HOUGHTON, Mich. – The No. 23-ranked Angelo State football team had to overcome a 21-point deficit and withstand a last second field goal attempt that went wide right to defeat No. 18 Michigan Tech 42-41 at Sherman Field in the NCAA Division II First Round.
The Rams (9-2) trailed the entire game until Kyle Washington found Talon Smith on a 50-yard touchdown pass with 3:31 left in the fourth quarter. The defense stopped Michigan Tech's (9-2) ensuing drive to get the ball back with 1:55 left but the Huskies had all three timeouts.
Michigan Tech was able to stop ASU and get the ball back with 1:27 left. The Huskies drove down the field with a mixture of passing and rushing. Tyler Scarlett was three-for-three on the drive and carried the ball 13 yards down to the Rams 26-yard line. Another Scarlett rush put the ball at the 9-yard line and left six seconds on the clock. Garrett Mead setup for a 26-yard field goal but the kick went wide right and the Rams would kneel the ball to secure ASU's first win in the NCAA Division II Playoffs since 1997.
Angelo State advances to play Colorado State – Pueblo next Saturday at 12 p.m. local time in Pueblo, Colo., for the NCAA Division II Second Round.
The Rams were outgained 471-449 and Michigan Tech held the ball for 37:40 of the game. ASU was a perfect three-for-three in the red zone and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter while gaining 270 yards in the second half. Washington tied his career high with four passing touchdowns on 20-of-30 passing with 339 yards. Smith led all receivers with a career high 169 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan Byrd carried the ball for 13 times and gained 83 yards and scoring once. Ryan Clapsaddle led the defense with 15 tackles and Rush Seaver added 10 tackles.
Michigan Tech built a 21-0 lead after failing to get a first down on their first drive of the game. Charlie Leffingwell carried the ball nine times on the first scoring drive and punched it in from 10-yards out for the first touchdown of the game.
The Huskies forced a punt and blocked Sam Fowler 's punt and took over at the ASU 8-yard line. Three plays later the Rams were down 14-0 on a 10-yard pass from Scarlett to Brandon Cowie.
Another Rams drive came up empty and Fowler was forced to punt to end the first half. Michigan Tech drove 11 plays in 76 yards to extend their lead to 21-0 on Leffingwell's second touchdown of the game.
After only gaining one first down through the first three drives, the Rams offense found life. Washington found Smith for a 16-yard gain on a third and seven for a first down. Byrd rushed for 11-yards and on the next play Washington found Anthony Yancy for a 40-yard touchdown.
The Ram defense responded and forced a punt after only three plays. The offense continued to find its stride. Washington found Dakarai Pecikonis for 15-yards to take the ball to the Michigan Tech 28-yard line. With the catch, Pecikonis moved into second on the ASU all-time career receiving list. With a third down Washington found Donovan Thompson for a 6-yard gain to the MTU 5-yard line but short of a first down. ASU gambled and Trey Green rewarded the gamble with a 5-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14 at halftime.
Michigan Tech forced an ASU punt on the opening drive and would score on a Scarlett 18-yard pass to Ian Wienke to push the lead to 28-14.
The Rams only needed one play to respond. Washington hit Talon Smith on a seam route and he raced 88-yards for the touchdown.
The two teams traded punts and Michigan Tech found success on the ground. Leffngwell carried the ball five times including a fumbled pitch on fourth down that he turned into a 26-yard touchdown run and a 35-21 lead. The Huskies forced the first turnover of the game interception Washington but was unable to capitalize.
The score would remain until the first ASU drive of the fourth quarter. Byrd did most of the damage with 31 of the drive's 73 yards on the ground. Chris Omigie made a reception on the sideline to put the ball at the 8-yard line. Washington found Blake Smith on a screen pass to cut the deficit to 35-28.
The Huskies scored on the next drive to put the pressure on ASU. Scarlett found Cowie on a 35-yard touchdown pass but the extra point was missed by Mead.
Angelo State answered with a nine play 65-yard drive. Washington found Thompson five times and Byrd had a big gain of 21-yards to put the ball inside the red zone. Byrd would be rewarded with a 2-yard touchdown and the Rams were down 41-35 with 3:36 to play in the game.
The Ram defense forced its fifth three and out of the game and ASU was able to take its first lead of the game on the first offensive play. Washington connected with Talon Smith and he went untouched for the 42-41 lead.
Leffingwell rushed for 236 yards on 34 carries and scored three touchdowns. Scarlett threw for 225 yards on 22-of-28 passing and three touchdowns.
The Rams are now 5-0 on the road this season and have won their last seven on the road.
