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SAN ANGELO – No. 18 Midwestern State held off a late charge by Angelo State to defeat the Rams 49-43 at San Angelo Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rams (2-6, 0-4 LSC) outgained the Mustangs (6-1, 4-1 LSC) 562-285 in total yards including only 175 yards on the ground but gave up three turnovers that turned into 21 points for Midwestern State. The Mustangs had averaged a LSC tops 296.0 yards per game on the ground.

ASU's Kyle Washington would rush for a career high 185 yards on 16 carries and score a touchdown and throw for 280 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Rams. MSU's Jake Glover would account for five touchdowns with three in the air and two on the ground.

ASU started the game driving 75 yards in 14 plays and capped it off with a Blake Smith one-yard touchdown run. After the Rams were forced to punt the defense stepped up.

Dominique McCoy intercepted Jake Glover and Kyle Washington hit Anthony Yancy on a 31-yard strike to make is 14-0 ASU with 5:31 to go in the first quarter.  

Midwestern State responded with a 56 yard drive on two plays with a Keidrick Jackson 52-yard rush. The Mustang defense helped on the ensuing drive as Washington was picked off by Neiko Conway. Glover hit Joe Sanders for 15 yards to tie the game at 14.

The Rams were forced to punt and Midwestern State's Glover threw his second touchdown of the game for a 21-14 advantage. ASU drove down to the Midwestern State two-yard line and was looking to tie the game but a Smith fumble would be returned 90 yards by Taiyon Jackson for a touchdown.

Angelo State would kick a Reid Layton 23-yard field goal to cut the lead 28-17 before the half.

After halftime MSU would extend its lead to 42-17 with a passing and rushing touchdown by Glover.

Quinn Reels would spark the ASU comeback with a 100-yard touchdown kick-off return to cut MSU's lead to 42-23.

Midwestern State had a crucial third down and the ASU defense forced an incomplete throw but the Rams were called for roughing the passer. The Mustangs would score on a Glover nine-yard run to make it 49-23.  

The Rams offense would hit its stride after the touchdown. Washington would rush for seven yards and complete three-straight passes including a 28-yard pass to Joey Knight for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed with MSU still up 49-29.

Midwestern State was forced into a three-and-out and the Ram offense again continued to roll. Washington would go 4-of-6 on
the drive and hit Reels for a seven-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 13 with 5:36 to go.

Another three and out by the Ram defense gave the ball back to ASU. Nine plays and 75 yards later Washington scored his fourth touchdown of the night on a two-yard run to bring the score to 49-43.

The Mustangs would recover the Rhett Peterson onside kick and run the clock out to hold on to a 49-43 win.

The Rams will hit the road next Saturday to face Texas A&M-Commerce at 2 p.m.