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SAN ANGELO, Texas – Tarleton State scored on a 35-yard pass from Jake Fenske to Clifton Rhodes III with 30 seconds left to hold off Angelo State 38-34 at San Angelo Stadium on Saturday night.
Angelo State (1-2, 0-1 LSC) scored on a
Blake Smith one-yard run to take a 34-31 lead with 1:42 to go in the game but the Texans (2-0, 2-0 LSC) drove 78 yards in  1:12 before scoring the go-ahead touchdown.
ASU was able to drive down to the Texans 17-yard line with four seconds left, but
Kyle Washington was picked off by Devin Figures at the one-yard line to end the game.
The Rams battled back after being down 31-20 with 9:19 remaining after Tarleton State scored on a one-yard run by quarterback Adam Doyle. The touchdown was set up after a fumble by Angelo State's
Talon Smith. It was one of three turnovers on the night by the Rams.
Quinn Reels responded for Angelo State taking a shovel pass from Washington 48-yards to cut the TSU advantage to 31-26.
The Texans took the ensuing drive 72 yards before Blake Barnes missed a 24-yard field goal to setup the Rams drive with 1:42 to go in the game.
The second half started with three punts and a missed field goal by ASU.
Ryan Clapsaddle picked off Doyle in the third quarter to give Angelo State the ball at the Texan 39-yard line. Washington took advantage of the turnover scoring on a 17-yard run but the extra point was missed.
The Rams were able to outgain Tarleton State 538-472 overall and rushed for over 200-yards for the third-straight game.
Smith and
Jermie Calhoun both went over 100-yards rushing with 104 and 103, respectively. Washington threw for 286-yards passing on 20-of-31 passing and threw for two touchdowns while adding two more on the ground.
Doyle led the Texans in passing with 171 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-21 passing while Fenske went 13-of-29 for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
Rhodes III caught five balls for 103 yards and three touchdowns for the Texans. Reels was the Rams top receiver with six catches for 106 yards and one touchdown.
Angelo State got off to a fast start to begin the game scoring in just 53 seconds on three plays. Washington threw a 15-yard pass to
Alex Young to give the Rams an early 7-0 lead.Tarleton State responded with three unanswered touchdowns.
The Texan quarterback duo of Doyle and Fenske got on track after being forced two punts on the Texans first two drives of the game.
Fenske found Rhodes III on a 22-yard pass in the first quarter and then Doyle found Rhodes III again on a 29-yard pass to put Tarleton State up 14-7.
The Rams hot start was slowed down after the opening drive gaining only 56 yards on its next four drives. ASU was forced to punt on three of its next four drives and was stopped on fourth down in the other.
Jeken Frye put Tarleton State up 21-7 on a pass from Aaron Doyle before ASU's Washington cut the lead to 21-14 on a nine-yard touchdown run.
The Rams will hit the road to face No. 1 Valdosta State next Saturday in Valdosta, Georgia.
