By: Brandon Ireton (brandon.ireton@angelo.edu)

SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State football team took a 35-21 lead into halftime on LSC rival West Texas A&M but were unable to sustain the momentum in the second half falling 58-41 at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field on Saturday night.

The Rams (2-1, 1-1 LSC) and Buffs (2-2, 1-1 LSC) combined for 1,113 yards of total offense including 827 in the air. ASU built a 35-21 lead on WT with an explosive first half before the Buffs rallied in the second half. 

ASU struck first after the Ram defense forced a three and out. Ryan Byrd was the focus of the drive touching the ball on four of the seven plays. The junior transfer scampered for 24 yards to take it deep into WT territory. Four plays later he carried it three yards in for a touchdown to make it 7-0 ASU.

The Ram defense limited WT's offense to just three plays on the next drive.  ASU capitalized with a touchdown. Kyle Washington found Byrd on a screen on the ninth play of the drive for a 19-yard touchdown to put ASU up 14-0. The two team's offenses would find rhythm as seven-straight touchdowns would be scored.

West Texas A&M started working the deep pass as Preston Rabb hit Donald Dimitri on a 27-yard pass and Jeremy Watson for a 44-yard pass to put the Buffs deep in ASU territory. Rabb would keep it for a 1-yard run to cut the lead to 14-7 to start the second quarter.

Angelo State responded with a 10 play 75-yard drive to make it 21-7 ASU in the first quarter.  Washington hit Brett Raspberry for two completions before Byrd scored his third touchdown of the half on a 30-yard run.

West Texas took the ball down the field 75 yards as Geremy Alridge-Mitchell would score on a 1-yard run to make it 21-14.

Washington again led the Rams down the field finding Dakarai Pecikonis on a 25-yard strike before hitting Chris Omigie for a 13-yard touchdown for a 28-14 lead.

WT wasted little time responded on the next drive. Rabb hit Jordan Jones for a 27-yard touchdown to make it 28-21 with just 30 seconds left until the half.

Anthony Yancy electrified the crowd before halftime as he took the ensuing kickoff back 100-yards for a touchdown and a 35-21 lead going into the break. Yancy finished the game with 195 returning yards breaking Garrett Tidewell's single-game record of 182 set against Texas State in 2009.

The Buffs came out of the second half and drove the ball down 57 yards in nine plays. Rabb would find Watson twice on the drive for a 10-yard and 22-yard completion. WT would take the ball to the ASU 12 before the Rams defense forced a 29-yard field goal by Connor Hallabaugh.

The Rams were forced into a three and out and WT took back over. Rabb found Watson on the second play of the drive for a 56-yard touchdown to cut the Angelo State lead to 35-31 at the 10:29 mark of the third quarter.

Washington got ASU going on the next drive. The junior quarterback hit Pecikonis on a 27-yard pass and followed it up with a 42-yard pass to Talon Smith to take the ball to the 2-yard line. Blake Smith scored on a 2-yard run to put ASU up 41-31.

It took the Buffs just four plays to answer. Rabb found Watson on back-to-back passes of 42 and 30 to put the ball at the ASU three. Gabe Tuata scored his first touchdown of the game to cut the ASU lead to 41-38.

The Rams were forced to punt after the ensuing drive stalled at the WT 37-yard line. Sam Fowler's punt was blocked by Alex Tucci and returned 48-yards by LaPear Willrich to give WT its first lead of the game at 45-41.

ASU was looking to answer on the next drive after moving it to the WT 24-yard line. Washington dropped back but was intercepted by Rashawn Dupree. The Buffs were unable to do anything with the turnover and were forced to punt.

Washington would throw his second interception of the game on the next drive after the ball was hit as the Humble native was throwing. The Rams defense held the Buffs to a 23-yard field goal by Hollabaugh to extend WT's lead to 55-41.

ASU turned the ball over on downs at the ASU 28 and Hollabuagh hit his third field goal of the game. The 33-yard field goal would make the final score 58-41. 

Washington completed 26-of-42 passes for 332 yards. He threw two touchdowns and had three intercepted. Ryan Byrd gained 92 yards on 13 carries and scored a total of three times.

Rush Seaver recorded a career high 22 tackles with Ryan Clapsaddle making 10 stops.

Rabb threw for 495 yards on 34-of-49 yards passing for West Texas A&M. Watson led all receivers with 269 yards receiving on 12 catches.

The Rams return to the field next against Midwestern State on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Wichita Falls, Texas.