SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State football team was down 21-14 at halftime but exploded for 43 second half points to defeat Tarleton State 57-24 in the final regular season game at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field on Saturday evening.  

The Rams (6-3, 3-3 LSC) racked up the second most yards in school history with 684 compared to just 446 for the Texans (2-6, 1-5 LSC). It is the third game of the season with at least 600 yards of total offense. Angelo State rushed for a season high 347 yards on the ground and threw for 337 while the defense forced two interceptions, collected 11.0 tackles for loss and made 3.0 sacks.

ASU is now tied with Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M for the No. 3 seed in the LSC Playoffs. A coin flip will be held at 9 a.m. CST tomorrow morning to decide the No. 3 seed.

Kyle Washington led the offense with 492 yards of total offense. The senior rushed for 155 yards on 14 carries including a 66 yards touchdown run. The Humble native completed 11 passes for 337 yards. Five of Washington's 11 completions went for touchdowns which is a new career high. He also threw a career long of 91 yards. Trey Green carried the ball 13 times for 80 yards and a touchdown while Ryan Byrd added 70 yards and a touchdown. Donovan Thompson was Washington's favorite target catching five passes for a career high 187 yards and a career high three touchdowns. Talon Smith made two grabs for 93 yards and a score while Anthony Pierson had one catch for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Three Rams recorded double-digit tackles with Willie Brown leading the way with 11 tackles. Richard Franklin and Dominique McCoy made 10 stops each and Franklin added an interception. Clayton Callicutt moved into a tie for the ASU career sack lead with 2.0 sacks which now gives him 31.0 for his career.  

Trailling 21-14 at haltime, the Rams came out in the third quarter and quickly tied the game at 21. Washington used his speed and vision to carry the ball 66 yards for the touchdown. Tarleton State took the lead back with a 37yard field foal form Blake Barnes.

ASU went back to work on offense on the next drive. Green rushed the ball for 33 yards and three plays later it looked like Washington found Thompson on a 38 yard touchdown. Before Thompson crossed the line TSU's Brandon Moore ripped the ball out and Kevin Baker recovered in the end zone.

The Ram defense had one of its best halves of the season limiting Tarleton State to just 89 yards of total offense in the second half and only a field goa. Five of the eight TSU drives ended in a punt while one ended in an interception and a turnover by downs.  

With the defense stopped TSU, the Rams offense gotten into a rhythm. A Brett Rasberry 15-yard punt return to the TSU 39 yard line setup ASU to score. Byrd rushed around the corner on second down at the 21 yard line for a 28-24 lead and one the Rams wouldn't relinquish.

Another TSU drive ending in a punt and the Rams took over at the Texans 42. Washington opened the drive with a 25 yard rush but was sacked for a loss of seven on the next drive. Green gained 14 yards on the ground to take it to the TSU five yard line and two plays later scored from two yards out.

Up 28-24 early in the fourth quarter, the Ram defense forced its second interception of the game. ON second down, Franklin dived for a short pass from Woerner and came up with the interception.  

ASU capitalized on the turnover. Washington found Thompson for his second touchdown of the night on an 11 yard strike and extended the lead to 42-24. Another TSU three and out gave ASU the ball at its own 34 with 10:51 to go in the game.

Washington carried the ball for 24 yards to open the drive. Three plays later, Washington hit Pierson in the corner of the end zone after Tarleton State jumped off sides.  Jacob Burtch found Markus Jones for the two-point conversion to put ASU up 50-24.

Tarleton State put together its longest drive of the second half that went nine plays and 41 yards. TSU faced fourth and 13 after a Callicutt sack on third down. Woerner's pass to Meyers was incomplete and ASU went back to work on offense but was slowed.

The Rams faced a fourth and 11 at their own 47 yard line and sent the punt team out. The snap hit the up-back and Melvin Robinson picked it up and carried defenders for 28 yards and a first down. The next play Thompson hauled in his third touchdown of the night from Washington from 25 yards out.

The game started with the two teams trading failed fourth down conversions. Tarleton State punted on its second drive of the game and the Rams capitalized. Washington found Smith on the first play of the drive for a 75 yard score. Smith caught it and ran away from the defense showing his speed. The PAT was good by Sam Fowler and the Rams went up 7-0.

The ASU defense forced turnover but not before Tarleton State was threatening to score. The Texans drove to the nine yard line on 16 plays. Zed Woerner tried to throw a flag to the pylon but Fred Lawrence read the pass and went up to pick it off in the end zone. The ensuing ASU drive went three and out and Tarleton State went back to work

The Texans were able to get on the board on a 31 yard touchdown from Woerner to Le'Nard Myers to tie the game.

The Rams answered quickly. After a Washington rush for three yards, the senior dropped back in the pocket on second down. Washington found Thompson streaking down the sideline for a 91 yard touchdown to put ASU back on top. The 91 yard reception is the second longest pass in ASU history.

TSU tied the game at 14 on the next drive. Woerner again found Meyers for a touchdown to cap off a 12 play 70 yard drive.

ASU went for it on fourth down at the TSU 21 but an incomplete pass gave the ball back to Tarleton State. After trading punts, TSU took the lead on Woerner's third touchdown pass to Meyers. The 66 yards reception put TSU up 21-14 going into the half.

The Rams will now wait for 9 a.m. on Sunday morning to find out their next opponent in the LSC Playoff Championship.