WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Angelo State football team scored 21 second half points to tie No. 4 Midwestern State but the Mustangs scored a go-ahead touchdown with 16 seconds left as the Rams fell 28-21 at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls.

The Rams (3-4, 2-3 LSC) had battled back from a 21-0 halftime deficit to tie the game on a Trey Green 10 yard run at the 8:45 mark of the fourth quarter. The ASU defense had held the Mustangs (6-0, 5-0 LSC) to just 32 yards and forced a punt on six straight possessions to get the ball back with 7:35 to play in the game.  

The Mustangs forced a Ram punt and moved the ball to their own 49 yard. Facing a third and nine with under four minutes to play, MSU's Quade Coward dropped back to pass and Markus Jones sacked Coward and forced a fumble that Bright Ihegworo recovered at midfield.

Angelo State has 1:17 to get into scoring position but couldn't convert on a third down. The Rams had been 5-of-7 on third down in the second half to that point. Midwestern State went 77 yards on the ensuing drive in four plays as Coward found Jerryl Yarbrough for a 10 yard touchdown. MSU was held to 141 yards in the second half and only 64 until the final drive.

The Rams excelled in the second half gaining 226 yards after being held to 94 yards in the first half. ASU started the second half by forcing a three and out coming out of the locker room. Carsen Cook would get the offense going with a pair of completions to Donovan Thompson. A facemask penalty moved the ball inside the red zone for the Rams and Trey Green gained seven yards on the ground down to the MSU nine-yard line. Josh Stevens would score two plays later to put ASU on the board.

The two teams would trade punts and Stevens had another highlight run. The junior took the ball around the left side and used his speed to outrun the defense for a 49 yard touchdown run to trim the MSU advantage to 21-14 at the 2:43 mark in the third quarter.

The Rams carried the momentum into fourth quarter tying the game after MSU's fifth punt of the second half. Cook carried the ball for a combined 35 yards on the drive and Green scored the tying touchdown by running over a MSU defender on a bruising 10-yard run to tie the game.

Angelo State rushed for 221 yards and averaged 4.4 yards per carry while throwing for 129 yards on 18-of-33 passing. Midwestern State was limited to 115 yards on the ground but threw for 271 yards and scored three passing touchdowns. MSU was only 2-of-17 on third down conversion but went a perfect 4-of-4 on fourth down and scored two touchdowns on fourth down. 

Stevens carried the ball 22 times for 109 yards on the ground and scored twice. It is the junior's third game of at least 100 yards on the ground. Cook gained 85 yards on 21 carried and went 17-of-32 through the air for 125 yards. Donovan Thompson led all receivers with nine catches for 67 yards.

Midwestern State took the early lead on its first offensive drive of the game. Coward found Deandre Black for an 18-yard strike for a quick 7-0 advantage.

The Mustangs extended the lead to 14-0 before the end of the first quarter on an 11 yard Vincent Johnson run. MSU scored right before the half on a five play 82 yard drive as Coward found Black again on a 57 yard touchdown pass.

The Rams had a chance to score in the first half with 3:54 to go in the first half. Cook hit Lawson Ayo for a 17 yard completion and connected with Thompson for two passes to take the ball to the MSU 35. Cook gained eight yards on first down but the MSU defense stopped ASU three straight times to force a turnover on downs.  

MSU's Coward threw for 271 yards on 20-of-34 passing and three touchdowns. Johnson gained 62 yards and scored one touchdown. Black caught three passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams return home to LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field to face Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.