LEBANON, Illinois – The Angelo State football team had a 19-9 halftime lead disappear in the second half as McKendree scored 24 unanswered points to beat the Rams 33-19 on Thursday night in the season opener.
The Rams (0-1) committed six turnovers in the game with four leading to all 24 points the Bearcats (1-0) scored in the second half. McKendree outgained ASU 397-276 overall and 226 to 111 yards on the ground. It is the first season opening loss for Angelo State since 2008.
Josh Stevens led ASU offensively with 78 yards on the ground on 21 carries. Jake Faber and Jesse Drummer both played quarterback for the Rams. Faber was 10-for-19 for 95 yards but had three interceptions. Drummer finished the night going 6-for-11 for 70 yards passing. Casey Eyman had an impressive debut for ASU averaging 40.8 yards on nine punts. He pinned McKendree inside the 20-yard line six times on the night. Willie Brown led the defense with 12 stops on the night, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
McKendree took the opening drive of the game in for a touchdown on a Shay Edward's 18-yard run after a seven play drive that went 73 yards.
It wasn't until the third ASU drive that the offense found itself. Stevens ripped off runs of 14 and 17 on back-to-back plays to put the ball inside McKendree's 20-yard line. On second and 15, Faber rushed to the right and cut inside a block to score from 20-yards out. Eyman's extra point made it 7-6. It would be the Rams only offensive touchdown of the night.
The Bearcatstook the lad right back on a 25-yard field goal form Steven O'Block. The defense showed resolve after McKendree opened the drive with a 59-yard rush. The Rams only allowed one yard to force the field goal.
The two teams defenses forced punts on the next five of the next six drives. The only drive that wasn't a punt was when Grant Peterson blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt by O'Block to give ASU the back at midfield.
After a three and out by the Rams, the defense made a play. Eyman punted a ball out of bounds at the Bearcat 4-yard line. On third down, Brendan Fred's pass was tipped in the air and Justin Jackson intercepted and returned it for a touchdown to make it 14-8.
Eyman once again used his leg to put pressure on McKendree. The junior had help from his coverage team to down the ball inside the 1-yard line. The very next play Isaiah Aneke and Melvin Robinson put ASU up 16-9 by stopping Edward's in the end zone for a safety. It is the first time ASU has had a safety and defensive touchdown in the same game since Oct. 2, 1999 against West Texas A&M.
The Rams used Eyman's leg once again at the end of the half. He kicked a 25-yard field goal as the half expired to put Angelo State on top 19-9 at the break.
Misfortune hit the Rams in the second half. Faber had just hit Donovan Thompson for a 20-yard gain but on the very next play Nate Powell intercepted the pass and returned it 50-yards for a score to cut ASU's lead down to 19-16.
The Rams looked to rebound on the next drive as Drummer hit Brennan Bibbs for 43-yards to move into Bearcat territory. McKendree would sack Drummer on third down to force an Eyman punt that was downed at the 2-yard line.
The teams once again traded punts but a muffed punt gave McKendree the ball. Monte Wolke sent a punt 40-yards down the field and Thompson was unable to cleanly catch the punt and the Bearcats took over at the ASU 16-yard line. Elcee Burke, who took over at quarterback, gave McKendree the lead with a 16-yard pass to DeQuan Dudley.
Angelo State once again tried to answer as Faber hit Mark Munson for a 20-yard gain and then rushed for 13 yards. McKendree's Derrick Curry forced Faber to fumble on the next play and the Bearcats advanced the ball to the ASU 30.
The Ram defense held strong limiting the Bearcats to a 40-yard field goal and only being down 26-19 going into the fourth quarter.
ASU's offense was held to just 36 yards in the fourth quarter and went three and out on the opening two drives of the quarter.
With 5:42 left to play, ASU started with the ball on its own 20-yard line. Faber found Thompson for a 14-yard gain on third and eight to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, McKendree picked off Faber for the third time of the night.
The Bearcats turned it into a touchdown to put the game away as Burke weaved his way for a 41-yard touchdown and the final 33-19 score.
McKendree was led by Edward's 84 yards on 34 carries and one touchdown. Burke went 6-for-8 passing with 75 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for one touchdown.
The Rams next opponent will be against Northern Michigan in Marquette, Michigan, on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. CDT.
