU would take a 13-10 led into the break.
 
The theme of the third quarter was field possession, as the teams would combine for five punts. TAMUK kicker Matt Stoll would eventually knock in a 29-yard field goal to tie the game (13-13).
 
Angelo State's offensive sprung to life early in the fourth quarter, as the Rams' scored 10-unanswered points. Martin first knocked in a 36-yard field goal, followed by Williams second touchdown of the night.
 
Down 23-13, TAMUK quarterback Nate Poppell weaved together an eight-play drive the ended with a 21-yard strike to Sherman Batiste to cut the deficit to three (23-30). Poppell ended the night with a game-high 223 passing yards.  
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville forced a turnover on downs and got the ball back with less than 60 seconds remaining and no timeouts. Pinned at their own five-yard line and down 23-20, the Javelinas marched down the field and set the stage for kicker Stoll. The sophomore proceeded to knock in a 49-yard field goal to tie the game and force overtime.
 
In overtime, the Rams struck first with Blake Smith powering his way into the end zone on a two-yard run to put ASU up, 30-23. The redshirt freshman from Burleson led the Rams' in rushing with 86 yards on 16 carries.
 
The back-and-forth affair continued, as the Javelinas' Jonathan Woodson caught a 16-yard pass from Nate Poppell to tie the game at 30-30. Woodson led TAMUK in receiving with seven catches for 70 yards.
 
Both teams came up empty in the second overtime.
 
Angelo State's Jarred Martin kicked in his fourth field goal of the game in the third overtime to give the Rams' a 33-30 lead. The three-point cushion was not enough, as the Javelinas scored six on a Daniel Ramirez four-yard scamper for the 36-33 win.
 
Angelo State is on the road next week to face LSC foe Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. in San Antonio.